Grooming Tools for Different Coats

Different types of coats need different grooming tools.  Although all dogs have certain equipment and supplies in common, long coats require different grooming tools than smooth coats, curly coats, wire coats, etc.

Smooth-coated breeds include the Labrador Retriever, Pointer, Beagle, and Dalmatian.  The following are the basic tools for grooming the smooth coat: Natural bristle brush, hound glove, rubber curry brush, chamois, flannel, silk, or velvet squares for polishing, and  coat conditioner spray or baby oil.

For breeds with medium coats such as the Border Collie, Akita, and Golden Retriever, tools for grooming include the pin brush, coat rake, hound glove, shedding comb, rubber curry brush, and blow-dryer with low or cool setting.

Parted-coated breed include the Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, and the Yorkshire Terrier.  You will need the following tools to groom this type of breed: Pin brush, slicker brush for daily mat removal in dogs, fine, medium, or wide comb depending on coat thickness, scissors for shaping and trimming when needed, electric clippers with a #10 blade (except for Afghans) and a #15 blade for Yorkshire Terriers, blow-dryer with cool setting, and protein coat conditioner.

Examples of long-coated small breeds include the longhaired Chihuahua, Havanese, Pomeranian, and Japanese Chin.  You will need these tools to groom your long-coated small dog: Pin brush, slicker brush for daily removal in pets, fine, medium, or wide comb depending on coat thickness, scissors for shaping and trimming when necessary, electric clippers with a #10 blade, blow dryer with cool setting, and protein coat conditioner.

Examples of long-coated large breeds are the Cocker Spaniel, Bearded Collie, and Newfoundland.  You will need these tools to groom your long-coated large breed: Large pin brush, large slicker brush for daily mat removal in pets, medium or wide steel comb depending on coat thickness, coat rake, natural bristle brush, and scissors for shaping and trimming when needed.

Examples of wire-coated breeds are the Irish Terrier, Scottish Terrier, and Brussels Griffon.  The following tools are needed to groom the wire coat: Natural bristle brush, slicker brush, hound glove or terrier mitt, combination medium or fine toothed comb, shedding comb, stripping knife, scissors for shaping and trimming, electric clippers with a variety of blade sizes as relevant for breed or for shaping and keeping the anal area clean, and blow-dryer with cool setting.

Curly-coated breeds include the Standard, Miniature, and Toy Poodle, Bichon Frise, and Komondor.  Tools required to groom your wavy or curly-coated dog include the pin brush, natural bristle brush, slicker brush, combination medium or fine-toothed metal comb, shedding comb, scissors for shaping and trimming, coat dressing or coat oil spray, and electric clipper with a variety of blade sizes as relevant for breed, for shaping and keeping the anal area clean.