The hair of the dog

While different breeds will require varying levels of maintenance, a groomer is certainly a boon for spaniel owners

- David Tomlinson

I RECENTLY CAME across a friend exercising his three black labradors. They are all kennelled, picking-up dogs that work hard during the season. They looked terrific: fit and lean, with glossy coats. The shine on their fur was such that I asked if they had just been groomed. "I'm embarrassed to say that I've never brushed any of them," my friend replied ruefully. I suspect that his dogs are far from alone. How many of us brush or groom our dogs as often as the so-called experts advise? I know I don't.

I did some research in both my own library of dog books and on the internet to see how often labradors should be groomed. One of my books suggests that "to keep your dog clean, healthy and well groomed you will need to give him a daily brush with a stiff dandy brush". When I had a horse I used to use a dandy brush on him: it's is a long-bristled brush generally used for removing mud and dust from a horse's coat before using a body brush. I've no doubt that it works equally well on a labrador, too.

The same book recommended that, after using the dandy brush, you should work through the coat with a wide-toothed comb, followed by a narrow-toothed comb to remove dead hairs. I found similar advice on the internet, though brushing just two or three times a week seemed to be acceptable "except during spring and autumn when they are shedding.