Brush, comb or clip: matching the tool to the coat

Read the coat before buying anything

Four coat types cover most pets: short and smooth, short with a dense undercoat, long and silky, and curly or woolly. Each one tangles in a different place, and each one needs a different tool.

A tool bought for the wrong coat either skims the surface or pulls. On a dense coat the useful tool reaches the undercoat; on a silky coat the useful tool is gentle at the ends and does not drag.

Slicker, rake and comb

A slicker brush carries fine wire pins on a cushioned pad. It lifts loose coat and opens small tangles, which makes it the first tool most owners reach for on a medium coat.

A rake reaches deeper into a double coat, and a metal comb checks the work: if the comb passes through without catching, the brushing is finished. Pins with rounded tips matter on a pet who dislikes being brushed.

• Slicker: loose coat and small tangles.
• Rake: a dense undercoat on a double-coated pet.
• Comb: the check after brushing, not the brushing itself.

Clippers: blade, guard comb and heat

Guard combs snap over the blade and set the cutting length, which is what makes a clipper useful for tidy-ups rather than full clips. Feet, the edges and the area under the tail are the usual jobs.

Blades warm up as they run. A spare blade, or a pause while the first one cools on a hard surface, keeps a session short for the pet and for the person holding the clipper.

• A second blade rather than a longer run.
• Guard combs for length, the blade for close work.
• A cordless body for the underside and the feet.

Clean the tools and store them dry

Coat and oil collect between the pins and under the blade. A few seconds with a comb after each session keeps both tools working the way they did on the first day.

Store brushes pin-side up in a dry place and wipe clipper blades before they go back in the case. Damp tools rust, and a rusty pin catches on the coat.