Dog Grooming

Dog Grooming Supplies

Regular grooming keeps a dog's coat, skin, nails, and overall hygiene in good condition — and it catches problems early. Matted fur traps moisture and causes skin infections. Overgrown nails change the way a dog walks and can lead to joint problems over time. A dog that hasn't been bathed in months is dealing with skin buildup, potential irritation, and a coat that's harder and harder to brush out. None of this requires expensive grooming appointments every few weeks. The right tools at home handle most of it.

At Petspls, we carry brushes, combs, nail clippers, bath tools, and grooming accessories at prices that make building out a home grooming kit practical.

Dog Brushes and Combs

Slicker Brushes

Slicker brushes have fine wire pins set in a flat or curved pad. They work through tangles, remove loose hair, and smooth the topcoat. Self-cleaning slicker brushes have a button that retracts the pins so you can wipe the collected hair off without picking it out by hand — which adds up to a meaningful time saving over hundreds of grooming sessions. Slicker brushes work on most coat types and are the starting point for most grooming routines.

Dematting Combs

Dematting combs have blades or serrated teeth that cut through matted fur rather than trying to pull it apart. Trying to brush out a serious mat with a regular brush is painful for the dog and usually makes the mat tighter. A dematting comb works through the mat from the outside edge inward, cutting the knots apart in sections. For dogs that mat easily — long-coated breeds, curly coats — a dematting comb is not optional.

Undercoat Rakes and Deshedding Tools

Double-coated breeds like huskies, golden retrievers, and German shepherds shed their undercoat seasonally. A standard slicker brush barely touches the undercoat. An undercoat rake or deshedding tool has longer, more widely spaced teeth that reach through the topcoat and pull out the loose undercoat before it ends up on your furniture. Regular use during shedding season makes a significant difference in how much hair ends up in your house.

Fine-Tooth Combs

After brushing, running a fine-tooth metal comb through the coat catches any remaining tangles and checks for completeness. If the comb moves through smoothly, the coat is clear of mats. If it catches, there's still work to do. Fine-tooth combs are also useful for working through the fur around ears, paws, and the face where brushes are too large to be precise.

Dog Nail Care

Nail Clippers

Dog nail clippers come in two main styles: guillotine clippers that cut from one side, and scissor-style clippers that cut from two sides. Scissor-style clippers give more control and work better on thick nails from larger breeds. The challenge with nail clipping is the quick — the blood vessel that runs through the nail. Cutting into it causes bleeding and pain, and dogs remember it. Clip small amounts at a time, especially on dark nails where the quick isn't visible from the outside. If you're new to it, clip just the tip until you're comfortable with the process.

Nail Scissors

Smaller scissors-style nail tools work well for puppies and small breeds where precision matters more than leverage. Some include a safety guard that limits how much nail you can take off in a single cut — useful while you're building confidence with the process.

Dog Bath Supplies

Dog Shampoo

Dogs have different skin pH than humans — human shampoo strips the oils from a dog's coat and can cause dryness and irritation over time. Dog shampoos are formulated for the right pH range. Beyond that, specific formulas address specific needs: medicated shampoos for dogs with skin conditions or fungal issues, flea shampoos for active infestations, deshedding shampoos that loosen undercoat during washing, and conditioning shampoos for dry or coarse coats. Most healthy dogs with no skin issues do fine with a basic dog shampoo used every 4 to 6 weeks.

Silicone Bath Brushes

Silicone bath brushes do two things at once: work shampoo into the coat and provide a massage that most dogs genuinely enjoy. The soft rubber nubs reach through the coat to the skin and loosen dirt and dead skin cells more effectively than working shampoo in with your hands alone. They're also easier to clean than fabric or bristle brushes — rinse under water and they're done.

Fillable Dispensing Brushes

Fillable bath brushes have a reservoir in the handle that you fill with shampoo. Squeezing the handle pushes shampoo through the bristles directly onto the coat. This is a practical tool if your dog moves around during baths — you can apply shampoo and scrub with one hand rather than trying to juggle a separate bottle. It also controls how much shampoo you use.

Dog Drying Towels

Microfiber towels absorb significantly more water than standard terry cloth and dry faster between uses. A good microfiber dog towel cuts post-bath drying time down considerably, which matters if your dog gets cold quickly or if you're trying to finish grooming before they shake water everywhere. PVA chamois-style towels are the most absorbent option and wring out easily for reuse mid-drying.

Home Grooming vs. Professional Grooming

Most dogs don't need professional grooming as often as groomers recommend, provided you're doing regular maintenance at home. Brushing out tangles before they become mats, trimming nails before they curl, and bathing regularly means a professional appointment is for trims and finishing work rather than emergency detangling sessions. The investment in good grooming tools pays for itself quickly versus per-appointment grooming costs.

Dog Grooming FAQs

How often should I brush my dog?

Short-coated breeds with minimal shedding can get by with weekly brushing. Double-coated breeds and long-coated breeds need brushing several times a week, and daily during shedding season. The goal is to brush before tangles become mats — once fur is matted, brushing alone won't fix it and the mat needs to be cut out or carefully worked through with a dematting tool.

How often should I bathe my dog?

Every 4 to 6 weeks works for most dogs. Bathing more frequently than necessary strips natural oils from the coat and can cause dryness. Dogs with skin conditions may need more frequent bathing with medicated shampoo — follow your veterinarian's guidance in those cases. Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors, roll in things, or swim regularly may need more frequent bathing regardless.

How do I trim my dog's nails at home?

Use sharp clippers — dull blades crush rather than cut cleanly. Clip just the tip of the nail at a slight angle, following the natural curve. Stop well before you think you're near the quick. On light-colored nails, you can see the pink quick and avoid it. On dark nails, clip small increments and look at the cut surface — when you see a small dark circle at the center of the nail, you're close to the quick and should stop. If you do cut into the quick, styptic powder stops the bleeding quickly.

What shampoo should I use for a dog with itchy skin?

Oatmeal-based dog shampoos soothe irritated skin and are gentle enough for regular use. For more serious skin conditions — hot spots, fungal infections, bacterial dermatitis — a medicated or chlorhexidine-based shampoo is more appropriate, but it's worth confirming the cause of the irritation with a vet before committing to a treatment shampoo.

Shop More Dog Supplies at Petspls

After grooming, your dog deserves some reward. Browse our dog toys for treat-dispensing options and chew toys that also help with dental hygiene. If you're cleaning up after a bath or outdoor session, our dog hygiene supplies include paw cleaners and other post-walk essentials. And for dogs that spend time outside in rough weather, our dog apparel includes raincoats that keep them cleaner on wet walks.