I bought the cheap baby shampoo for $.99 . It worked really well on her. She is soft and shiny. I will continue using it on her. Save a lot of money with this!
By Dorothy W. from New Creek, WV
To be thrifty, get blunt tipped scissors and shampoo from the dollar store. I also get conditioner which helps the clippers glide through fluffy fur.
I save empty dish soap bottles, then diluted both the shampoo and conditioner, for both ease of application and economy. If you find it's hard to get your dog's fur wet, then go straight to the diluted shampoo to break up the natural oils that keep the coat waterproof.
The most important thing to remember is to make your furry friend feel completely comfortable. Make it an enjoyable experience with lots of praise. If they relate having a bath and grooming to quality time with you, with lots of praise and touching, you're home free.
Remember to rinse, rinse, rinse! Sensitive dog skin doesn't like residue, and not rinsing properly is a major source of later 'hot spots'!
By Maile from Onalaska, WA
Before Grooming
After Grooming
I am going to purchase a hound brush from drsfostersmith.com. They are also known as the Hound Mitt or the Hound Glove. Do any of you use one and do any of you like it?
By Robyn from TN
By frugalsunnie
04/09/2013
A curry brush is a metal wire with what sort of look like saw teeth on one edge and is bent into an oval feeding down into a wood or hard plastic handle. It is also available in a soft plastic or rubber configuration that you slip over your hand:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=e ... f9e226b7aca&biw=1024&bih=654
The brush is used to curry (groom) horses primarily but also short hair dogs. You can buy curry brushes for dogs in the pet aisles. The item is usually listed as a 'curry comb'.
Dogs don't much care for the curry brush in my experience, I think because it 'scrapes' their boney areas and is an uncomfortable sensation for them no matter the configuration.
To be honest, I wouldn't waste the money. My dogs hated the curry brushes so much they would grab the brush, run off and hide somewhere they could chew the handle to bits-which is not something you want to have happen considering the dangers of having a dog swallowing splinters! When I tried the rubber ones that slip over the hand, the dogs would steal and eat those-also not good because the swallowed rubber can cause some pretty serious blockages and lead to sick dogs at the vet.
It took me a while to figure out but I eventually gave up the curry brush as a 'finish' to grooming sessions.
If you like the appearance the curry brush gives (it does smooth the coat and bring up a rather lovely gloss), a (genuine) boar bristle brush does the same exact thing and dogs seem to enjoy that a whole lot better than the curry brush.
Boar bristle brushes can be bought in the human hair brush aisle, sometimes for a lot less than a boar bristle brush on the pet aisle. Just be sure it is labelled as genuine boar bristle to get the glossy, smooth finish to the grooming session. (LOL, a genuine boar bristle brush does the same smoothing and shining work on human hair too:)
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Grooming Your Dog