Shouid I do the summer "do"?
Now I am chickening out about the shave down completly. The last two weeks I have managed not to use the mat spliter and I am hopeful that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have a retired groomer in the neighborhood and she complimented me last weekend on what a good job I was doing with her coat. So right now I most likely have a false sense of accomplishment. So I am crazy for thinking I can manage her coat in during the summer? What should I consisder in making my decision. I know that keeping the coat will mean less time outside during the hot parts of the day and making sure she has plenty of access to water. What else do I need to consider - other than the obvious of no time off from grooming? Also I was at Petsmart for a nail trim and asked about a shave down. The groomer working that night said the hair may groom in different. Other than a coat change is that really true? I have never used a clippers so could I learn to do the shave down myself? I know lots of member shave their furkids - is this something I can learn by just doing? Thanks |
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Monster Mom wrote: So I am crazy for thinking I can manage her coat in during the summer? What should I consisder in making my decision. I know that keeping the coat will mean less time outside during the hot parts of the day and making sure she has plenty of access to water. What else do I need to consider - other than the obvious of no time off from grooming? Not at all. You can always strip the undercoat out to keep the long, shaggy look but remove a bunch of bulk. No one but someone who is well familiar with an OES would know any different! You just have to invest in a good stripping tool, like a "Mars stripping comb" Mars Coat King Stripper 6 Blade Coarse Mars Coat King Stripper 10 Blade Medium Mars Coat King Stripper 12 Blade Fine Mars Coat King Stripper 16 Blade X-Fine Mars Coat King Stripper 20 Blade X-Fine and keep up with it, just like you would any other grooming. Monster Mom wrote: Also I was at Petsmart for a nail trim and asked about a shave down. The groomer working that night said the hair may groom in different. Other than a coat change is that really true?
I'm not even sure what that means, lol! The only coat change that you'll experience (and it may seem different) is the juvenile coat growing in. So, it will "groom" different but it would be the same as if you didn't cut it and the hair were to grow in underneath the current coat. OES hair keeps on growing (quickly!) so it isn't like a dog that never gets more than a tiny trim its whole life and still maintains the same length. Once in awhile when dogs are injured or have some sort of skin trauma, the hair will grow back darker in that spot, but that would be the only difference. It's just my opinion, but I'd stay away from PetSmart for grooming/grooming advice on OES. Even if they're experienced groomers, all they see all day are terriers and poodle mixes and don't have the experience with a more complex coat, like an OES. Most will want to shave them no matter how good of a condition that the dog is in because they know how to use clippers quickly, but don't want to take the time required to work an OES in full coat! I have shared this somewhere else on the forum I think, but someone at PetSmart let me know (with a fair amount of looking down their nose and condescension) that my Komondor was matted. *Sigh* They're not at PetSmart because they're world class master groomers... As far as shaving, I'll leave that to the others to post about. We did one clipdown and I hope it will be our last. I like OES long and fluffy.  |
| I also keep my dogs in long coat, but strip out the undercoat quite a bit. It keeps my dogs shaggy, but definitely not show quality fluff balls--and I'm ok with that. However, now I have 3 dogs and I'm not sure how I will handle the summer. I think I'm just playing it by ear...
It also depends upon how comfortable your dog is in whatever amount of heat you get. My first OES didn't like the heat--he loved laying in the shade, or basement or airconditioning. We always keep long walks for morning and evening out of the heat of the day. That worked very well for him, and so I left him in long coat. Archie isn't bothered as much by the heat, so I've never had him shaved down. The puppies just turned 1 year and so it is a big wait and see with them. I will do a puppy cut if they seem uncomfortable or if I think I'm falling too far behind with their grooming. There are many who feel that a puppy cut or shave down is the best thing to do for summer. |
Monster Mom wrote: I have never used a clippers so could I learn to do the shave down myself? I know lots of member shave their furkids - is this something I can learn by just doing?
Thanks I shave my dogs for the summer. It is very easy to do. I recommend a #5F blade, leaves some hair so they are not bald.. 
It leaves about 1/4" vs a #15 which the groomers use to shave down leaves 3/64". The #10 which is the blade that comes with the clippers leaves 1/16" |
| One website recommends the Medium Mars Stripper 10 for sheepdogs. What sizes does everyone use? |
Ron wrote: One website recommends the Medium Mars Stripper 10 for sheepdogs. What sizes does everyone use?
That's what I have. |
Bingley is almost 10 months now and I'm going through the matt thing, too.  However, I've been uplifted by the forum and those more experienced than me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel! I encourage you to keep up the coat as long as you feel able!
