Hey Woofa’s,

What every long haired dog owner needs to know is that YOU HAVE TO BRUSH YOUR DOG!

Knotty matted dogs aren’t happy dogs!

Imagine going about your day  for 6-8 months WITHOUT ever brushing your hair!!

Knots are uncomfortable on your dog, and I’m telling YOU this because THEY can’t!

Dogs are very vigilant, they will put up with so much before you’re even aware that something is going on with them.

I dread having to shave a long haired dog down in winter because no-one has bothered to brush their dog.

It doesn’t matter that they’re inside dogs etc etc

What matters is no matter what the weather is doing your dog should not be a matted mess.

There’s really no excuse for it – even though I’ve heard plenty of them.

Matted hair on your dog can cause bruising – yes I’m serious because I’ve seen it.

However, your dog won’t show the pain, you don’t see the bruising until you’re shaving the hair off.

Yes I’ve seen it!

I’m telling you this on behalf of all long haired dogs out there!

Hear ye, hear ye!!

WHY DO DOGS GETTING KNOTTY?

Quite simply it’s because owners don’t brush them, at all or enough, or correctly!!!

It’d be the same if you never brushed your long hair except your dog’s hair is all over it’s body!

If I received a dollar for each time I heard the following excuses- I’d be a rich gal!

1. My dog won’t let me brush it;
2. My child doesn’t brush the dog;
3. It’s my kids dog;
4. I do brush the dog (but it’s a matted mess);
5. We only went away for the weekend and the dog ended up this way;
6. The dog got out and ended up this way.

You get the idea, bottom line is, Groomers don’t care about the excuse they just want the owners to be responsible enough to brush their dog.

If you buy a long haired dog, this is part of owning a long haired dog, BRUSHING YOUR LONG HAIRED DOG!

Groomers are like Santa Claus in that we know who’s brushing their dog and who’s not brushing their dog lol

SOME ACTIONS THAT CAUSE KNOTS IN YOUR DOG!

1. In winter (or any time of year), some dogs wear jackets and the jacket rubs against the dog’s hair as it moves and if it’s not brushed, knots occur.  If those knots are ignored they turn into matting.
2. Throughout the year, dogs shed hair.  It’s old hair that comes away from the coat, now if it’s not brushed out (a de-shed) then that dead hair sits on the coat and causes knots, which lead to matting.
3. If a dog scratches behind it’s ear, if not brushed, this can cause knots.
4. How you pet your dog can cause knots, because you’re rubbing the hair back and forth generally in the one spot, if it’s not brushed – knots occur.
5. Not brushing your dog before and after their bath and drying time can cause knots.
6. If your dog is a roller, loves to roll around in the grass or on the carpet or anywhere, if not brushed, this can cause knots.
7. If your dog wears a collar, underneath the collar can become knotty;
8. Same if your dog wears a harness for walking, underneath the harness becomes knotty;
9. Around the legs, behind the ears, around the bottom etc can become excessively knotty, if not brushed;
10. Pretty much wherever there is hair on your dog can become knotty.

There are many reasons why your dog’s hair knots up, as I said above, imagine not brushing your hair for 6-12 months and expecting it to be fine.

HOW DO I KEEP MY DOG KNOT FREE FOR WINTER?

I guess it’s not just for winter time, we want to keep our long haired dogs knot free ALL THE TIME!

The obvious answer is TO BRUSH YOUR DOG EVERY DAY!

Yes and I mean everyday, take 5-10mins everyday to brush your dog all over and you won’t have knots.

However, you want to brush them all over and with the right brush for your dog’s hair type.

Lots of dogs come in for grooming and they still have knots down their legs, under their arms, around their bottom area and toilet areas, and feet.

Some  just brush their dog down the back and think that’s enough.

Everywhere there is hair, it needs brushing.

The other option is, if YOU don’t want to do it, BOOK IN REGULARLY WITH A TRUSTED DOG GROOMER!

How often you see your groomer will depend on the amount of brushing you’re willing to do at home.

Even if you book in once a month, you’re still going to need to keep up with some brushing at home every day.

You can’t neglect to brush your dog for months and expect the dog groomer to stand there and brush the matted knots out, it doesn’t work that way.

Sadly, they will have to be shaved down.

And it’s as simple as that, you have to commit to brushing your dog, to keep it knot free.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

If you have a long haired dog, no matter what the size, you have to commit to keeping their hair brushed.

Brushing your long haired dog every day all over will help to keep the knots away.

If you don’t want to or can’t keep up with the brushing you will have to commit to booking in with a trusted Dog Groomer who can help you and your dog!

It’s what every responsible dog owner does.

IN THE COMMENTS BELOW – BILLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW – HOW OFTEN YOU’RE BRUSHING YOUR DOG?

Cheers