The dog you are grooming has been carefully bathed and dried and is now on the table, ready for the rest of the grooming process. Do you reach for some coat spray before you proceed? If not, you should consider doing so. Here is why:
- Coat spray aids the brushing and detangling process. Adding a spritz of finishing spray will help the brush and comb glide through the coat. It also provides a little "slip," easing the shedding coat away from the live fur to remove it more efficiently. Finally, adding a bit directly to a mat or tangle will help your tools work through them more easily.
- On a very tangled dog that will be clipped down, coat spray can help the clipper blade slide smoothly through the fur.
- The conditioners and emollients in coat spray help protect the hair shafts' delicate cuticle during brushing and combing, reducing damage to the coat.
- Coat spray will eliminate static as you work.
- Coat spray does not weigh coats down, so it can be used instead of a traditional conditioner on dogs with very fine coats, such as Yorkshire Terriers.
- Finishing spray can help add an extra layer of moisture to the coat.
- These products can also add elasticity to the hair shaft, improving brush ability as you work.
- A very light mist of finishing spray makes it easier to scissor the fur. That small amount of emollient in the product adds a little "grab" to the hair, keeping it more still between the scissor blades as you snip and increasing the accuracy of your scissor work.
- If the spray contains silicone, it can help repel dirt, dust, and even urine from the coat for days after use. This may mean less staining between grooms.
- Some sprays are designed to add additional body and fluff to the fur, so they are great on poodle-type coats.
- Coat spray can add shine and luster to all fur types, but it is especially noticeable when used on smooth coats.
When instructing customers on properly brushing and combing their pets between regular professional grooming sessions, educating them about finishing sprays is essential. Using sprays while brushing a dry coat will help pet owners reduce coat damage while assisting them in dealing with shedding and tangles.
Coat spray is an often-overlooked tool that can wield noticeable positive changes when added to your and your customer's daily grooming routine.
By Daryl Conner, MPS, MCG
Daryl Conner has been devoted to making dogs and cats more comfortable and beautiful for almost 40 years. You can find her happily working at FairWinds Grooming Studio with her daughter and infant granddaughter, or typing away at her latest grooming-related article. Daryl was awarded both a Cardinal Crystal Award and Barkleigh Honors Award for journalism. She shares her meadow-hugged antique Maine farmhouse with her practically perfect husband and too many animals.
