How to Groom a Fluffy Dog

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Medium
20 - 35 Minutes
1 Week

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Introduction

Fluffy dogs are those dogs that you look at and think about just how soft that fluffy fur will feel to touch. He's so fluffy! These are the dogs that are hardest to maintain and the most expensive to have professional groomers care for, yet the softest and fluffiest available. 

Owning a fluffy dog is no joke. It takes a lot of work to keep up with your fluffy dog’s needs. Not all fluffy dogs are the same. Their commonality is that they have so much fur and often a double coat, making them incredibly cute and fluffy on top of being difficult to maintain. Keeping up with your fluffy dog and the needs of his double coat isn't difficult to do. It just takes time and dedication. Remain consistent with your fluffy dog’s grooming and daily brushing. If you find yourself off track, it might be more difficult to catch back up or to detangle and de-mat or de-shed.

Dog's Perspective

Your fluffy dog probably has a superb personality and is used to everyone wanting to pet him and touch him. If you start early when your dog is a puppy, he should be used to daily grooming. But your dog may be a little apprehensive if you are using new tools or learning how to do new techniques, such as a blowout. A blowout for a skittish dog might be a bit scary because the blower is loud and can be frightening for some dogs. If you are using new tools on your dog, be sure to let him sniff them before you use them. This goes for new combs, new brushes, even a new blower for a fluffy dog blowout.

The Right Tools Method

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Slicker Brush
Pin Brush
Deshedder
Dematter
Comb
Step
1
Pin brush
A pin brush has long sturdy pins set fairly far apart from one another with rounded tips. The pins brush through your dog's double coat quite well. With a good distance between pins on a pin brush, there is plenty of room for the coat to move between the bristles. Be sure if you're using a pin brush to brush in the direction of the coat. Pin brushes remove any loose coat but may pull a healthy coat.
Step
2
Comb
A wide-tooth comb is a great finishing tool for dogs who have a double coat. Once the dog has been thoroughly brushed, a wide-tooth comb can detangle and loosen any small knots or mats that were missed with a brush. Follow your grooming for your fluffy dog with a wide-tooth comb for a beautiful finishing touch.
Step
3
Rake
A shedding rake is a brush that appears more like several combs side by side. A rake brush is perfect for a dog who has blown his coat. Twice a year, your fluffy dog will blow coat. This means the undercoat is no longer needed for warm weather coming and will begin to fall off in clumps. A rake is perfect for removing these huge clumps of undercoat during a brush out.
Step
4
Slicker brush
A slicker brush is perfect for your fluffy dog to remove large mats. Slicker brushes are also used on the long feathered fur growing on the back of the legs, under the tail, or behind your dog's ears, where mats often form.
Step
5
Blowout
Your fluffy dog will blow his coat at least twice a year. This is a perfect time for a blowout. With a force blower specifically for dogs, you can blow out the undercoat before it drops once it has loosened enough from your dog's skin. This is a very quick and easy, yet messy way to remove your dog's undercoat.

The Maintain Fluff Method

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Spray
Slicker Brush
Shampoo
Scissors
Deshedder
Comb
Towel
Step
1
Tools
Depending on your dog's breed and cut, you will need to find the right tools to keep your dog's coat smooth and healthy. From brushes and combs to grooming tools such as clippers and scissors, your dog is going to need to be maintained using tools specifically for his type of fur. Invest in rake brushes, slicker brushes, and wide tooth combs to maintain your dog’s beautiful fluffy coat.
Step
2
Brush
Brush your dog on a regular basis. Fluffy dogs may need to be brushed daily or every other day to maintain a beautiful, healthy tangle-free coat. It might be helpful to mist your dog's coat with water before gently brushing.
Step
3
Remove mats
If you are brushing your dog on a regular basis, you are sure to find mats from time to time. Fluffy dogs tend to have mats from behind their ears, on their hind legs, and in any areas where their body may rub such as their forearms. Remove these mats with a brush, comb, and scissors, if necessary, as soon as you find them, so they don't get worse.
Step
4
Detangle
You can use a detangling spray on your fluffy dog to help get rid of any small tangles as you are brushing through his coat. Also, utilize combs and brushes to comb out small tangles. Large knots may need to be cut out with scissors.
Step
5
Undercoat
Be sure you have a brush with bristles long enough to reach your dog's undercoat. A rake is a good investment for a dog with double coats. Your dog will blow his undercoat at least twice a year depending on the season. This is a perfect time to give your dog a blowout to get all of that undercoat off in one easy, yet messy, blowout session.
Step
6
Bathe
Be sure you are bathing your dog with proper shampoo for his skin and coat on a regular basis. Always brush your dog out before a bath to remove any loose fur as well as any knots or mats before getting your dog wet. After his bath, brush him out again for a smooth and healthy coat. Blowing your dog’s fur dry will also help your fluffy dog look even cuter than ever.

Caution & Considerations

  • If you're not certain of the traditional grooming for your dog's breed, do some research on typical styles, so you know how to groom your dog based on his breed.
  • Fluffy breeds tend to have double coats, which require a lot of extra maintenance. This might mean daily brushing for your dog.
  • Fluffy dogs with double coats will typically blow their coat at least twice a year. Dogs who live in warmer environment year-round may blow their coat more often.
  • Anytime their undercoat is blown you may want to consider a blowout or at the very least a deep brushing with a rake tool.
  • Be sure to brush your dog before any bathing. Doing so will help get out any small tangles from their long, fluffy fur.
  • Detangling your dog before bathing will make bathing easier. Brushing after bathing will be more comfortable if knots are taken care of before the fur is wet.
  • To entice your dog to sit still during daily brushings, be sure to offer him a high-value reward. End every brushing session with a tasty treat. This will also help your dog learn the patterns of when he will be groomed and wait patiently for the reward to come after.

Conclusion

Fluffy dogs are high maintenance dogs. But they are oh-so-cute and oh-so-fluffy. So they are well worth the maintenance involved in caring for their beautiful coat. Make your dog Top Dog in your family and keep that fluffy coat as beautiful and as soft as can be. Daily maintenance, brushing, and grooming is all your fluffy dog is going to need to maintain a beautiful coat all year long.

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