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Surface Brushing Vs. Line Brushing Your Dog

When it comes to grooming, we all know that Newfoundlands are high maintenance.

They require regular grooming at home to keep their hair and skin healthy and free from mats and tangles. 

However, there are different techniques when brushing your Newfoundland and one is superior. 

Two of the most popular brushing techniques used with Newfoundlands are surface brushing and line brushing. 

Surface brushing is the most common method used because it’s easy and quick but line brushing is the most effective. 

If you’re brushing your Newfoundland regularly but they still have a lot of mats and tangles, most likely you’re only surface brushing. 

surface brushing vs line brushing your dog

What Is Surface Brushing?

Surface brushing is brushing the top layer of a dog’s coat. 

This technique removes dirt, debris and some loose hair from the top part of the coat. 

It’s good for quick touch-ups in between more in-depth grooming sessions and it’s also good for dogs with a single coat. 

However, for dogs with double coats like Newfoundlands, surface brushing usually isn’t the best for getting mats and tangles because it doesn’t reach down through the surface to the undercoat and skin. 

Under the surface is where mats and tangles like to hide. 

What Is Line Brushing?

Line brushing or line combing is a more detailed grooming technique where you brush the coat in sections. 

It involves starting at the skin and working out through the undercoat and topcoat. 

how to line brush a double coated dog

This technique allows the dog comb or brush to get down to the surface where mats and tangles form. 

Line combing is the most effective way to brush long-haired and double-coated breeds. 

Full tutorial on line combing HERE

How To Line Brush Your Dog

Work in sections

With your non-brushing hand, make a line with your hand and hold a small section of the hair up. 

Make sure you can see the skin

Comb or brush that section down. 

Drop another section of hair down and repeat.

best brush for line brushing a dog

Start at the bottom

Begin at the lowest part of your dog’s body and work up. 

After doing the legs, I like to start at the shoulder and work up. 

comb for Newfoundland dog

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Use the correct grooming tool.

I prefer to use a wooden handle comb because it’s the most effective. 

Some people prefer to use a slicker brush or a pin brush

If I’m using a pin brush, I use a 27 mm

Check out my Line Grooming Supply List in our Amazon Store. 

line-combing technique for double coats

Pay close attention to areas that mat frequently

I use a zone and in this zone are 6 areas on a Newfoundland that tend to mat frequently. 

These areas are usually high-friction areas like the groin, armpits and behind the ears. 

Maintain the coat

A lot of people scoff at the thought of line brushing because it’s time-consuming but if you’re doing it regularly, it’s not. 

What a regular basis is will depend on your dog’s coat type. 

I currently like to try and line comb my Newfoundlands once a week but I might do that more during heavy shedding season

Even if your dog goes to a professional groomer every 6 weeks, you should still be line brushing a few times during those sessions. 

line brushing a Newfoundland dog

Conclusion

Surface brushing and line brushing are both important grooming techniques with Newfoundlands but for them to be effective, they should both be done regularly. 

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