How to Groom a Dog With a Thick Undercoat

Dog breeds such as sheepdogs, collies, golden retrievers and Alsatians have a thick undercoat. This undercoat is weatherproof and keeps the animals warm during the cold winter months. You must regularly groom a dog with a thick undercoat to prevent a build-up of clumped and matted hair and maintain its overall health. Rather than taking your dog to a professional dog groomer, use the appropriate grooming tools and techniques to easily groom its thick undercoat at home.

Things You'll Need

  • Conditioner spray or water spray bottle
  • Slicker brush
  • Grooming rake
  • Blunt-edged scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Spray your dog̵7;s undercoat with a commercial conditioner spray or water spray to detangle any matted fur that may be present. This will enable you to easily remove fur mats without causing too much pain to your dog.

    • 2

      Comb the undercoat with a slicker brush. Brush the fur all the way down to the skin. Work the comb upwards over the belly and rib cage, moving towards the neck.

    • 3

      Use a grooming rake if you observe matted fur or if your dog is shedding its coat. Part the fur all the way down to the skin and work the grooming rake through the woolly fur. The grooming rake effectively draws out huge chunks of matted fur and dead undercoat.

    • 4

      Check the area around the arm pits and around the groin for matted fur. Gently run the rake in these areas to detangle knotted fur. Use a pair of blunt-edged scissors to cut mats that are difficult to detangle with the rake.