🐾 Brushing & Bathing Your Dog the Right Way

🐾 Yes- There is wrong ways to be doing it. If you take to the time to do, then do it well!

(Because one without the other isn’t enough)

Let’s be honest—most pet parents are trying their best.

You’re brushing.

You’re bathing.

But if they’re not done correctly…

👉 They can actually make things worse.

As a groomer, one of the biggest things I see is this:

A dog that looks clean and brushed on the surface…

but underneath? Tangles, buildup, and discomfort.

So let’s break this down in a simple, real-life way.

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✂️ First—Why Brushing and Bathing Go Together

Here’s the truth:

👉 You should never bathe a tangled or matted coat.

Water + tangles = tighter mats.

When fur gets wet, it:

• Tightens

• Clumps together

• Traps debris and moisture

That “small tangle” can turn into a solid mat after a bath.

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🪮 Step 1: Proper Brushing (Before the Bath)

Before your dog even touches water:

• Brush in layers (line brushing)

• Focus on friction areas (behind ears, legs, collar area)

• Follow with a metal comb

👉 If the comb doesn’t glide through easily…

you’re not ready to bathe yet.

This step alone prevents:

• Painful matting

• Uneven drying

• Skin irritation

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🛁 Step 2: Proper Bathing Technique

Bathing isn’t just “soap and rinse”—it’s where a lot of skin issues either improve… or start.

💧 Water First (Fully Saturate the Coat)

Especially for doodles and thick coats:

• Water needs to reach the skin

• This takes longer than most people expect

If the coat isn’t fully wet, shampoo won’t clean properly.

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🧴 Use the Right Shampoo

• Use dog-specific products

• Work shampoo through the coat—not just on top

Think: massage, not scrub

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🚫 Don’t Pile or Swirl the Hair

This is a big one.

Scrubbing in circles = tangles.

Instead:

• Smooth the coat in the direction it grows

• Gently work product through

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⏳ Rinse Thoroughly (More Than You Think)

Leftover shampoo can cause:

• Itching

• Flaking

• Irritation

👉 When you think you’re done rinsing… rinse again.

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💨 Step 3: Drying (This Is Where Most Problems Happen)

This step is everything.

Letting a dog air dry—especially a doodle or thick coat—can lead to:

• Matting

• Trapped moisture

• Yeast overgrowth

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✔️ Proper Drying:

• Towel dry first

• Use a blow dryer (pet-safe if possible)

• Brush while drying

👉 This keeps the coat straight, separated, and mat-free. Happy Hoodies or a towel wrapped around their ears can help with muffling the sound and keeping them comfortable.

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🐶 Coat-Specific Care (Now With Bathing in Mind)

🐾 Doodles / Curly Coats

• Brush before and after bathing

• Blow dry while brushing to prevent curls from tightening into mats

• Never air dry

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🐾 Double Coats

• Remove loose undercoat before bathing

• Thorough drying is key to avoid trapped moisture

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🐾 Short Hair

• Easier maintenance—but still:

• Use proper shampoo

• Rinse thoroughly

• Regular brushing keeps skin healthy

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⚠️ Common Mistakes I See All the Time

Let’s keep it real:

• Bathing before brushing

• Letting dogs air dry

• Scrubbing coats in circles

• Not rinsing thoroughly

• Skipping the comb check

• Thinking “fluffy = tangle-free”

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❤️ Groomer Truth

A clean dog isn’t always a healthy dog.

And a brushed dog isn’t always a tangle-free dog.

It’s the combination of proper brushing + proper bathing + proper drying that makes the difference.

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🐾 Final Takeaway

If you take nothing else from this:

👉 Brush thoroughly before bathing

👉 Never let a coated dog air dry

👉 Always follow with a comb check

That’s the foundation of a healthy coat.