As beloved canines continue to become even more popular, the dog grooming industry has taken off, with new products coming out left and right. One can easily become perplexed and overwhelmed when visiting a pet supply store just looking at all the dog grooming supplies for sale. Dog grooming equipment has evolved over the years, and much of that evolution has brought us tools that make grooming our dogs much easier.
Here is a list of some of the most popular and useful dog grooming tools for your pet and what they do:
- Dog Nail Groomer (Rotary) – If you are familiar with Dremel tools, you will know that this nail care device is based on the same concept. Instead of using a nail clipper to snip each nail off, the rotary dog grooming tool spins quickly and enables you to sand your dogs nails down. This is much less traumatic for your dog, and prevents nails being cut at the quick, which can cause pain and bleeding .
- Dog Slicker – This is a dog brush that is especially designed to remove hair from the dog’s undercoat, while at the same time protecting the hair of the topcoat from being removed. When dogs shed, it is the undercoat that needs to be groomed, and owners often use a regular brush which removes more of the topcoat than is necessary and this is not good for your dog.
- Undercoat Rake – Like the slicker, this is a dog grooming tool that is designed specifically to remove the shedding and loose hair on the dog’s undercoat. There are different sizes and widths, depending on the size of your dog.
- Shedding Blade – This is a loop-style tool that has a dual purpose of helping remove shedding hair as well as also assisting in water removal after the dog has been bathed. The smooth side is used almost like a squeegee to slick off excess water from the coat.
- Flea Comb – This is a very fine-toothed comb to be used in the removal of fleas. The fine tines on the comb help comb out the dog’s fur and make it easier to remove fleas.
- De-Shedding tool – This is a comb-style brush, with only one row of tines that is specifically designed to remove shedding fur. With only one row of tines, it makes it easier to remove fur without all of it getting caught in a brush, making it harder to remove.
- Matting Comb – This is a brush that is actually a series of needle-like spikes. This can be used on dogs that shed a lot, and if used with a rolling motion can pick up a lot of hair. Be very careful using these tools, as the sharp points can hurt and break the skin if they poke you.
Other tools not listed here include shears, mat removers, and dog clippers. There are dog grooming courses available to teach you the best way to groom your canine, which may help if you are unfamiliar with dog grooming.
