Brushing is one of those boring, dull and monotonous tasks that you might want to avoid and leave in the hand of a professional dog groomer. 

But no matter how tempted it might seem to sit back and let the groomers do all the jobs, it is still your responsibility at the very least to learn the basic of dog brushing. Why?
One thing I would like to point out is you can enhance the bond that both of you have when you brush your dog all by yourself. Your dog will feel safe, comfortable and protected knowing you, the owner, who brush him.

Pick the Right Brush

Your first task is to pick the right brush for your dog. Although there are hundreds of different dog brushes available today, there are only 3 types of dog brushes that you need to pay attention first: a bristle brush, a wire-pin brush, and a slicker brush.
If your dog has a short-hair and a smooth-coat, then you need to get a bristle brush. Pay attention to the bristle length: if your dog has a short, wiry coat, you should find a brush with short, tightly-packed bristles. If your dog has a longer coat, you should find a brush with longer and more widely-spaced bristles.
What if your dog has a long hair with flowing or curly coat? Then you should get a wire pin brush; this brush will brush through that thick, curly hair effectively.On the other hand, for specialised grooming needs such as removing a mat or tangle, it is best to use a slicker brush.

Brushing Your Dog

You have got your dog brush; it is the time to start brushing your dog. 
1. Before anything else, you need to make your dog comfortable with the idea of being brushed. Let your dog knows that the brush is harmless, let him see and smell the brush. Reward your dog with praise, treats or food.
2. Then you need to pick a starting point to brush your dog’s coat. It is best to start at your dog’s head, and work your way down the dog’s neck, across its back, and end by brushing its tail.
3. Brush your dog following the grain of your dog’s coat. Never brush against the grain as it can pull hair and cause your dog discomfort.
4. Dog brushing is an important activity that you need to do regularly. As a general rule, long-haired dogs need to be brushed weekly. Short-haired dogs don’t need to be brushed as frequently as long-haired dogs. For short-haired dogs, you just need to brush their coat at least a couple of times a month.

Author Resources: Andrew Garf is an avid dog lover and blogger at TrainYourGSD.com, a blog dedicated for to providing free health and grooming tips for all dog lovers around the net.