Enjoy Your Pet’s Affection

If you have a dog, such as a Basenji, that grows an undercoat during the winter to stay warm, then you've probably experienced first-hand just what a pain it can be during the summertime when your dog naturally begins to shed that thick undercoat. Without proper grooming, your dog's shedding can easily get out of control, but the good news is that there are some steps you can take to groom your dog's undercoat and reduce shedding.

DO Invest in a Quality Undercoat Comb

One of the best things you can do to handle your dog's undercoat is to invest in a comb or brush that's specifically designed for undercoat grooming. Generally, these combs look very similar to a comb a human would use, but the bristles alternate in length to brush through the dog's top coat and down into the undercoat. When using an undercoat comb, work your way from the dog's head to its tail, using small stokes in the same direction of fur growth.

DON'T Resort to Shaving a Dog's Fur

It's understandable that you may get frustrated by the amount of shed hair your dog produces as its sheds its undercoat during the summer. However, the last thing you should do is to resort to shaving your dog's fur. When you shave a dog with an undercoat, not only do you strip the dog of its first line of defense against pests, but you also run the risk of your dog's coat growing back patchy and uneven.

DO Give Your Dog Regular Shed Treatments

Another thing you can do to help handle your dog's undercoat is bathing your dog regularly and using an anti-shed shampoo when you do so. If bathing your own dog isn't something you're comfortable with, you can typically ask a professional groomer, like those at Pet Vet Animal Clinic & Mobile Practice Ltd, to give you dog a shed treatment and they should be able to do it with no problem. A shed treatment helps to loosen up fur so that when you brush your dog's coat after the bath, you can remove a lot of it and reduce shedding.

DON'T Wait Until Shedding Begins

Finally, make sure you're not waiting until your dog's shedding is getting noticeable before you do anything about it. If you have a dog with an undercoat, you need to stay on top of regular grooming by making sure your dog gets a bath every few weeks and is brushed at least every couple of days.