A trip to the pet store in search of dog grooming tools may leave you overwhelmed and ready to call your dog groomer. While we dog groomers are helpful, sometimes you need to groom your pup yourself. Luckily, this article will shed some light as to which brushes or combs will be helpful. Rakes Rakes may look horrific; however, their long teeth work very well on dogs with longer fur and even better on dogs with long multi-layered coats. When approaching an already well-groomed dog with a long coat, a rake is the starting point. Caution and gentleness should be used. Hurrying with a rake could hurt your pet. Slickers Slickers are a pad with bent bristles on a rotated handle. The angled handle and bristles allow for slower, wider coverage for smoothing fur and removing much looser, shorter fur. A slicker will not fix deep mats in dogs with long hair. Slickers, for dogs with short hair, may be the only tool needed. A dog with longer hair obviously requires more time and more tools. This is something to consider when finding a forever friend. Bristles Depending on the type of dog, bristles can be extremely effective for cutting down on excess fur around the house. Bristles are generally stiff, but soft, and pick up hair. They also are a way to remove the last bits of fur after a long grooming session on a long-haired dog. The bristles do not separate out the hair much and should not be expected to be successful as the only product for a long-haired dog. Bristles also function to get a puppy accustomed to brushing. De-matting Combs A de-matting comb is necessary when a medium to long-haired dog has gone too long without being groomed. This comb allows the mats to be cut but, as opposed to scissors, will allow the mat to be removed with minimum fur loss. Taking scissors to an angry mat may seem like a good idea but moments later may leave a large chunk out of your pooch's coat. Specialty scissors are available with balls on the points for the dog’s safety if scissors become unavoidable. Shedding Tools A variety of specialty tools has popped up and these are often made available through infomercials. These tools tend to have a significant impact and effectively prevent shedding for a longer period of time compared to older tools. These newer tools show no evidence of damaging the quality of future fur growth. If you are looking to take a step against future shedding but are less interested in having an impact that is immediate, conventional shedding tools are the way to go. Shedding tools--sometimes called shedding blades--look rather strange: small, triangular teeth lined single file on a large metal loop that meets in a handle at one end. These are generally specific to large dogs with long fur. Shedding tools are not substitutes for brushes but are part of good preventative measures to keep your home clean and free of fur tumbleweeds. Pin Brushes Pin brushes present the best proximity for a human brush. A compact brush, such as one kept in a purse, could replace a specialty animal pin brush for a small-breed dog depending on its coat. Pin brushes are great maintenance tools. If the brush's pins spout from a rubber-like material and spring as you apply pressure, your brush can serve as an exceptional way of detecting potential problem spots on long-haired dogs. If an owner were devoted to brushing a medium-haired dog twice a week with a pin brush, that may be all they need. For short-haired breeds such as Labrador retrievers the effectiveness of this type of brush would be debatable—any loose hair would not be caught or retained as the pins are too long. Most owners--especially those for breeds that require extra grooming, prefer to hire a groomer but, taking the time to personally attend to your pet will provide a healthier relationship that shows your dog its place in the home.