Brush up on Brushing A good brushing will keep your dog looking and feeling great, cut down the shedding drastically, as well as alert you to any skin and coat problems.    Matts and tangles are uncomfortable and prevent healthy air circulation from reaching the skin If your dog has a short coat a soft bristled brush is perfect.  This brush is ideal for removing dead hair and spreading the skin’s natural oils.  A pin brush is best for long wavy or wire coats.  The straight pins will go deep enough to pull out the dead hair that causes matting.  The slicker brush has a rectangular head and bent wire bristles and is best on a long soft-coated dog.  Use it to work out tangles that come with curls and to keep the straight silky coat soft and shiny. The key to brushing is to angle the brush near the skin, not against it, grasp the coat just about the skin, and then brush outward usually with the grain of coat growth.  Don’t exert too much downward pressure on a dog’s skin, which can result in brush burns. Wire-toothed combs are used to clean the undercoat of dogs with heavy, dense fur that regular brushes cannot penetrate, like Chow Chows.  And if you do have matts, sprinkle talcum powder on them or snip lengthwise through the matt. Most dogs loved to be brushed, but if you live with one that doesn’t then try a hound glove which has soft rubber bristles on one side to loosen dead fur.  A dog that fights the brush will generally sit for a hound glove.