What happens if you don’t brush your dog’s hair? Here’s What to Expect

At maturity, you should expect to comb or brush your long-haired dog’s coat at least every other day (and daily, in some cases). How long it takes to care for the coat depends on the dog’s size and how well you have trained him to accept being groomed. If he’s not used to it or if you have let tangles or mats form, grooming time is probably not going to be quick or pleasurable for either of you. Skip grooming your long-haired dog now and you will both regret it later.

It’s tempting to put off combing or brushing a pet with long hair — I should know, living as I do with a pair of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. But it’s a temptation that must be resisted. When long-haired dogs go without the necessary grooming, they develop painful tangles and mats — and, of course, they don’t look their beautiful best. Choosing a long-haired breed means committing to caring for his coat on a regular basis. Here’s what you need to know about grooming your long-haired pooch.

Still not sure you can commit to caring for a long-haired dog’s coat? Make it part of your routine: Lots of pet owners choose to groom their dogs while they watch TV at night, when they are already settled for the evening. When done properly, grooming your dog’s coat can be a relaxing time for both of you, rather than an onerous chore to be avoided.

Your dog’s breeder or a professional dog groomer can advise you on the correct grooming tools to use on your dog’s coat. Pin brushes help remove tangles and can be useful for dogs with long hair or feathering. If your dog requires both a pin brush and a bristle brush (for removing loose hair and dirt and polishing the coat), look for a double-sided brush with pins on one side, bristles on the other.

Don’t forget to comb out the beard, mustache and eyebrows (known as facial furnishings) of breeds such as Bearded Collies, Old English Sheepdogs and Tibetan Terriers. They often collect food or get wet when the dog drinks, so they need extra care.

Brushing is a very important part of the care routine for canines. This may be required weekly or daily, it just depends on the breed of dog. Think about how many times you brush your hair every day. Your pup’s hair or fur needs attention too! Here are some potential mishaps that may happen if you don’t brush a dog.

Brushingyour dog regularly also allows you to see skin issues such as mange, hot spots, or a skin infection caused by an allergic reaction.Any redness, swollenness or open wounds need to be seen immediately by aveterinarian.

Dogs willactually shed more if you don’t brush them more often. Brushing gets rid ofdead hair and skin, making more room for healthy hair. If you find that you arevacuuming and sweeping fur up everyday, it may be time to update your routine.The furminator is a great tool to brush, de-shed,and clean your dog all in one.

If you don’tbrush a dog and are not diligent with removing the tangles, overtime the matsattach so close to the skin that they need to be shaved off carefully by aveterinarian. An uneven shave can make them look pretty funny and will alsoexpose their skin to external environments such as weather and parasites. Rememberto never use scissors to remove a mat, because many owners end up cutting theskin underneath as well.

When youdon’t brush a dog, the natural oils on the skin can build up and cause skinconditions. Brushing the coat allows the natural oils to be distributed evenlythrough the fur and skin. Keep a close eye on your dog’s coat, especially inhumid environments.

Brushing Basics: The Right Brush, & How Often To Do It

Brushing really is pretty basic. You just need to understand the type of coat your dog has, and that determines how often you need to brush and what type of brush to use.

You should ask your vet or groomer for more individual instructions. Here are some general rules for grooming:

Long-haired breeds, such as Collies and Tibetan Terriers, need to be brushed weekly, sometimes more often if the coat seems particularly tangled. A pin brush is a good choice for these breeds because its bristles grip the undercoat and remove loose hairs without causing pain. It can also get down to the skin. Start close to the skin and brush away from it. Use a comb to tease out any mats.

Short-coated dogs, such as Labrador Retrievers and Greyhounds, don’t need frequent brushing because their hair doesn’t mat and tangle easily. Still, you may want to brush them every couple of weeks to remove loose hair. Use a rubber brush or grooming glove, which will help bring dirt and loose hair to the surface. The gloves fit over your hands — your dog will think you’re petting them and won’t suspect you’re actually brushing. If you prefer a conventional brush, short coats can take a stiff, natural-bristle brush or a soft slicker brush, which has little, bent-metal pins in it. Follow up with a soft-bristle brush, which helps distribute the hair’s natural oils.

Short, wiry breeds, such as Dachshunds and most Terriers, need a slicker brush, followed by a once-over with a metal comb. Once every few days should do. A stripping knife will remove the dead hair in the undercoat. Have someone knowledgeable show you how to use one before you try. If the coat has mats, work those out first.

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