Summer and ALD Coat Care

 Summer is upon us, and some pet parents may decide to have their groomer give their fur baby a shorter cut.  That is all well and good, however, you will still need to keep up with the routine of brushing/combing your dog.  

     First of all, the routine for you and your dog is important to keep the mats at bay.  If your dog has a super short cut, you should at least use the comb and go through the fur close to his skin to ensure no pesky tangles or knots are forming. Mats that are ignored can become painful for your dog and your groomer may have to shave your pet down. Nobody wants that!

    Start with a slicker brush and use the line brushing technique. Then follow with a comb. If the comb doesn't go through the hair, you have mats. Click the following link for a video of line brushing: How to BRUSH your doodle CORRECTLY - YouTube  Keep working with line brushing. If it has gotten very matted up, you can use a de-matting comb to help out.

     Secondly, it is a bonding time for you both. Caring touches and time spent together is always a good thing. Brushing can be done while watching TV, on the back porch or deck, or a specific place like a grooming table.

     The best time to start this routine is when your dog is a puppy, but it is never too late to begin a brushing routine!