A dog can become dull, inactive, and overweight if left for long periods inside the home. This can also lead to certain behavioural problems, such as chewing, excessive barking or a more destructive, aggressive behavior.

Grooming a dog is quite challenging for some pet owners, typically with the breeds with long-hair. To follow is some dog grooming tips on brushing the dog's coat with the least amount of effort and to be more effective.

Brushing the Dog's Coat – Irrespective of the dogs coat type, it is still important to brush it regularly. For a medium or long-haired breed, the ideal way to care and manage the coat is to have it clipped. Breeds with short-hair are easy to manage as they only require a brushing once or twice weekly.

Coats are often left longer with breeds such as Lhasa Apso and Poodles as there owners often like to style the dog's hair.

Dog Grooming Supplies – there are a variety of brushes available for a dog's grooming needs.

• Smooth Coats – a standard bristle brush and rubber brush are typically used to remove and loosen dead hair and dirt.

• Short Coats – a pinhead brush is used to remove mats and knots, than follow with a bristle brush to clear dirt.

• Long Coats – a pinhead brush or comb can be used to detangle hair that's become matted, followed with a comb (wide-toothed) to finish.

• Silky Coats – start with a pinhead brush to comb or brush the coat, follow that with a bristle brush as that will bring out the natural shine in the coat.

Here are several other Combs and Brushes to use in grooming the family pet –

• Nylon Bristle Brush – ideal for dog breeds with medium to short hair

• Slicker Brush – use this to remove dead or matted hair, a brush that can be used for everyday brushing.

• Shedding Comb – will remove loose hairs

• Massage Brush – give that extra pampering

• Soft Pin Slicker – is suited to dogs that have silky, fine and sensitive skin.

• Long-coat Comb – to be used on toy or small breeds

• Oblong Pin Brush – ideal on coarse or fine coats with undercoats.

• Regular Pin Brush – helps in detangling matted coats with its wire pins.

• Flea Comb – this comb is used to brush out fleas and their eggs with its fine teeth.

• De-matting Rake – removes loose and dead hair from the innermost layer of a pet's coat.

If in need of Odor Prevention – try one of the Zilo-Pet brushes. These brushes have bristles of stainless-steel that claim to neutralize the molecules that odours a pet's coat.

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