Brush-Out & De-Shedding: the full procedure
Brush and comb out loose coat and tangles, de-shed by coat type, and shave humanely rather than torture tight mats.
- Applies to: Groomer / bather.
- Frequency: Every groom.
- Scope: Covers brushing/de-shedding and humane de-matting limits. Skin sores under mats are referred to a veterinarian.
What you need
- Slicker brush + comb
- De-shedding tool (by coat)
- Clipper (for shave-downs)
The procedure, step by step
- Brush and comb out — Line-brush skin-outward in sections and comb through to confirm there are no hidden tangles.
- Respect de-matting limits — Brush out what comes free humanely. If mats are tight to the skin, the humane choice is to clip short — never painfully tear tight mats out (it’s a welfare and skin-injury risk).
- Set owner expectations — For heavily matted dogs, explain at intake the brush-vs-shave options (brush at home / keep short / more frequent visits) and the shave-down decision.
- Check skin under mats — Check the skin revealed under removed mats for sores or irritation; refer anything that looks medical to a veterinarian.
- De-shed by coat type — De-shed double-coated dogs with the right tool and technique — never shave a double coat — to remove loose undercoat.
Quality check before you finish
- Line-brushed + combed; no hidden tangles.
- De-matting limits respected (shave tight mats, don’t tear).
- Owner expectations set on matted coats.
- Skin under mats checked; sores referred to vet.
- Double coats de-shedded, not shaved.
This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a Dog Grooming business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.
Sources
- Learn2GroomDogs — Matted Dogs & De-Matting Limits (learn2groomdogs.com)
- Paragon School of Pet Grooming — Line-Brushing / Shed Control (paragonpetschool.com)
- AKC — Grooming a Double-Coated Dog (akc.org)
About Free Dog Brush-Out & De-Shed SOP
Free printable brush-out & de-shedding SOP: brush and comb out loose coat and tangles, de-shed by coat type, and respect humane de-matting limits (shave, don’t torture).
How to use
- Read the full procedure top to bottom before the work — the SOP runs in order and each step builds on the last.
- Toggle Ink-saver (black & white) for a cheaper mono print for the binder; leave it off for the full-color version.
- Click Print SOP to print or save as PDF. Print one per crew, laminate it for the binder, or attach it to the job in your scheduling system.
- Train new hires on it and have staff sign off. Found something out of date? Use the feedback link — flagged SOPs are re-researched against the source list.
Frequently asked questions
How do groomers handle a heavily matted dog?
Brush and comb out what comes free humanely, but respect de-matting limits — if mats are tight to the skin, the humane choice is to clip short rather than painfully tear them out. Explain this to the owner at intake, and check skin for sores hidden under mats (refer anything medical to a vet).
What is de-shedding?
De-shedding uses the right tools and technique (often after bath and dry) to remove the loose undercoat that causes shedding, reducing it for weeks. The right method depends on the coat type — double-coated dogs are de-shedded, not shaved.
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