Fur care - Are you still hairy or are you already shiny?

Only with the right coat care your dog feels like a million bucks. And not only when your darling has rolled in mud puddles and the earthy soil has spread throughout the dog's coat. When spring beckons with warm days, the first loose hairs make themselves felt. The warmer it gets, the more pesky hair comes loose. The same scene repeats itself in the fall, when the change of coat from summer to winter sets in and makes for flaky skin underneath.

When the couch, your clothes, and actually your entire apartment is full of hair and your dog is constantly scratching to get rid of the loose fur, it's clearly time to pick up the brush.

What coat care items do I need?

Not every dog's coat is the same - different coat types require different treatments. A deciding factor in coat care is whether or not your dog has a dense undercoat. In breeds with an undercoat, you'll find matting in the undercoat more quickly. Dogs that only have a top coat are more sensitive. Here you must take special care that the coat protects them sufficiently from the cold in winter and the dog's skin from harmful UV radiation in summer.

With so many coat care products on the market, it's hard to keep track of them all. What of them do you need for your dog? Which dog brush is the right one? We'll help you get an overview.

Brushes and combs: the most important tools

Brushing is not only important to remove dirt and prevent matting, but also to aerate the coat. With daily coat care you prevent itching, eczema or fungal diseases as well as parasite infestation, because parasites such as ticks, fleas & Co. find favorable conditions with lack of care and hygiene. Dog brushes and combs come in many different varieties:

• A dog brush with fine tines made of metal, arranged in several rows, is called a plucking brush: it is particularly suitable for loosening the dense undercoat, for example, during the change of coat.
• Combs with coarse tines made of metal are the appropriate choice to free the coat from knots, tangles and coarse dirt.
• Brushes with soft bristles, are often grooming brushes, similar to a curry comb, pleasantly massage the dog's skin and thus not only promote blood circulation, but at the same time evenly distribute the fat in the coat.
• Combination brushes combine two functions and are therefore a practical purchase if you want to use as few grooming utensils as possible.
• A small twig with barbs, fine burrs or other unpleasant souvenirs from the walk can be combed out well with a fur comb, both for dog breeds with long and with shorter fur.
• Uninvited guests, such as fleas or ticks, can be tracked down with the flea and nit comb.

Currycomb and gloves: Easy to use

With curry comb and grooming gloves you can pamper your pet and combine grooming with a wellness program:

• Currycomb: A currycomb fits comfortably in the hand and easily and gently removes loose topcoat and unruly undercoat. Dandruff and dirt are conveniently removed at the same time. The various models, e.g. grooming and massage curry comb or detangling curry comb, are each suitable for short and long-haired dogs.
• Glove for coat care: A coat care glove is also very comfortable to use - simply put it on and start stroking. With the pressure of your hands you can proceed here particularly sensitively and regulate how strongly you want to brush and massage. Especially for dogs who are afraid of brushes and combs, because they are afraid of possible pulling, grooming gloves are suitable for a gentle acclimatization to the grooming products.

Trimming knife, scissors - keeping the dog's coat at the right length

Too long dog fur can be not only laborious to maintain, but can even be a hindrance, for example, on the paws. With these tools you can shorten it:

• Trimming bar: to thin out your dog's hair, you can use a grooming bar that fits comfortably in your hand and has high-quality ceramic or stainless steel blades.
• Trimming knife: If you need to trim your dog because the coat is too long and dense, you can use a specially curved trimming knife to trim the coat safely.
• Dematting knife: For stubborn tangles, you can use this tool. It loosens tangles in the undercoat and also smooths the top coat.
• Scissors: Fur scissors are suitable for sensitive areas where you want to shorten the fur, for example on the paws.

You can also use care sprays, which can relieve itching or provide the skin and coat with moisture and vitamins. The nourishing substances strengthen and protect the hair, the coat is easier to comb, shines and looks healthy.

Coat care for long-haired dogs

Long, fine hair can get stuck on the way. Therefore, it is a good idea to brush and comb your four-legged friend regularly to prevent the dog's hair from becoming matted. Coarse-toothed combs and dog brushes are suitable for this purpose. Knots can be loosened carefully with the fingers or - if there is no other way - it helps to use scissors or a de-felting knife. A plucking brush can be used to tame the dense undercoat and remove loose hairs. For long-haired dogs, keep a close eye on the hard-to-reach areas and brush regularly and trim if necessary to prevent parasites from settling in.

Coat care for short-haired dogs

Dog breeds whose coats need to be trimmed regularly require somewhat more extensive equipment. You can find important basics and instructions for trimming in our article "Trimming a dog". Other short-haired dogs, like their long-haired counterparts, may need more frequent or less frequent brushing, depending on the condition of the coat. Less dirt gets stuck in smooth, wiry coats, but fine dust finds its way here, too. In addition, especially dense short hair must be carefully aired - brush, currycomb & Co. also help here.

Coat care: How often should I brush my dog?

Especially during the coat change in spring and fall, you should allow time in your daily routine for grooming. In general, dogs with demanding, high-maintenance, long coats and dense undercoats should be brushed daily, while dogs with short coats should be brushed about once or twice a week. If you notice that your dog is scratching frequently (for example, every half hour or more) and you can rule out a parasite infestation as the cause, feel free to reach for the brush and give your darling some relief and brush out the loose hairs.