Bingley will be in full coat throughout the summer, and it was already over 90 degrees yesterday afternoon here in FL. We just walk late in the day when the sun is going down and keep him cool inside all the other times. You may have to deal with lack of a/c. In FL there is a/c everywhere you go, but I know when I lived in MT a/c was rare because most of the year was cold. I'm not sure how WI is but it sounds like you have a good plan already. Ice cubes are your best friends!!  Good luck! |
| Panda gets a summer cut....I use a 10 blade with a 1/4 guard on it....and a 1/2 guard on her legs and feet.... |
| Okay - I am still learning and am not sure what the under coat is? I like the idea of stripping but I am just not sure what to strip. I will try to get line grooming pictures - if that would help you explain it to me. Is it possible that Miley does not have a thick under coat yet (she is an 11 month pup)?
Sorry I am so full of question - But I do really appreciate you advice. Yes - we have a/c here at home and a very cool basement were Miley's kennel is and during the summer the kids practially live down there when it is too hot. Thanks Again Becky & Miley |
| Hi Becky,
Right up to date with this topic as we just had Bogart put in a summer puppy cut today 
Absolutely hated to see the "overcoat" go, but he is more comfortable in a short tuxedo for the summer. We get lots of humidity and high temps here. His undercoat is very dense and become like cotton when matted. Our last puppy cut was last July so we got a lot of mileage with this overcoat and our groomer kept him in great condition over this year. Will try to post some pictures, he is really short now- but it grows out quick. My avatar is a former puppy cut. I find it easier to manage in the summer. I kept our previous sheepie in a puppy cut as well. Many members here keep their sheepies in full coat year round, and will have great suggestions for you. Best wishes! |
| I bought a set of clippers last year but though Fuzzi looked like a skinned rat. That was with the Andis - number 10.
The other day I found a pair of wall paper sissers and started chopping away the top layer and he is now perfect length. It did take a bit longer than clippers and it is easier to make mistakes but it gives him a puppy length cut, just like when we first got him which I think is lovely and really soft. |
| One advantage of the summer "do", is you get to meet
who is living under all that big hair  |
zahra wrote: One advantage of the summer "do", is you get to meet
who is living under all that big hair I felt like I didn't know that guy! I think for all of the people that have done it before, the clippings after the first must be a lot easier because you know what to expect. After Clyde first got clipped last year we went to the dog park and this nice guy that regularly does up there was his own 2 dogs and(at least) 2 fosters took one look at Clyde and said "That may be Clyde, but it's not Clyde." About 2 months ago, and almost 10 months after the clip, now that Clyde is long and luxurious again, the same guy saw us come in and yelled out "That's the Clyde I know!" |
| I knew when I got Lucy I would have to either find a good groomer or become a groomer myself. Lucy lives in a neighborhood of Labs, sigh! She thinks she is one, too. There are 3 ponds in our neighborhood and she has hit everyone of them. I brush during the week, and bathe on the weekend. She is so beautiful after the bath, but believe me, it doesn't last. I love the shaggy look and would like to keep from shaving her completely. So, if I strip the under coat she should still look shaggy and be comfortable? It gets hot here in the summer, so will I still be able to keep her shaggy? She is 5 months and is turning grey and getting longer hair. I am just stressing about ponds and hair and gunk and an adult coat! If there is a mudhole, she hits it. Any advice?
Salley |
zahra wrote: One advantage of the summer "do", is you get to meet 'Tis important to bring the shears when meeting girls along Revere Beach Parkway, too. who is living under all that big hair  |
| I keep my two sheepies in their long coat year round. They have grown up in the South, so they are used to walks at sunrise and well after sunset in hot weather. They seem to tolerate 75 degrees or cooler without any problems. We have air conditioning and ceiling fans to keep us all comfortable in hot weather. They do love the tile floors in the bathrooms.
As long as I comb them out weekly to remove the undercoat, they are easy to keep up. Under an hour for each one. Skipping a week can dramatically increase the grooming time though. My grooming kit consists of a metal rake, a thirty year old metal comb, scissors, hemostat for the ears and a cheapo trimmer for the feet. I'm thinking about getting some better scissors for trimming the feet. Standing at the grooming table always made my back hurt, so I gave it up for sitting on the floor on a blanket. The girls learned to love the combing out - they run to our "spot' when they see the blanket come out. I take them in for their nails - I've just never mastered them to the point of my being comfortable doing them. If you try leaving it longer and it doesn't work for you, a shavedown is easy to do. I think the puppy cuts are very cute. |
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