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Brush Types
Although there are many different shapes and sizes, there are basically three
different brush types:
Bristle Brushes: Bristle brushes can be used on all coat
types and vary according to the spacing between bristles and the length of the
bristles. In general, the longer the hair coat, the more widely spaced and
longer the bristles should be. Also, the coarser the hair, the stiffer those
bristles need to be.
Wire-Pin Brushes: Wire-pin brushes, with or without
rubber-tipped ends, are the preferred choice for pets with medium to long hair
and those with curly or woolly coats.
Slicker Brushes: Slicker brushes have fine wire bristles and
are especially useful for removing mats and tangles. They are also the brush of
choice for breeds with dense undercoats that tend to shed heavily. Speaking of shedding, if your tired of dragging out that vacume cleaner for all of that loose hair, you simply must bring your pet in for the FURminator™ Shed-less Treatment! To see more details on this great treatment and some of the amazing results, click on our Other Services page!
Comb Types
Rubber curry combs are effective at massaging
the skin and removing dead hair from short-haired breeds. It is also a good idea
to have a Grooming Rake or Matbreaker on hand to remove those uncomfortable mats. Slicker brushes can also be used on mats that are not close to the skin
 .
Refer to the chart below for recommendations on the best brushes for your
four-legged friends coat type:
Brush Types and Brushing Direction for Different Coats:
| Type of Coat |
Recommended Brush
Type |
Brushing
Direction |
|
Short, smooth coats (most retrievers, hounds, Chihuahuas, cats,
etc.)
|
Soft to medium bristle brush with short, closely spaced
bristles |
With the coat's grain |
| Short, wiry coats (terriers, etc.) |
Firm bristle brush with short, closely spaced bristles, and a
slicker brush
|
With the coat's grain |
| Medium to long flowing coats (golden retrievers, spaniels,
setters, Lhasa Apso, Persians, etc.) |
Soft to medium bristle brush with long, medium- to wide-spaced
bristles; a wire pin brush; and a slicker brush for tangles and mats
|
With the coat's grain |
|
Harsh outer coats with soft, woolly undercoats (sheepdog,
collies, shepherds, Chows, Pomeranians, etc.)
|
Firm bristle brush with long, wide--spaced bristles; a wire pin
brush; and a slicker brush for tangles and mats |
With the grain--outer coat; Against the grain--under
coat |
| Thin, delicate coats (Yorkies, Maltese, etc.) |
Wire pin brush; and a soft slicker brush for tangles and
mats |
With and against coat's grain |
IMPORTANT TIP: Your pets coat should always be free of tangles and mats before they are bathed! Wetting existing tangles and mats only make them worse! Your pet should always be brushed out after the bath as well.
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