How to Brush a Dog's Undercoat

So many different breeds of dog have a thick undercoat to help protect them from the cold. Breeds like Alaskan Malamute and Siberian Husky, Border Collies, American Eskimo, and many others have become increasingly popular over the years. Taking on the responsibility of being Mom or Dad to a dog with a thick undercoat adds an extra dimension to your monthly grooming schedule. While it might add an extra challenge, not caring for your pup's undercoat can lead to massive mats that have to be cut out and tangles that make your pup look and feel bad. 

You might not think it possible, but your pup does care about how he looks. He will always be much happier if you take the time once a month to groom his undercoat and the rest of his hair. You will be happy too, because regular grooming will help make the job easier. This also gives you plenty of time to look for fleas, ticks, cuts, scrapes, bruises, or anything else that might need the attention of your pup's vet. 

• Be sure that any product you use including soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and detanglers, are vet-approved as those made for humans can cause serious injury to your pup.
  
• If you need to use shears to remove mats from your dog's coat, be sure to use very sharp safety shears. Dull shears will rip the hair out instead of cutting it.
  
• You should never shave this type of dog down to bare skin as this can lead to sunburn, dry skin, and various other skin conditions.
  
• When your pup is enjoying his semi-annual shed, you should be brushing his coat using a shedding brush or comb to remove the loose hair faster and keep it out of your vacuum cleaner.
  
• If you are not sure how often your particular breed should be bathed, call your vet, they can tell you.
  
• Be sure to rinse the shampoo or conditioner thoroughly out of his coat, as extended exposure can lead to allergies and skin reactions. 
  

Keeping a dog with a thick undercoat properly groomed can be challenging. But, when you step back and look at your handiwork, all that hard work will have paid off. This is the perfect time for you to go over your pup's skin looking for any problems such as fleas, ticks, cuts, scrapes, and anything else out of the ordinary. Be sure to take your pup to see his vet if you find anything of concern.