Brushing helps rid your dog’s coat of debris, reduces the amount of loose hair from shedding, helps condition her coat by distributing natural skin oils and gives you a chance to inspect your dog’s coat for any problems she might have from fleas to wounds to tumors. How often you brush your dog depends on what type of coat she has. Likewise, what brush you should use depends on your dog’s coat. The following are some common types of brushes: pin brushes (brushes with small, metal-covered pins) are usually best for dogs with long, curly, wavy or wiry coats. Bristle brushes can be used with short-haired dogs or to add shine to your long-haired dog’s coat after her initial brushing. Slicker brushes are used for long-haired dogs. Rubber brushes and grooming gloves are best for short-haired dogs. A shedding blade, as it names implies, is a good tool to help manage the coats of heavy shedding dogs. De-matting combs are specifically designed to help you remove mats from your dog’s fur.

No matter which type of brush you use, here are some pointers to make your dog's coat gleam and make her look forward to being groomed: