The Grooming Shelf

Regular brushing cuts shedding, prevents mats, and is the easiest health check you will ever do — you feel lumps and skin changes firsthand. Match the tool to the coat: slickers for long and tangle-prone fur, rubber curry brushes for short coats, steel combs for finishing. Nail grinders beat clippers for nervous pets because there is no single wrong cut. Bathe only as needed with pet-formulated products; over-bathing dries skin out.