Thinning a dog's coat???
The coat is beautiful now, so they did something I can't do? Took out alot of her under coat....somehow? What is this called and why can't I do it? Why this was her first time...it's expensive taking her out, but that day they had a 50% off, and it only cost me $20. I jumped at the chance, they did EVERYTHING, I can't stop touching her. Even down to sweet little bows, they don't see any Sheepdogs, Remy is kind of a novelty for them.  |
|
|
| A lot of brushing will remove some of the undercoat... I think it's so cute the way her hair over her eyes is trimmed! It frames her eyes perfectly without taking away the 'sheepie' look. |
| This is my grooming not the pet stores. Once my film is used up I'll have it developed and a picture of her with bows.
I get alot off of her when I brush her out, but I'm sure they said something like a special technique that only they "the groomer" can do. People at home can't. I will stop by there again when I get her favorite treats and food. I go to Pet Planet...great place, small chain...devoted to finding a cure for cancer in dogs. |
| Daisie The groomers have a tool that allow them to thin out the under coat |
| Do you know what it's called? Can I get one? |
| I have no idea what it is called. Looked at grooming products on line or ask your groomer. |
| Hi Daisie
I just went to shoppers drug mart and got a pair of thinning scissors. I find that Nabs face hair is very thick and they have helped. What they do is cut only some of the hair thus thinning it out. The only hard part is getting her to sit still while I'm doing her grooming. Where are you in Alberta? Della & Nab |
| Hi, NABs I sent you a private message. |
| Thinning scissors....Duh..for some reason I thought it was something more dog specific. I think I will go check that out too. Thanks. |
| There is also a combing "rake" ( ex: http://www.jbpet.com/Shopping/product.a ... gDematting )
This wll def. thin your pup's coat out and remove the undercoat. For people who show their dog, this is not recommended. |
| I have one of those, it defintiely helps. I like to use to do a quick all over combing, then start with a comb and get to the skin. I finish with the slicker...esp on feet and legs where all the dirt usually is. I also have the dematting tool, I got it all except for thinning scissors. They have to use these on my hair all the time because it's so thick. I know how they work.
Thanks for the suggestion. |
| Thinning scissors are not used for thinning the undercoat. The thinning scissors are generally used on the head only. If you would use the thinning scissors on the dogs body, you would end up with a very choppy looking dog. (My hubby decided to try this on Merlin's beard) Hence the trip to the groomer so she could "fix" Merlin!
My groomer uses a stripping tool for the undercoat. It works really fast. Here is a link for it http://shop.petsupplyhouse.com/index.ph ... m&item=865 When she is finished with Merlin he looks like a show dog, his fur is all fluffy and soft. She uses the 6 blade one for mats and the double width one for general thinning of the coat. Hugs, |
| Has anyone ever used anything like this?
http://www.jbpet.com/Shopping/product.a ... gStrippers My hubby said he had seen a groomer at a vet using this about a week ago. |
| Those are defintitely something I want to try and find. It's amazing how well her coat has stayed since Friday, it still looks nice and fluffy, and smooth. After I would do a groom session and a bath, she'd look good, but then it would seperate into bunches...not matts.
I keep the matts down, I try and never let one start. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll see what I can find around here. |
WizardMerlin wrote: My groomer uses a stripping tool for the undercoat. It works really fast.
Here is a link for it http://shop.petsupplyhouse.com/index.ph ... m&item=865 When she is finished with Merlin he looks like a show dog, his fur is all fluffy and soft. Hugs, I often use on of those on burwen. It really thins the coat quickly. In fact, the first time I used it I did not realise how much I was taking off, and I left a terrible bare patch on her throat! In any case, I find this tool most helpful in summers; she needs a thinner coat during the heat, and I am usually busier in summer and do not get to keep her brushing up (plus she always jumps in the lake!) and a nice thin coat is really hard to matt, even after several weeks of no brushing! I have never shown a dog, but I cannot imagine that a stripper like this would be all that good for a show dog, atleast used to any significant degree. I mean, it can really thin the coat so that it is simply not that fluffy; the remaining hair is much more wirey and lays flatter. |
| Hi All,
The simplest way to thin a dogs coat out , without using any fancy gadgets is simply with an ordinary comb. Instead of combing straight down as you would normally do, take the comb in your hand and use the tip of the comb and start from the base of the coat and gently pull down right to the end of the length, you will be surprised how much comes out and does a much better job than any fancy tools, remember you must be gentle with this and not tug at it. Huggles B-eye |
| B-eye, for show though you try not to thin much though right? Or are there certain areas you do want to thin? |
| Usually you thin to get the correct shape if you are showing if you have oes pets then it is not so vital, maybe just thinning out the neck. Huggles B-eye |
| I think Sky's first show will be in February... I just hope her coat is not in transition from puppy to adult by then. She seems to be changing young, she is only 5 months and it is changing already. She will be 7 months, so still Junior Puppy category at the time of this show, so I'm guessing judges make some allowances in regards to puppy coats? |
| Yes, I knew that thinnning around the neck and shoulders was neccecary for show, both of mine have a thick mane there, but I haven't done it...as I am scared I might remove TOO much. I really want to talk with someone so that I can either be walked through step by step, or someone to show me.
