How often should you to brush your dog
Ideally, you’ll want to brush your dog every day to start. For a puppy especially, this will get him used to being groomed so you can avoid brushing-related behavior problems in the future.
How often you brush your dog after he’s used to it will depend on the length of his coat. You can stick with once a day, but most short-haired dogs only need to be brushed once a week. Dogs with thick coats will need to be brushed two or three times a week, more often during the beginning of spring and autumn when shedding is the worst. Dogs with long hair will likely require daily grooming to avoid tangles or mats.
If you fit dog brushing into your daily routine, you’ll keep your dog’s coat clean and healthy and build his trust in you.
General Brushing Instructions
You can brush your dog either on the floor or a grooming table. Have him lay down or use a lead and collar for more control. If he squirms too much, place your knee on the leash close to the collar to hold him in place and keep your hands free.
Start at the front and brush hair against the direction of growth
Choose one side and brush your dog from his head back to his tail. Work with small sections and brush the hair against the direction of growth. Make sure to part the hair down to the skin to prevent matting. Repeat the process on the other side.
Continue at the rear and brush hair in the direction of growth
When you’re done brushing from head to tail, work your way from the tail forward. This time brush in the direction of hair growth.
These are only general instructions for how to brush a dog. You should consult a professional groomer or your breeder for specifics on brushing your dog. This is particularly true if he has long hair or his coat is excessively matted or tangled.