The following list is of reasons to brush your dog's coat - even if he has short fur that doesn't tangle or mat.

• Brushing your dog goes a long way towards keeping his coat clean.
• He enjoys the brushing itself, the close contact, and the extra attention.
• Brushing removes the extra hairs. (If you brush often enough, there won't be anything extra for him to shed on his own.)
• Brushing makes his coat looks very nice because (long-haired dogs) it removes mats and (all dogs) adds sheen.
• While brushing your dog's coat, you can do a quick check for any problems (foxtails, cuts, mange, hot spots, etc.)

After a bath, we start with his face. Although his face isn't very hairy, it helps the hairs dry quicker and look smoother. Tangles and mats can form behind the ears, so we give that area special attention. While holding the ear with one hand, brush with the other. This way, the brushing won't be yanking his ear too much. Brush all of his hair in two ways as you go. Brush in the direction the hair grows to start, then go the opposite way after the hair is tangle free. This makes his hair stand up nicely. Tangles can also form on the tail, on the backs of his legs, and in his "armpits." Start the brushing at the ends of the hairs and work closer and closer to the skin. This will usually untangle the hair nicely.

If you are gentle, brushing is a very pleasant experience for him and a nice way for you two to bond. He loves the attention!

A mat is actually hair from his undercoat that has become loose and gotten stuck in some of his topcoat. When long-haired dogs shed for the warm weather, you can speed this along by giving him a good brushing. You will find that the brush will get full of hair quickly. Just pull this hair off and throw it into a bag. If your dog's coat feels coarse and thin, you have gotten all of the undercoat, he will feel much cooler, and he shouldn't shed anymore for the year. (Some people throw the undercoat hair away, but some actually spin this like wool and knit things with it!) The best way to deal with mats is to prevent them by brushing him often, especially when the weather warms up.