u/pepper_dogs

Hello all! In the planning stages of getting my first sheltie (and first dog!) and was hoping for some recommendations of grooming tools?

I believe I will need (at minimum) a comb, dematting rake, and some kind of slicker brush - is that right? Anything obvious I'm missing?

I see Chris Christensen's brand is recommended a lot, but it's also £60+ per comb... Is there a different brand that people like as well? Is just the basic pet store brand good enough and the markup is brand-name prestige?

Thank you! I am in the UK.

I'm hoping/planning to acquire a puppy next year and working my way through learning as much as I can to prepare :)

I live with my parents still while I'm completing my degree and the goal is to get the puppy in my final year of university. That way I'll have a year of flexible schedule with online classes and family support to get the worst of the puppy phase done before I end up working a full time office job!

My concern is as follows - my dad is not a big fan of leaving the house and stays at home most of the time. Occasionally we'll all go out to dinner as a family or run into town for an hour or so but a lot of the time it's just myself and mum going out while he stays at the house. I'm worried that my puppy will therefore not be left home completely alone very often at all, and won't get to learn that it's fine and not scary to be alone sometimes!

Usually when he stays home he's working up in his office quietly, so maybe puppy downstairs will think nobody's home?

I'm worried that when I do move out to my own place, the puppy will not have practised staying home by itself and will have a hard time with it.

Thanks!