Coat care for dogs

Long and silky, short and soft or dense and curly - every dog breed has its very own hair structure. Taking care of the dog's coat is one of the tasks of every dog owner. Depending on the breed, it takes more or less time and more or less equipment. But the effort is worth it! Because if the dog's hair is shiny, the dog feels shiny too!

Longhair coat needs intensive grooming. It can have little or much undercoat. Long topcoat in combination with a lot of undercoat needs a little more attention (for example with the Bobtail or Shih Tzu). Small knots need to be brushed out several times a week or untangled with the fingers to avoid matting. Critical areas are behind the ears, under the armpits and on the paws of the animals. Once a year, every long-haired four-legged friend should go to the groomer. In addition to grooming, he also takes care of the dog's claws.

The amount of grooming required for short-haired dogs is determined by the coat structure and density. Dog breeds with short, smooth coats (such as Doberman or Boxer) usually have only one layer of hair. These outer hairs fall out sporadically throughout the year. The coat should be combed with a brush once a week. In dogs with a change of coat, it is necessary to brush them more frequently during this time to support a quick and uncomplicated change.

Dog breeds with rough coats, such as the Schnauzer or Roughhaired Dachshund, need a lot of grooming. Their topcoats have a growth cycle of six months. However, the dead, loose hairs do not fall out on their own. They need to be trimmed by the owner or groomer about three times a year. This involves plucking out mature hairs. If they were clipped, they would remain in the skin and prevent the new hair from growing back. Itching and inflammation could be the result. A regular rhythm of trimming ensures that sufficient new top coat has already grown back and that no holes appear in the coat.

Dogs with curly or frizzy hair, such as the Poodle or Bedlington Terrier, lose very little hair in everyday life because it gets caught in the coat. These should be combed out frequently and the coat clipped or trimmed at regular intervals. Trimming is unnecessary with these dogs as they have very little or no undercoat.

Some dog breeds shed hair all year round, others mainly during the coat change in spring and autumn, others hardly at all. During the change of coat, dead hairs fall out over a period of several weeks and make room for new ones. The winter coat of dogs has more woolly hairs and a denser undercoat. This gives the dogs better protection from the cold. In some dog breeds, the loose hairs get caught in the outer coat and remain there until they are combed out, cut or shorn off (for example in the poodle). The less hair the four-legged friend loses, the more care its coat needs.

Brushes with natural bristles or coated wire bristles are suitable for long-haired dogs. They remove loose hair without pulling. During the coat change, a comb with fine tines is recommended. For  short-haired dogs, brushes with soft natural bristles or rubber nubs are suitable. Brush against and then with the grain to remove dead fur. For dogs with a lot of undercoat, a so-called de-felting rake and an undercoat brush should be available. Effiliation shears thin out dense and curly coats. A special trimming knife is needed for trimming. And for bathing, the dog needs a suitable dog shampoo.

It is advisable to bathe dogs only when necessary. That is, when they have rolled in the dirt or emit an unpleasant scent. This prevents the skin's protective acid mantle from being attacked. Shampoo removes the sebum from the coat and thus the natural protection against cold and wetness. Some dog breeds with short, smooth coats have particularly sensitive skin. Their skin flora regenerates only slowly, which is why frequent washing is not recommended.

For cleaning the dog, a special dog shampoo should be used that is adapted to the coat. Human shampoo is unsuitable because of the different pH values of humans and animals. For light soiling, rinsing with clean water may be sufficient. Or a short bath in a clean stream.

Matted hair can cause itchy and painful eczema by rubbing against the dog's skin. It is a difficult and time-consuming task for the owner to untangle the knots. If they wait too long, felt plates can even form, making it necessary to shear off the coat completely. If it does happen, the knots must be carefully removed.

To do this, you will need a comb, a pair of effigy scissors and a de-felting spray. First the tips of the hair are untangled with the comb, then the rest of the coat is removed. The existing knots are sprayed with the detangling spray and gently loosened. Heavily felted hairs can be removed with the Effiliation Scissors. If felt plates have already formed, the dog must go to the groomer. He can remove the felting professionally or shave it off.

Dogs depend on their owner to take care of their coat. Depending on the breed of dog, this can be a time-consuming task. Suitable tools make the work easier. If the skin and hair of the four-legged friend are healthy, skin irritations, dull fur and matting don't stand a chance! .