Grooming is an important part of your dog's health, with regular brushing and combing helping to remove dead hair and dirt and prevent matting. Dogs who are regularly groomed tend to have a healthier and shinier coat because it stimulates the blood supply to the skin.

Dog grooming refers to both the hygienic care and cleaning of a dog, as well as a process by which a dog's physical appearance is enhanced for showing or other types of competition. A dog groomer is a person who earns their living grooming dogs.

Curry or Curry Brush: A tool made of rubber or plastic with short "teeth." The tool is rubbed (or "curried") over the dog's coat to loosen dirt, hair, and other detritus, and stimulate the skin into producing natural oils. Metal currycombs should never be used, as they are designed for removing hair from brushes only. Currycombs usually have the handle made of plastic or wood. They are more commonly used for dogs that have large amounts of hair that has shed such as for the German Shepherds. They are also used for untangling knots in certain parts of the dog's body such as ears, paws or tail. Using a currycomb must be done carefully as the action of this type of tool can harm the skin of the dog, if pulled too hard.
Shedding blade: A metal shedding blade with short, dull teeth is used to remove dead hair from certain types of harsh coats. The shedding blade is not used to cut the hair.
Scissors and clippers: Cutting tools used to remove/shorten hair on certain types of coats or in sensitive areas.Not all types of coat are suitable for clipping i.e. double coated breeds such as Border Collies are designed to keep the dog cool in summer and warm in winter, and should not be clipped unless the dog is matted. The typical pair of scissors for dog grooming is between 6.5 and 9 inches long, longer than typical hair dressing scissors. Some are designed with a blunt tip to prevent any injuries due to the dog moving around.
Stripping Combs/Knives: Tools used to help grab the longer hairs on a harsh coat and pull them out by the root. Helps maintain a proper coat in many terriers and schnauzers. Most often used on show dogs.
Grooming a dog before it is bathed is important as it frees up and removes dead undercoat and matting, and allows proper penetration of water and shampoo to the skin. This can be done by using a slicker brush all over its body, especially on its legs, and the places where knotting occurs frequently. Groomers sometimes use a metal comb when combing for the second time, paying more attention to the toes and between the toes. Metal combs can be helpful in the areas of the dog's body that are common spots for knots. Brushing and combing the tail is also important as it is a commonly missed area.
Dog brushes come in various sizes and shapes can be made from metal, plastic and Wood. Although there are many types of dog brushes, they are not very popular amongst the professional dog groomers as most of them prefer using teasels. Dog brushes are perfect for breeds that have long and fragile hair, especially if the coat is getting properly taken care of. Common dog brushes are the bristle brush, wire pin brush, and the slicker brush.

Dog grooming supplies

Apart from the elementary grooming equipment that is a must for every owner who wants to groom his dog, there are other grooming supplies as well. Shampoos and conditioners are common grooming supplies used by every dog owner. They can be found in every specialty store or on the Internet. Owners are recommended to use only shampoos, conditioners and rinses that are especially designed for dogs. Similar products that are designed for people might be harmful to the skin of the dogs. They are used to clean thoroughly the coat and some of them are even intended to fight against fleas and ticks. Canine shampoos and conditioners are available in a wide variety of fragrances and strengths, with uses including whitening, colour enhancing/darkening, deep cleansing, sensitive skin/puppy shampoo, remoisturising, flea and tick removal/repellent, and volumising.Dog owners who want to groom their pets at home will need ear and eye supplies. Cleaning the ears and the eyes of the dogs is also part of a complete grooming. Different ear and eyes kits are available on the market and they are especially designed for this matter.
Dental care is also to be considered while grooming. This is however quite a difficult mission, given that dogs hardly allow their teeth to be brushed. The dental kits available on the market include everything from special tooth paste to toothbrushes. Many models of toothbrushes include a three flexible head design which maintains the proper pressure on all surfaces of the tooth with every stroke. These brushes have side bristles set the 45 degree angles to reduce the arm twisting and soft outer bristles for massaging the gums. Toothpaste designed to be used on dogs is usually natural sugar free toothpaste with different flavoring. Foaming or rinsing is not necessary.Finishing touches can be added with finishing supplies, including perfumed sprays, ribbons and many other accessories.
Grooming tables make the entire activity more comfortable and safer, but they are normally used by professional groomers and owners who have dogs that enter competitive shows.