Grooming tools for your Aussie are a very important! Aussies have a double coat that serves to keep them cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. This only works well if your dogs is groomed regularly. I do all my own grooming of our Aussies here at Tucker Acres. For this discussion we will not be discussing cutting or trimming of their coat but rather the tools we use brush out all of that loose hair.
Because Aussies have a double coat, you would be surprised at the hair that is loose when you use the right tools. Removing loose hair will help to keep your dogs skin and coat healthier. For puppies I use a smaller set of tools (straight comb & slicker brush) than I do for my adult dogs. Puppies have what we call a 'puppy coat'. Their coat will go through several stages before their adult hair begins to come in.
Below are some of my favorite tools and some you might consider not getting.
The Straight Comb
Straight metal combs like the ones above are what I use on my puppies regularly. While these typically aren't going to pull out lose hair in smaller puppies, it does help them get used to being groomed. I comb my puppies when I am just sitting around watching TV to get them familiar with this activity. As they grow you will find this helps to loosen the fur on the back of the legs and is a great help with areas behind the ears. I also use this to groom the tummy of my adults. There are other combs with handles are varying teeth lengths. Those are also handy to have around.
The De-shedding Rake
The De-shedding Rake is wonderful for brushing whenever you feel like brushing. I use this rake on my dogs regularly. It is typically not helpful on puppy coats though. The rake will pull out tons of loose coat when its ready to come out. I recommend using this outside or in a garage as if your dog is blowing their coat you could end up with quite the mess in your home.
Dematting Tools
Not all dematting tools are alike. The blue one is designed for shorter hair than most aussies have, and the orange one is for longer hair. Personally, I am not a fan of these types of dematting tools. They can pull out some of the undercoat, but they do cut some of the hair as well. Most importantly, most of my dogs do not like to be groomed with his tool, therefore, I rarely use one.
That being said the dematting tool below is a must in my house! Just use with caution! It is very sharp!
This dematting comb is excellent for getting those matts behind the ear that magically appear when you think you have been doing all the grooming necessary for your dog! They are excellent for loosening the undercoat of those fluffy chested Aussies. I will use this comb on the chest and then go back to the straight comb or the rake. The main place I use this comb is on those long butt hairs or as many call them the "butt feathers". It is nice to be able to go deep into that hair and loosen the undercoat. I must caution you again though, this tool is sharp and those fluffy butts do have buttholes and girls have the vulva that you may not be able to see, so be very careful! While I am cautioning you to protect your dog from the sharp tool, also protect yourself. Go slow and take your time.
Slicker Brush
The slicker brush is ideal for puppies. It helps them get used to brushing. This is also a great tool for making the long hair on the back of the legs look smooth and pretty. I like to use this as a finishing tool when grooming my adults.
Comments