Brushing your dog is not just the most basic grooming method, but it’s also an essential part of dog care and should be considered as a requirement for all dogs. Brushing your dog’s coat on regularly will not only remove dirt, loose hair, and mats, preventing knots from forming in the coat, but it will also allow you to detect parasites or any developing skin problems, allowing you to treat them before they become problematic and require veterinary intervention. Brushing your dog regularly will strengthen your relationship with him, and he will begin to look forward to these engaging sessions and be less likely to resist. Follow the steps below to introduce your dog to brushing;
Allow your dog to explore the comb, brush, or other grooming instruments before beginning to educate them to like being groomed. Make sure to reward and praise your dog for sniffing or being unconcerned by the brush.
Once your dog is comfortable with the brush, softly brush its body. Remember to reward and praise your dog after a successful start.
Begin gentle stroking movements over your dog’s coat once they are comfortable being touched with the brush. Because you’re still in the adaptation period and the objective isn’t to clean or style your dog at this time, keep grooming sessions brief. While grooming your dog, give him plenty of treats.
It’s essential to introduce other tools once your dog has grown to accept being brushed, such as showerheads, blow dryers, combs, and clippers. Using steps 1-4 above, adapt your dog to one item at a time, and your pup will quickly learn to enjoy grooming.
Excessive brushing might cause skin irritation in your dog. The dog may become irritated by this and begin scratching and chewing the spot. This can lead to skin lesions and secondary infections over time. Veterinary assistance is sometimes required.
If your dog’s skin and coat health begin to deteriorate, you’re overgrooming them. Brushing them too much will deplete them of their natural hair oils, making their coat dry and brittle.
Combing and brushing your dog regularly is critical to their overall health. Spending quality time grooming and bonding with your four-legged companion is simple and has several benefits. Have fun grooming!