Which tool for which coat

Run a hand along your pet's back, then match what you feel.

Short and smooth

One layer of short hair that lies flat. A rubber glove does most of the work; the tips grab the loose hair as you stroke.

Double coat

A soft, dense layer under longer guard hairs. Use a deshedding tool that reaches the undercoat, then a glove to finish. Go easy: groomers warn that working a deshedding tool too hard can pull out living hair, not just loose coat.

Long and silky

Hair that tangles. Comb gently from the tips toward the skin, never the other way, so you don't pull at knots.

Curly

Curly coats shed very little but they mat. Regular trims with a quiet clipper keep the coat from felting.

Cats

Short-haired cats usually love the glove. Long-haired cats need a comb, a few minutes at a time.

Does your dog need a winter coat?

Thick-coated dogs like huskies and malamutes don't. Small, lean, hairless and freshly clipped dogs often do.