Does anyone know of someone to contact who would videotape the way to show groom? Stormi and co. |
| Stormi unless you are total masacist you cant really take to much do a small section at a time stand back and take a look its better to take to little than to much you can always go back and do some more,if you are showing start now and just do a little just takes a little courage and once you have I'm sure you will be surprised I'm no hairdresser but groomers are expensive so took the bull by the horns and just learnt myself. Willow the judge will make allowances for puppys. you cant rush nature am looking forward to seeing Skye's piccies. Huggles B-eye |
| Hello: I am a groomer and also a sheepdog owner. I know from experience that the bath is the difference. The shampoo we use and also the conditioner that is usually a "leave on" leaves the coat soft and lets the hair fall softly. There are sprays to condition the coat and give it a sheen. The force dryer also adds in the fluffing of the coat. I don't believe a grooming at home can compare. The thorough brushing and combing with the force dryer gets out much more of the undercoat than just a brushing alone can do. I use very few thinning tools. Maybe the shears where it is the thickest. But you have to be careful with these tools as they will make a too thin area.
We also scissor the feet and pads and around the rear area. I make a an area around the eyes so she can see without losing the fall of the coat. I hope I've given you a little insight into the grooming process. May |
| That may be fine for pet grooming, but those are the last things you would want to do to a show dog's coat.... it should not be soft, but harsh, and should not really shine either. |
| Yes I suppose you deal with the coat differently with a show dog. We don't usually deal with customers with show dogs. The handlers or owners usually groom the dogs themselves. It's a whole different ball game. I'm afraid I am quite ignorant where that's concerned. I once watched an oes being prepared for a class at a show in Springfield, MA and was amazed at the amount of work that went into making that dog ready. Teasing the hair and hairspray, all the ponytails on the face that keep the hair dry and ready for it's finished look. It was truly a work of art when done. |
| May
I'd love to know what products...shampoo, detanglers etc. you would recommend for those of us who have sheepies or mostlies...as pets...I'm always on the alert for better products...I'm really a newbie with all this phoof stuff! Thanks a bunch  |
| Dear Cassie's Momma:
We use lots of different shampoos, depending on the dog's skin condition and the type of coat. I order from Pet Edge catalog. You can find them on line at Pet Edge.com. We also have a Petco here that carries alot of these same products. There is a shampoo for getting the white areas even whiter called Pro Glo by Top Performance. It works with it's blueing tint. It works great on all the rest of the coat as well. Bio Groom has an oatmeal shampoo for sensitive skin. ( If your dog is itchy with the dry weather) I absolutlley love the Fresh and Clean cream rinse for the last step in bathing. It leaves a great scent which lasts for days. For extra conditioning use Mr Christals' Luxury Conditioner. A little goes a long way. I've also had good results with Mane and Tail conditioner as a leave in. Just rub a little in your hands and apply lightly to a freshly washed coat then dry. It makes the coat lay nicely. I use a slicker brush after the coat is mostly dry and finish with a medium tooth metal comb. I don't bathe my sheepdoy too often, (2 or 3 times a year) brushing them on a regular basis (once or twice a week) keeps the coat pretty clean. When I went to the vet today he reminded me that the oes is prone to ear infections, so he recommends cleaning the ears out twice weekly with a mixture of alcohol and white vinegar.(half and half) This prevents the ears from developing the environment for an infection. Plus it cleans them. A good grooming prevents matting. Remember to work from the paws up. Section the hair as you go in 1 to 2" partings to get all the undercoat out. Areas like right behind the ear, under the arm pit , between the rear legs and around the neck are trouble spots. I am not an authority but I learned by experience. If I can answer any specific questions feel free to ask. May |
| You're quiet right willow, showing is a whole new ball game as far as grooming for show is concerned, I can spend an awfulll lot of hours before a show, in the preperation, it would be lovely just to be able to brush the dogs through and then leave them every week LOL.
I don't know about your shows but here in the uk nothing is allowed on the coat prior to the ring i.e. grooming products, the only thing we are allowed is water, you can be thrown out if it is found you have used anything else. Maybe the rules are different. Huggles B-eye |
| B-eye,
Yes, it is the same here in shows. Nothing else can be used other than water. There our products that places try to get you to use, but they are not allowed. Stormi and co. |
May...Many thanks for the suggestions...I just got a Pet Edge catalog in the mail so I'll do some shopping! We really have fits with right behind the ears & under the arm pits  I have been just carefully trimming the matts off with a pair of small scissors. Do you use the mat rakes or cutters? Cassie is an OES/X/English Setter so her coat is not as dense BUT gets little mats that get tight at the skin fast...we brush often! Thanks |
| Same as here in Canada B-eye and Stormi, no products....
There is such a difference in grooming tools too, not just method. The new tools i have for show grooming are so stupidly expensive, but I am totally AMAZED at the difference they make, they make it easier, my dogs enjoy grooming more, and they look better. I love them. LOL I can't wait to shop more at Pet Supply House.... it is a canadian website where I can order away to my hearts content.... and my husbands dismay...lol |
| Yes Cassie's Momma; I use a matt splitter for some matting, but it hurts them. Sometimes I use the scissors straight down the matt, points of scissors toward me. This starts to loosen the hard matt so then when I use the brush after it can get through. Go very carefully with the scissor near to the skin. It takes patience and time. Usually they get used to a little pulling if you are grooming so often. Where it doesn't show, like under the armpit I take the #10 blade on the clipper and scoop out the
matt. It will grow back and it's less tramatic on the dog. May |
| May...
Thank You so much...I think the best advice you gave me was patience You just can't get in a hurry...Gee I would never want to hurt her...I don't think I'll get the matt splitter! Cassie is a very good girlie & loves her tummy rubs as we brush & comb |
| To Cassie's Momma and all:
I think this forum is wealth of info for the sheepie owner and it has quite a diverse set of members so I decided to join. Formally known as May I'm on as " Blue Star's Mom". Blue Star is my OES pup (3mos) This is my third sheepie and I have loved the breed since I was a young girl. |
Welcome May/ Blue Star's Mom.  |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|