Grooming your own dog, when for them it isn’t exactly enjoyable, can be quite tricky, so many prefer to give the task to a professional who does it day in and day out. If you’re one of those dog owners who likes to do it themselves though, you need to make sure that you have the right tools for the job.

These tools depend in large part upon the type of hair that your dog has. A Cocker Spaniel for instance, has hair which is severely at risk of getting matted, so you need to have a few different tools; a bristle brush to get rid of tangles, a comb to smooth it all out, a hair-dryer, and an adjustable shower-head. If you have a pit-bull, you won’t really need to do any grooming other than the occasional bath.

If you’re dog’s nails aren’t being worn down fast enough on their walks, you may need to clip their nails too. This is particularly tricky and best left to a professional, but if you get shown how to cut them by a professional that may be enough.