two dogs a girl and groominggrooming and training your dog

What are the best deshedding tools for grooming dogs.?

Okay, I admit it, I can get into the propaganda thing! Brutus, my newfie, can produce a houseful of shedding in one minute. Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration. I’ve seen this furminator things. They cost a lot. My last furbaby (lab/shep/? mix) didn’t have a double coat so he only needed occassional grooming. (Although we pretty much did it daily because he who held the brush is was loved.) Brutus needs daily grooming. Sometimes, twice daily. Can anyone recommend good grooming tools to reduce the hair. If this furminator really a good thing? What about other tools? The name “furminator” puts in mind a bald dog shivering the cold and having all fur terminated on his body. gasp.

A newfie not only has a double coat, they have a long double coat. In order to remove the loose hair, you need tools that will get literally “to the bottom of things” and enable you to brush out the coat from down at skin level.

I would suggest 3 tools: First, a matbreaker or an undercoat rake. If the dog has any matted areas, or spots where the coat is so thick it seems too dense to get through, the matbreaker is probably best. If the coat is in good shape, a rake will help remove the dead undercoat. Work from the skin out and literally break up the dense areas or matted coat. Work methodically through every inch of the dog, usually starting with the back quarters and working forward. Use your hand to part the hair in lines as you go, so you can easily keep track of what areas you’ve brushed.

Second, use a slicker brush. For a newfie’s coat, the Franks Univerasal slicker in size Large is probably best. The pins on these professional grade brushes are strong enough to get all the way down into a newfie’s coat. Again, line brush from the skin out, not just over the top of the coat. Don’t forget classic “trouble spots” behind the ears, and in the armpit and groin areas.

Lastly, use a good metal comb with at least 1 1/8 inch long teeth spaced 1/8 of an inch apart, to get the last of the loose coat and as a way of checking to make sure you’ve gotten all the dead coat and matts out. A “greyhound style” in Medium/coarse or what is called a “poodle comb” is what the pros use and is well worth the money you pay for a good one.

Those combs with the rotating teeth that claim to remove undercoat don’t work well and break easily, and the Furminator on a coat like a newfie will be equally ineffective. Shedding blades are pretty worthless on long coats, as well. Put a bit of money into good equipment and it not only will do the job, but will last. You can probably pick up all three tools for less than you would spend at the groomer to have your dog done professionaly.

You can also check with a local groomer for advice on proper tools. Most times they will be happy to help you out, and even show you how to get the job done, knowing that they could gain a potential customer when you decide you need help, and also knowing that you’ve made at least some effort at home grooming and so most likely your dog will be accustomed to the process.

Poodle Dog Grooming : Poodle Dog Grooming Tools

Crypton Dog Grooming Apron …

Dog Drying Mitt $6.99 The Dog Drying Mitt is the grooming tool that will dry your pet thoroughly in the least amount of time. This microfiber dog wash accessory fits over your hand and dries pets like a sponge by using the same gentile stroking motion you use when petting them. Pet sitters and groomers alike love this time saving grooming tool. Dog Drying Mitt Features Fun paw print pattern. Super absorbent micr…

Scissor Sharpener $419.95 This Professional model Twice As Sharp? scissors sharpener is recommended for sharpening pet grooming, high quality fabric shears and low priced barber and beauty shears. The Professional Honing wheel (on the right), combined with the standard sharpening wheel, produces shears 4-6 times sharper than brand new….

Dremel 7300-PT 4.8-Volt Pet Grooming Kit $24.97 The Dremel Pet Grooming Kit offers a safe, effective way to keep your pet’s nails neat and trim. Rather than risk damage and discomfort with clippers or scissors, use the kit’s rotary tool for painless, easy grooming of your pet’s nails. The rotary tool gently grinds down claws using speeds that are appropriate to the task. And because it is cordless, the rotary tool provides optimum control over …

Dremel 7300-N/8 MiniMite 4.8-Volt Cordless Two-Speed Rotary Tool $24.97 Add the finishing touch with the lightweight Dremel 7300-N/8 MiniMite cordless two-speed rotary tool. Thanks to its compact size and comfortable soft grips, the rotary tool helps you keep a steady hand while you work. Featuring two speeds and eight different accessories, this tool is ideal for a variety of delicate tasks that are too small for bulky machines. And it’s built for efficiency, too: if…

Dremel 432 1/2 120 Grit Sanding Bands 6 Pack $1.76 The Dremel 1/2-Inch Sanding Band is ideal for rough-shaping and smoothing wood and fiberglass, as well as removing rust from metal and shaping rubber surfaces. This cylinder sanding band is covered with fine 120-grit aluminum oxide abrasive. This purple sanding band is easily replaceable and comes in a pack of six….

Bichon Frise Dog Grooming Instructional How To DVD Video and Equipment Guide $24.99 This DVD is Performed and Explained by a Certified Pet Stylist! Why pay $55 and up to take your Bichon Frise to the Groomer every 4-6 weeks? Buy this DVD and learn to do it all yourself at home with ease and confidence! You will learn how to express the anal glands and when you need to do this. I show in detail where the anal glands are located and what to expect while expressing the glands. You w…

Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser $42.50 Easier and more effective than string floss! Healthier gums in just 14 days guaranteed. Removes 99.9% of plaque from treated areas (see side panel for details). Up to 93% more effective than string floss at improving gum health (see side panel for details). Cleans deep between teeth and below the gumline. Six unique tips included. 10 pressure settings – optimum control. In-lid storage – keeps tips…

Tweezerman Men’s Shaving Brush $9.25 This high quality shaving brush is made of 100% badger hair, the preferred bristle for creating a rich lather. The densely filled brush head is ideal for holding and distributing lather. Helps soften and raise beard while gently exfoliating the skin in preparation for a close, comfortable shave….

Panasonic ER430K Vacuum Nose/Facial Hair Trimmer, Black $29.99 .pnaw_overview{background:url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/hpc/detail-page/pnaw-overview.jpg) no-repeat center; padding:40px 0 0 0; font-weight:bold; font-size:12px; color:#0614b2; text-align:center; border: 1px solid #D2D2D2;} .pnaw_overview_text{padding:0 0 0 0; font-weight:bold; font-size:12px; color:#0614b2; text-align:center; border: 1px solid #D2D2D2;} .pnaw_underimage{font-si…