Welcome to the fourth installment of our grooming essentials blog! Last week, we delved into grooming tips and tools for long-haired dogs. If you missed it you can catch up on my grooming background and experience here.
Well Joan, didn’t think there would be another coat type. But alas, there is! This week, I’m focusing on curly-haired breeds – those with curly fur such as poodles, doodles, and Bichons. In all my grooming days, this is the hair coat I had to shave down the most. It’s important to maintain curly haired dogs daily!
I left this piece for last because most of the grooming tools are the same for brushing and maintenance. I also recommend a coat spray for curly haired dogs as well to help with brushing and keeping the coat soft and easier to manage.
Understanding Curly-Haired Dogs
Curly-haired dogs are beautiful and require lots of brushing. Their curly coats can mat quickly, so they need almost daily brushing. As a groomer, I spent many days shaving down matted, curly-haired dogs. If you want to keep that “teddy bear” style, a few minutes per day can prevent your dog from becoming matted. Many of my clients opted for a shorter cut, and that’s great, but it still requires brushing in areas that can mat quickly like ears and tails!
The Right Tools for the Job
Slicker Brush
The slicker brush is still one of my favorite tools. Using a slicker brush daily will help keep curly-haired dogs from matting up. Be mindful when brushing around sensitive areas such as the neck, belly or ears.
The curved slicker brushes work best and give you more depth and control when working down to the base of the coat. Don’t over brush as that can irritate skin and damage fur. If you find matting, you can hold the mat between your thumb and index finger and brush without touching the skin.
Mat Remover Tool
Mat happens, even more so with curly-haired dogs. The mat remover tool is a necessary for curly-haired dogs with finger like blades ‘cutting’ through the matted fur. The blades are sharp so be careful when using this tool in sensitive areas and watch your fingers as well! Tight mats close to the skin can be irritating especially if the skin under the mat is inflamed. A tight mat close to the skin may require being shaved out by a groomer. Never use scissors to cut mats. Sometimes the tight mat can pull on the skin and you can cut the skin as well as the fur.
Steel Comb
Yes, the comb is the universal tool for grooming. I’ve used the comb on my lab Guinness to pull out stubborn undercoat. They keep you honest in your grooming regimen! After thoroughly brushing, you will need to run the comb through the coat and use the slicker brush to work on whatever the comb was stuck on. In the end, your comb should go through the coat effortlessly.
Coat Spray
When I was a groomer, I found a product that took hours off brushing matted dogs. I was introduced to ShowSheen towards the end of my grooming career. It worked wonders when brushing out matted dogs. It left their coat silky smooth and in better condition for their next groom. A word of caution. Be careful getting the product on smooth floors, they will become quite slippery. With ShowSheen a little goes a long way.
Bathing and Shampoo
For more information regarding bathing and shampoo recommendations, visit my previous blogs which focus on best shampoo practices.
Grooming is an essential part of your dog’s health and well-being. Using the right tools and techniques ensures your dog remains comfortable and their coat stays healthy. If you have any questions about grooming tools or techniques, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help!
In mat-free, squeaky cleanness,
Joan
Stay updated with the latest tips and insights on pet care! Sign up for our emails and join our community of pet lovers today.
