Dog Grooming...

Hmmm...these award winning dog groomers ( voted  Number One by the Daily News) somehow seem to have got their practice on dog figures that have a lot in common with Chia pets...

I guess the French were the first to take to serious dog grooming, with the poodles...

Could the internet possibly have anything about dog grooming on it? Well, actually Wikipedia has tons of information on it, and this sample may set you reeling after awhile, so watch out--

Dog grooming refers to both the hygienic care and cleaning of a dog, as well as a process by which a dog's physical appearance is enhanced for showing or other types of competition. A dog groomer (or simply "groomer") is a person who earns their living grooming dogs.

Reasons for grooming

Grooming a dog using a shedding blade.

Grooming is an important part of dog care. Depending on the breed, age, and health of the dog, grooming may be a daily activity. Many breeds require significantly less grooming than this, but regular grooming helps to ensure the dog is healthy and comfortable. It is important to note that while many dogs shed, others (such as the Poodle), do not shed (see Moult) as profusely, and require grooming by a professional every 6–8 weeks maximum.
The main reasons for daily grooming include:

• decreased chance of various health problems, such as thrush, scratches, and other skin problems
• general cleanliness of the dog
• monitoring of the dog's health by checking for cuts, heat, swelling, lameness, or changes in temperament, all of which could be indicative of illness
• forging of a closer bond between dog and owner
• reducing infestation load of external parasites on skin.

Tools and supplies

Various types of currycombs

Curry or Curry Brush: A tool made of rubber or plastic with short "teeth." The tool is rubbed (or "curried") over the dog's coat to loosen dirt, hair, and other detritus, and stimulate the skin into producing natural oils. Metal currycombs should never be used, as they are designed for removing hair from brushes only. Currycombs usually have the handle made of plastic or wood. They are more commonly used for dogs that have large amounts of hair that has shed such as for the German Shepherds. They are also used for untangling knots in certain parts of the dog's body such as ears, paws or tail. Using a currycomb must be done carefully as the action of this type of tool can harm the skin of the dog, if pulled too hard.

A shedding blade

Shedding blade: A metal shedding blade with short, dull teeth is used to remove dead hair from certain types of harsh coats. The shedding blade is not used to cut the hair.
Scissors and clippers: Cutting tools used to remove/shorten hair on certain types of coats or in sensitive areas. Not all types of coat are suitable for clipping, i.e. double coats on breeds such as Border Collies keep the dog cool in summer and warm in winter, and should not be clipped unless the dog is matted. The typical pair of scissors for dog grooming is between 6.5 and 9 inches long, longer than typical hair dressing scissors. Some are designed with a blunt tip to prevent any injuries due to the dog moving around.
Stripping Combs/Knives: Tools used to help grab the longer hairs on a harsh coat and pull them out by the root. Helps maintain a proper coat in many terriers and schnauzers. Most often used on show dogs.
Grooming a dog before it is bathed is important as it frees up and removes dead undercoat and matting, and allows proper penetration of water and shampoo to the skin. This can be done by using a slicker brush all over its body, especially on its legs, and the places where knotting occurs frequently. Groomers sometimes use a metal comb when combing for the second time, paying more attention to the toes and between the toes. Metal combs can be helpful in the areas of the dog's body that are common spots for knots. Brushing and combing the tail is also important as it is a commonly missed area.

A stainless steel comb to groom dogs with a coarse or fine coat

Dog brushes come in various sizes and shapes can be made from metal, plastic and wood. Although there are many types of dog brushes, they are not very popular amongst the professional dog groomers as most of them prefer using teasels. Dog brushes are perfect for breeds that have long and fragile hair, especially if the coat is getting properly taken care of.^{[citation needed]} Common dog brushes are the bristle brush, wire pin brush, and the slicker brush.
The bristle brush is one of the most widely used types of brushes mainly because it can be used for any type of coat. As a general rule, longer and widely-spaced bristles are suitable for dogs with longer coats and shorter and tightly-packed ones are better to use on dogs with short hair. Typically, the bristle brush is used on dogs with long coats to finish the coat and to bring out the natural lustre and shine of the coat. It is commonly used in daily grooming as it removes surface dust and dirt.
Dogs with medium to long hair are often brushed with a wire pin brush. The wire pin brush is also great for dogs with curly coats. They usually have an oval shape and have meal bristles set in a flexible rubber base. This type of brushes is great for dogs with long, wiry, wavy and curly coats as they are useful in separating and untangle the coat. Pin brushes are of better quality if they have polished pins or coated pins which prevent from scratching and harming the dog's skin. Because the coating or polish may go away over time, the pins of such a brush should be replaced once in a while. Pin brushes come in a variety of sizes, textures and fullness, depending on the type of coat that they are needed for.