Benefits of a Dog Deshedding Brush
First, let's look at what you are going to be using a deshedding brush for and why it is such an invaluable tool.
Of course, a canine deshedding brush primarily does exactly what it says on the tin: it allows you to brush your dog in order to minimize shedding. This will remove loose fur that is currently embedded beneath your canine's topcoat. And by doing that, you'll enjoy a number of different benefits.
The first benefit is that you'll have much cleaner carpets and clothes. Anyone who owns a dog that sheds a lot of furs will know just how much of a problem it can be.
You've just put on a new black suit or black dress, and you're ready to head out for the night. Then you look down and you realize that it's covered in countless tiny white loose hairs – which does somewhat undermine your look. You've gone from classy and sophisticated to ‘crazy dog person' in two seconds flat!
The same goes for your home. Canine loose hairs have an unfortunate tendency to get all over everything, from your carpet and your furniture to your sideboards and your bed. This is unhygienic, of course, and it also looks bad. At that point, you will need a specially designed pet vacuum to get all that fur out.
The problem is that as your dog's fur sheds, it gets caught in all the fur that is still there. This then means that when they start running around and playing, it will come loose and leave a trail of furry destruction in their wake. Now you have hair strewn all over the house.
Lesser Fur, Lesser Odors
Oh, and it smells a bit too. As much as we love dogs, we'd be lying if we said that they smelled great. That bad odor, unfortunately, comes from the dead and loose hair, and so the more your dog sheds, the more that odor is going to be left all around the house.
Related: Best Pet Air Purifiers
How Does It Work?
Simple: it will brush through the top layer of healthy fur and penetrate down to where the unwanted loose fur and loose hairs are hiding. They will then get removed by the brush and collected at once. If your pooch is a breed that sheds a lot like the German Shepherd - the very same breed the 46th POTUS has, you will end up quite a pile of loose fur and loose hairs.
Your canine companion has now been "deshed" meaning that they have done all their shedding for a while. Loose hair will continue to fall out, sure, but it will mostly be caught in that topcoat. That means in turn that you won't get a lot of fur coming out everywhere until a significant amount has built up once again and the coat becomes "saturated".
All you need to do is to brush your dog frequently enough to prevent it from getting to that point again.
We really can't recommend using a product like this enough. The smell and the loose fur are two of the most distracting and unfortunate aspects of owning a dog. But by constantly combing, you can mitigate the issue almost entirely.
More Brushing = Happier & Healthier Dog
So that's one reason to keep brushing your furry friend. Another is that it is actually good for them.
Why is that? For lots of reasons actually.
Firstly, you'll notice that your dog looks a lot healthier as soon as you brush them. You'll find that the dead and loose hair that is no longer attached is not receiving nutrients. Therefore, it shouldn't come as a huge surprise to learn that it isn't going to be as vibrant or as glossy. The more of this dead fur is in your dog's coat, the less healthy and vibrant your pooch will look in general.
This is the equivalent of giving your face a scrub and removing the dead skin in order to reveal that healthier, more colorful skin underneath. It can take years off!
Removing Excess Fur Is Important
The other reason to remove that dead fur is that it actually thickens the coat in an unhelpful manner – making it heavy, hot, and generally uncomfortable for your pup. This is especially important in the summer then.
And I know what you might be thinking: but shouldn't we let nature do its thing? Well sure, we could… if we hadn't completely removed our dogs from nature. For starters, most pooches now live in much warmer environments assuming that you are heating your home like most people.
And at the same time, dogs in the wild would have spent a lot more time running and playing – which would help to naturally remove that unwanted fur. Your dog likely spends a lot more time on their own and not playing – meaning that they aren't getting the opportunity to freshen up their fur.
Of course, your pooch will also actually enjoy being combed. Dogs love being combed as it is essentially like getting a massage. This is a brilliant way for you to bond with your dog and to spend some time fussing with them. So while it might seem like a chore, that couldn't be farther from the truth.
But none of this is the biggest reason to keep combing your dog. That would be the fact that this form of grooming can also actually improve their skin, prevent infections, and ultimately increase their lifespan.
Your canine's fur will not only be weighed down by lots of loose hairs right now but also lots of dead skin. This creates more space for parasites to hide, and it prevents fresh air from making it to their skin.
On the other hand, if you keep combing, you will be able to remove those outer layers so that your 4-legged companion is naturally nourished by the air and the sun. not only that, but they'll also be able to benefit from increased blood circulation.
How to Use A Dog Deshedding Brush
The great news is that using a canine deshedding brush is extremely easy. In most cases, you will simply brush your dog's coat, making sure to get every area where the fur is thick and where you might expect stray hairs to have built up.
You can brush your dog's face lightly depending on their coat, but let them be your guide on this – if they seem uncomfortable then refrain. Obviously, you should be very careful around the eyes.
Usually, the advice is to deshed your canine's coat about 1-2 times per week. However, you can let your dog be your guide here once again. If they seem to be shedding a lot of fur, then you might want to do this a little more frequently or for longer. Each session should last about ten minutes, and ideally, you should do it at a time when your furry friend is relaxed and happy for a hug and a massage. This will help to reduce shedding in the future too.
The only other tip you really need to keep in mind is that you should always comb in the direction that your pooch's fur grows naturally. Don't brush against the grain, or it might be uncomfortable. And in the worst-case scenarios, this might even lead to infections and other problems.
Features To Look For
While canine deshedding brushes are generally rather simple to understand then, there are a few additional things to look out for when making your choice.
Picking the right size comb is one useful tip. Likewise, you should look for combs that are designed for your dog's fur length. It's not uncommon to find brushes that let you buy different models for different sizes. Where you have a comb that is equally suited to large, small, and medium dogs, you should generally proceed with just a little bit of caution – they may in fact not be particularly suited to any size.
In terms of features, the most useful available is easy cleaning. If you can find a brush that will let you quickly eject fur, or that will let you detach the head in order to clean, then you'll find that you spend a lot less time with the brush and that it generally looks much better and is much easier to use.
It's also a good idea to look at the bristles (or ‘blade') and just how sharp/comfortable they look. You ideally want something that's going to do the job well enough (stainless steel is preferable) but that won't be overly sharp.
Otherwise, an ergonomic brush is generally a good option, and if you can find one with a lifetime warranty then that's, of course, a fantastic bonus.
Related: Best Dog Hair Hair Vacuum
