GUIDE · GROOMING

Brushing a shedding dog or cat: a simple at-home routine

Brushing won't stop a healthy pet from shedding, but it moves loose hair onto the brush instead of onto your floors and furniture. It also gives you a regular look at your pet's skin and coat. This routine is written for ordinary at-home brushing. Follow your veterinarian's or groomer's advice for your pet's specific coat.

How often and how long

Short and frequent beats long and rare. A few minutes at a time is easier on you and your pet than one long session.
During heavy shedding, many owners brush several times a week. Long or double coats usually need more attention than short, smooth coats.
Stop while your pet is still relaxed, so the next session starts on a good note.

Step by step

Pick a calm moment and an easy-to-clean spot, such as after a walk or meal, on a towel or a hard floor.
Let your pet sniff the brush and reward calm behaviour with a treat or praise.
Brush in the direction the hair grows, one section at a time: back and sides first, where most pets are comfortable.
Use light pressure. Let the bristles do the work. Pressing hard with fine wire pins can irritate skin.
Go gently on sensitive areas such as the belly, legs, tail, armpits and behind the ears. Skip them if your pet objects and come back another day.
Clear the brush often. A full brush picks up less. A brush with a release button lets you push the collected hair off without picking it out by hand.
Finish with a reward and put the hair straight in the bin.

Mats and tangles

Work small tangles loose with your fingers or the tip of the brush, holding the hair near the skin so you don't pull.
Don't cut mats out with scissors close to the skin: it is easy to cut your pet. Large or tight mats are a job for a professional groomer.

Cats and nervous pets

Many cats prefer very short sessions. Watch for a flicking tail, flattened ears or skin twitching, and stop before it turns into a swat.
Start with the places your pet already enjoys being stroked, and build up slowly over days.
If brushing is always a struggle, ask your vet or a groomer for tips or a different type of brush for that coat.

What to watch for

While you brush, look for bald patches, redness, flaky skin, lumps, fleas or sore spots. If you find anything unusual, or your pet suddenly sheds far more than normal, talk to your veterinarian. This guide is general information, not veterinary advice.

Then clean up the rest

Some hair will still end up on the couch. Our pet hair removal guide covers furniture, bedding, laundry and car seats.

Tools we sell for this

We keep our range small. If you want a tool for the jobs above:

FurLift Reusable Pet Hair Roller: a reusable plastic roller for picking up cat and dog hair from furniture, bedding and clothing. Because it is reusable, there are no adhesive refills to keep buying.
Shedding Kit: Pet Hair Roller + Grooming Brush: the same roller plus a grooming brush with a release button for clearing out the hair it collects.

Prices are in CAD and we currently ship to Canada (excluding Quebec). You don't need to buy anything to use this guide: most of the tips work with things you already have at home.