If you own a dog, particularly one with longer coat, you'll already know what a problem tangles can be. They irritate your dog, and they only get worse if you don't act against them right away. As with most doggie problems, prevention is better than treatment. With that in mind, here are just four tips to follow if you want to keep your dog's coat tangle-free.
1. Brush Regularly with the Right Brush
If you wait until tangles develop to start brushing, you've waited too long. Instead, brush your dog regularly, at least once a week for longer-coated dogs. Your dog will enjoy this more since it feels more like getting pet than the unpleasant pulling they must endure when tangles start to develop. Just make sure you use the right kind of brush. Cheaper types with plastic nubs at the end of each pin aren't ideal. Instead, invest in a good one that's made with breeds like yours in mind.
2. Bathe Regularly with the Right Conditioning Shampoo
A rich conditioning shampoo helps soften your dog's coat, which means that tangles are far less likely to develop. You'll also be wetting down your dog's coat, which prevents loose hair coming out and causing tangles of its own. Finally, a good conditioning shampoo will increase the strength of your dog's coat, making further loose hair less likely.
3. Use a Detangling Spray
After you've treated your dog to a bath with some rich conditioning shampoo, try spraying them with some detangling spray. These sprays do two important things to prevent tangled hair. Firstly, they soften the coat, just like good conditioning shampoo does. Secondly, the leave a slip agent in the hair to keep everything flowing without getting matted. Just make sure you use a detangling spray formulated for dogs rather than humans, and don't ever feel tempted to use it on yourself!
4. Try Thinning Shears
As much as you might be tempted, you should never shave down a dog's coat — they use their hair to regulate body temperature and protect their pale skin from the sun's harmful UV rays. However, you could think about using thinning shears to cut down on tangle-prone areas and make them a little less dense. If you aren't comfortable doing this yourself or simply don't want to bother picking up a pair of thinning shears, contact a dog grooming service in your area.