How often do you line comb?

M

mavendark

Forums Regular
I'm still a bit of a noobie at brushing/combing so I wanted to ask some general questions in regards to maintaining the coat --

1) How often do you line brush?
2) How long does it take when you line brush? It takes me 2-4 hours per dog (my 50lb non-sheltie takes 4+ hrs to comb and my 24lb sheltie takes at least 2 hrs).
3) Is it "okay" to use a rake and pin brush to just comb through the coat (without line brushing) two times a week to maintain? Or is it better to line comb every once in a while (during shedding season)?

As you can see, it takes me a long time to line brush and I'm not sure if this is normal or not. It is also rough on my back. And line brushing is not something that I wish to do every week. But my house is overrun with hair, and quoting someone else on this forum, "dog hair is a condiment." :lol::lol: I also hear that using a high velocity dryer helps. How often should I use that?
 
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I don't line comb. I used to on my Aussie boys, but my two shelties don't have massive coats. I can just use a shedding rake and do a pretty bang up job.
 
If they are blowing coat, I use the rake. Other than that I line comb once a week, takes about 30 minutes for each dog. I don't get everything, nor do I intend to. I do what my arthritic hands allow. I have also used the pin brush if I have to help loosen the coat.
 
My dog does not have a big coat, so I line brush, like really line brush, maybe twice a year. The rest of the year, I just take a pin brush to her every week or two depending on how bad she's shedding.
 
I try to line brush just to get down to the skin once a week. I only line comb several times a year when they're shedding or have thatch. I use a rake then too...it get so much of the dead hair out and I find it easier.

I think if you keep up with brushing them regularly, you'll know when they need line combing. And regular brushing will help maintain their coats so it's not as bad. Just remember to always spritz with water before you brush so you don't break the hair. I like to put a drop of essential peppermint oil in my spray bottle in the summer. In the winter, I use lavender oil. They smell so good!
 
Just curious, when you rake or use the pin brush and are not line brushing, you just brush all the way down like you would brush your hair right? No special techniques to that? (Maybe I'm just thinking into this too much...) :P:P
 
I back brush the hair first with the pin brush all over the body to get down to the skin. Then I start at the tail and brush in the direction it grows. If you just brush in the direction it grows (which is fine for a quick daily brushing) you don't get to mats or tangles that might be in the undercoat.

You're not overthinking. These are good questions! :smile2:
 
I do a quick brush at least 2 times a week, and then line brush at least once a week, or every week and a half. I try to do it every week because it seems the fur on her body is pretty good but her pants and tail get knotted pretty quick.

It takes 5-10 minutes for a quick brush and about 30-40 minutes for a line brush (she's in a weird coat phase right now, lol!)
 
line brush when they blow

When the shedding steps up is when I go after them with line brushing...I do brush alot. Just to try to keep up with the never ending fur, and to distribute the natural oils because I live in high desert arid climate, and to see if there is anything going on with their skin. I think it depends on the coat of the dog. Kaleigh is my problem one with easily developed matting-neither of my sables matted like her, but my previous tricolored had the issue.
 
Thanks for all your answers! It really helps me get some clarity when I know what others (who are much more experienced than me) are doing. But I am amazed that you can finish line brushing within 30-40 minutes! Maybe it's because my dog fidgets around so much and I spend 1/3 the time chasing him down and pulling him back! :gaah
 
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