Long coat chihuahua, how we keep him from becoming a rug

Tiramisu is a long-haired chihuahua so his coat gets everywhere. Two years ago I thought a quick brush once a week was fine. It was not. What I do now is a brush every second day, a slicker for the fluffy bits behind the ears and under the legs, and a wide-tooth comb for the feathering on the tail. Start from the skin and work outwards. Never brush dry hair that is matted, it pulls. A tiny spray of detangler helps. Bath every three weeks, cool water in the dry season and lukewarm when the rains come. Dry him properly with a towel and then a low setting on the hairdryer. Damp fur in the Prawet humidity turns into a smell very fast. Watch the feet and bottom. Trim the hair between the pads, it collects grit from the pavement. Keep the hair around his eyes short so it does not scratch the eye, our vet showed me how. He still hates the dryer, so we do it in the bathroom with the door shut and a treat in front of him. Takes longer but he stands still now.