Brushing loosens and removes dirt, dead hair, and old skin cells. It also distributes the skin's natural oils through the coat. It's the very foundation of good grooming. Brush your Lab once or twice a week to keep his coat and skin in good condition. While you're brushing, check for signs of potential problems, such as itchiness, hair loss, redness, tenderness, or lumps.

To brush your Lab, use a rubber curry brush or hound mitt. Starting at the dog's neck, go over the body in the direction the hair grows and work your way to his rear. Then switch sides and repeat. Be sure you brush all the way down to the skin. This helps loosen and remove dandruff flakes.

After this first brushing, go over the coat with the shedding blade. Top it off with a spray of coat conditioner to add shine. When you finish, your Lab's coat will be gleaming.

A high-quality steel comb, often referred to as a Greyhound comb, will last for the lifetime of all the Labs you might ever have. Choose one with fine teeth on one half, and wide-spaced teeth on the other. Use the fine-tooth side to search for fleas and the wide-tooth side to remove loose hairs after a bath.