More prevalent in late Summer and early Fall, burrs can be an unnecessary parting gift from woodsy walks. Rumored to have inspired the creation of Velcro, the hooks and teeth on this seed are supertricky to get off clothing, so imagine how it would stick to a pet!

After frolicking in the forest, rub your hands all over your pet for a cockleburr check — if you feel the telltale bump, isolate and detangle with your hands until you're able to get a good grasp of it.

• Teasing works only on tiny sections at a time so concentrate on the biggest snarls first. Firmly grasp the burr in one hand, and use a metal comb to separate the hairs by brushing in small strokes towards your pet's skin.
• If your pup's long-haired or the burrs are tiny, you can slicker brush them out by brushing away from your pet's skin.
• For major snarls, generously apply some mink oil spray for dogs [1] if you have it (or vegetable oil, if you don't) to slick the fur and help with the combing. After you've removed it, wash the area or bathe your pooch.
• When all the above tactics fail, use scissors to cut as close to the burr as possible and snip it out.