How to Groom Your Dog With a Rock

Airedale Terrier

If you have a wiry-coated breed like most terriers and some sporting breeds, you have a breed of dog you can groom with a rock!

This fur type has a protective outer coat of coarse, kinked hairs and a short soft undercoat that maintains the skin's temperature.

The wiry coats don't fall out easily, so the dog doesn't go bald running through the brush. They also don't pick up as much debris as long soft hair. They shed, but they need help keeping their hair and skin healthy. The wiry coat is short and easy to maintain — this is where the rock will come in.

Cairn Terrier

You Can Simulate the Effect of Thorny Bushes by Brushing Your Dog With a Lava or Pumice Stone

Dogs have multiple hairs per follicle (humans only have one). Dog breeds that shed a lot, like Golden Retrievers and Huskies, tend to have a quicker cycle of growth and replacement where hairs fall out and are replaced with new ones.

Dog breeds who don't shed, like Poodles and Silky Haired Terriers, have hairs that grow for a long time, more like us. They need haircuts.

The wire-coated breeds are somewhere in between and have developed a symbiotic relationship with the rough brush they are bred to hunt in. Their harsh, wiry coat protects their skin from the brush and also keeps them from getting tangled or picking up debris because it falls out when plucked. These breeds depend on the brush to pull out loose hairs, cleaning out their follicles.

If your dog has this kind of hair, you can simulate the effect of the thorny bushes by brushing your dog with a lava or pumice stone.

That's right, a rock!

Rub Lava or Pumice Stone Across Your Pet to Pull Out Hairs

Humans often use a piece of lava or pumice rock to rub off callouses on their feet. Pumice stone is like lava rock but contains more air.

You can rub a chunk of grainy lightweight lava or pumice stone across your pet to snag and pull out hairs allowing new ones to grow and keeping the skin and coat healthy!

If your pet does not have this hair type, you will have to stick with traditional brushes and undercoat rakes to pull out loose fur. If you aren't sure, ask your groomer for help!