1. Tool: Large, wooden-handled, wide-tooth comb
Use this very wide-tooth comb to go through the entire body and the legs. Wherever the comb snags, keep working that spot until you can pull the comb through those wide teeth without resistance.
2. Tool: Dual-tooth comb (one half wider, the other finer)
EVarious versions exist — any good-quality one will do.
Comb the dog again, first with the wider side, then with the finer side.
When detangling, don’t just skim the top of the coat: draw the comb right down to the roots, because mats often form at the base, not the surface. Be gentle. While you’re combing one area, use your other hand to hold the skin just above the section you’re working on so you don’t tug the skin.
Work from the neck towards the tail. Comb the face and beard thoroughly. Don’t give up on stubborn knots — the finer side will usually open them. Don’t forget the tail; leave the legs for last.
Once the leg coat is fully detangled and combed out, don’t touch it afterwards with a brush or any other tool.
3. Tool: Coat King stripper (20-tooth)
A 20-tooth Coat King makes it easy to strip out dead coat. (Available at www.selbruha.hu website, or by phone: 06-1-413-7312)
If you completed the previous steps thoroughly, your dog probably looks like a big, fluffy teddy by now.
Up to this point you’ve only prepared the coat for stripping. Now, using the stripper, work from the neck back in brisk strokes. After a stroke or two, clean the tool, then continue, stripping the following areas:
– neck (front, back, sides)
– back
– both sides
– tail
– shoulder blades and
– outside of the rear thighs
4. Tool: “Slicker” brush (small, soft wire)
With the soft slicker, brush the face: sweep the brow backwards, and brush all the other facial hair forwards towards the nose.
5. Tool: Firm wire brush (“red brush”)
Brush the entire body thoroughly. This also removes dust from the coat.
6. Tool: Blunt-tipped scissors
Finally, use blunt-tipped scissors to tidy and shape.
It’s crucial that the dog stands calmly here. You can take breaks at any stage so the dog doesn’t get fidgety because it needs a moment.
Trim the hair on the flat forehead above the eyes right down to the roots. Then shorten the eyebrows, following the angle of the eye. Remove the bulk under the ears and along the cheeks completely. Trim any hair overhanging the ear edges (carefully outline the ear) — take care not to nick the skin.
Trim the hair under the jaw short — be careful, there may be skin tags here. Carefully shorten any dirty, dark hairs at the corners of the mouth.
Legs: Shorten any hair beyond the nails, and trim between the pads as far as safely possible. You’ll reach the areas between the pads best if you lay the dog on its side.
Tail & hygiene areas: Very carefully trim the hair on the underside of the tail and around the rear openings down to the roots. For males, also trim the hair on the sheath neatly. From the chest hair, take off just enough so that during urination the stream doesn’t reach it.
The end result will look a little odd — longer coat here, shorter there — but you can be sure it feels just as good for the dog as it does for us to plunge into cool water after a hot day’s work.
And of course, after all that, your dog deserves a reward and a good romp!
Source: Syrius-Family kennel