Course 03 of 20 · Foundations
Brushing and Combing
Brushes, combs, section work, and routines a dog can accept.
Lesson 1. Which brush and comb suit which coat?
Brush and comb choice follows coat type: slicker and comb for double, curly and long coats, bristle or rubber tools for short coats, pin brush for silky coats, and a comb check for every coat.
Lesson 2. How do you brush a coat in sections without pulling?
Brushing in sections means parting the coat, holding hair above the working area, and brushing small areas from ends toward skin, so skin is never pulled and tangles are found early.
Lesson 3. What is line brushing, and when is it used?
Line brushing is brushing the coat in narrow, parted lines from skin outward, used for dense, double, curly and long coats to reach the undercoat and find hidden tangles.
Lesson 4. How do you comb out a coat after brushing?
Combing after brushing means running a wide-toothed comb through each section to find tangles, packed undercoat and debris that the brush missed, and it is the final check of any brushing session.
Lesson 5. How often should each coat type be brushed?
Brushing frequency follows coat type and season: weekly for short coats, several times a week for double and wavy coats, every few days for curly and long coats, and daily during heavy shedding.
Lesson 6. What are tangle traps, and where do mats start?
Tangle traps are friction points where hair rubs, such as behind ears, under collars, armpits, chest, groin and legs, and mats start there when tangles are left and tighten against the skin.
Lesson 7. How do you brush a sensitive area safely?
Sensitive areas are brushed safely with light pressure, a suitable tool, the skin held gently taut, short strokes, and frequent pauses, stopping at once if the dog shows pain or stress.
Lesson 8. What should you do when brushing hurts or the dog pulls away?
When brushing hurts or the dog pulls away, stop that area at once, check for pain, tangles, skin problems or a wrong tool, and do not force the brush through, returning only gently or with professional help.
Lesson 9. How do you clean and care for brushes and combs?
Brushes and combs are cleaned after each use by removing hair, washed when dirty with warm soapy water, dried fully, and replaced when pins bend, bristles splay or teeth break.
Lesson 10. How do you brush a wet coat, and when should you not?
A wet coat should generally not be brushed, since wet hair stretches, breaks and tangles more easily, and brushing should wait until the coat is damp-dry or dry, except for gentle combing during drying as a groomer directs.
Lesson 11. What is a slicker brush, and what are its limits?
A slicker brush has fine angled wire pins that work through tangles and undercoat, and its limits are that it can scratch skin, break hair and cause pain if pressed hard, used on the wrong coat, or forced through mats.
Lesson 12. How do you build a brushing routine a dog can accept?
A brushing routine a dog can accept is built from short, predictable, rewarded sessions, introduced gradually, with the right tools, a calm space, and a pace set by the dog, not by the calendar.