Brushing is especially important in the summer, when dogs lose their winter coats. Of course, most dogs seem to shed constantly, no matter what the season (especially breeds with a soft undercoat, like huskies and German shepherds).

Brush the dog before you bathe it. If the fur is tangled, bathing will make the matted places worse — the knots tighten as they dry.

Start on the big tangles by snipping with thinning shears (the kind that look like one side is a comb). Never use regular scissors: "We're always suturing up animals whose owners were trying to trim them," says Sheldon Rubin, a Chicago veterinarian and spokesman for the American Veterinary Medical Association.

(For dogs that require more elaborate haircuts, see a pro the first few times. Don't just drop off your pooch; see if the groomer will give you specific instructions and equipment recommendations. Chances are, though, if you want your standard poodle to resemble topiary, you'll need to go to a pro.)

Then use a smoothing brush (like the Slicker Brush by MiracleCorp, $10 to $12, available at www.petsmart.com), starting with the fur on the dog's belly and working up.