The mistake many people make with grooming is brushing their dogs the wrong way. They tend to brush in the direction of the hair growth only and don't get down to the skin, leaving mats and tangles under the surface of the coat. When brushing dogs and puppies you should start at their head and brush the coat up and make sure you are getting to the rooots of the coat. Brushing a little at a time, work your way down the dogs back. Do the legs the same way, start at the top and brushing a little at a time, work your way down the leg. After all mats, tangles and loose hair are removed, you can brush or comb the hair into place or let the hair fall into place, depending on the breed. I prefer a slicker style brush for most coats and a metal comb to work through tangles. There are many styles of slickers available, including gentle ones for sensitive skin. Be sure you don't scrape the skin when brushing. Tangles can be gently separated with your fingers and brushed out.