The days are longer, and the weather is a bit warmer, but pet groomers can tell you that spring is arriving because it is shedding season. Clumps, clouds, and chunks of fur are becoming apparent on dogs everywhere.
There are lots of great tools and products to help release shedding coats, and when used in combination, they make removing dead hair easier for both humans and dogs. But paws down, the correct use of your high-velocity dryer will make it the best deshedding tool in your bag of tricks.
Start with a clean dog. Dirt, dust, dander, and natural oils help keep tangles and clumpy, shedding fur stuck tight in the coat. Wash that dog until it is perfectly clean, then rinse and apply a conditioner designed to help with deshedding and dematting.
While the conditioner is in the coat, try using a slicker brush or a rake and gently brushing through the coat to loosen or remove some of the shedding fur. Use a light hand because the dog's skill will be more delicate while wet.
Rinse the dog well and towel dry as usual. Next, let the dryer magic begin.
- Use a flat nozzle on your high-velocity dryer.
- Direct the airflow towards the base of the hair, right at the skin.
- Move the nozzle slowly and methodically over the dog's body. Whipping the dryer around will not achieve the desired results.
- When the heaviest moisture has been removed, stop and spray the coat with a detangling spray.
- Brush through the coat lightly.
- Resume drying. You will see that the bulk of the shedding hair blows out at the beginning of the process but don't stop until the coat is completely dry. Towards the end, the last remnants of dead hair will release and fly away.
Letting the air volume do the bulk of deshedding is kinder to the dog's skin and your hands and arms. All that is left to do is spray the coat lightly with your deshedding spray again and run a brush, then comb through the coat to ensure all the shedding fur is gone.
Now trim the pet as requested and stand back to admire your excellent work. Then, as a groomer friend says, "Get out the BIG trash bag and clean up the mess you made."
