A long coat that's neglected for a week needs an hour of work to recover. A long coat that's touched daily needs about five minutes.
The daily five
- Comb behind the ears and under the front legs — mats start here
- Check feet for debris and trimmed paw-pad hair
- Wipe around the eyes if your breed tears
- A quick body brush, going with the grain
- A finishing comb to catch what the brush missed
Once a week, once a month
Once a week, set aside 15 minutes for a thorough session: nails, ears, deep brushing, sanitary trim. Once a month, a professional groom if your breed needs it.
Managing coat in Indian humidity
Humid weather encourages matting faster than dry climates, since damp fur tangles more easily and takes longer to fully dry. After walks in the rain or heavy humidity, towel-dry thoroughly and give the coat a quick brush-through once dry rather than letting it air-dry matted.
Keeping a trim schedule
Sanitary trims around the rear and paw-pad trims between pads aren't cosmetic — untrimmed hair there traps moisture and debris and is a common cause of skin infections and slipping on smooth floors. Build both into the weekly session rather than waiting for the monthly groom.
Tools matter more than time. A good comb makes the difference between five quick minutes and a wrestling match.
