Combs, rakes and dematters are necessary tools to take care of your dog's snarled hair.
Things to consider:
Health Concerns – Combs, rakes, and dematters are each essential in keeping your dog from scratching, biting at himself, and pulling out his fur. Cleaning out mats will also protect the skin underneath from getting irritated and from growing sores that could eventually be infected.
Selecting the Tools – Are you using the right tool for the right job?Fine–toothed dog grooming combs work on thin, soft, or silky coats; medium–toothed groom normal coats, and wide–toothed combs are used on heavy coats. Flea combs groom the hair around your dog´s eyes. Rakes remove dead hair from the undercoat of larger dogs with coarse, thick coats. Slickers can also remove the dead undercoat fur, especially for longhaired dogs, but they are also useful for general brushing. Pin brushes with rounded tips are best for dogs with long, fine hair. Bristle brushes are used on dogs with very long coats. For shorthaired breeds, a grooming mitt is an excellent choice.
The Gentle Approach – If your dog has matting, you should try placing one hand beneath each mat before combing it out. This reduces discomfort caused by pulling on her skin. If you want your dog to be calm during her grooming, you must use a gentle approach. You should always use a reassuring tone to your voice.
