Thinning Shears AND Slicker Brush Question
I've decided for fun-sies, I am going to attempt (again) to grow out my dog's hair. She has the same outer type of hair (cottony) as an OES. No undercoat of course, but I'm only mentioning this because she doesn't have the typical silky hair like her brother/sisters of the breed (though both are okay for show). I'm not trying to show her btw, just stating random stuff. 
Appreciate it. Also, do any of you still use a slicker brush on your dog even after knowing the pin brush with the rounded ends is better? I guess I am talking about owners who do not keep their dogs in show condition. I KNOW from different show breeders for my dog that the pin brush is the best. Slicker breaks their hair and their pink skin is too sensitive, and it often hurts them. However, 5 yrs ago, these same breeders swore by the new slicker brush. Every time I try to use the pin brush, I find the job more tedious, and I don't feel like it gets through all the hair the same way. Anyone else feel this way? Of course, I can separate all of her (line brushing) and start at the roots, but I still am not sure if I see all this "breakage" I'm told about. Help? |
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BTW, I am prepared for the screaming I may get for admitting that I still use a slicker brush on the body and not just paws. 
It's really be on my mind though, so I had to admit and ask. Also, I should say that I always use a leave-on conditioner/detangler before brushing to "minimize" the breakage. |
| Hi,
First I want to say I love the picture of your 3 playing in the house. Next, I just learned something new from Willowsprite. Of course, it is used in show grooming, but take a spraybottle and put water in it, and just an ounce of conditioner mixed with it. I always line brush, but now I spray the line I am brushing and it has really worked great! I think since you are not showing, it shouldn't be that bad that you are using slicker most of the time. I don't know about the hair on the maltese, but it should be whatever works for you and your dog. We would love to see more pictures when you get done. On the slicker though, make sure you get the soft bristle slicker, so it doesn't irritate the skin. I, personally think the pin brush works better on OES, it goes through the hair easier, but I always have to line brush, or I would just be going over the top layer of hair and leaving little mats close to the skin. I hope this helps you out some, there will be more tips coming too, I bet. Good luck, and happy grooming. Stormi and co. |
| Just for info.... a slicker if not used VERY carefully for those of you who do use them, can be dangerous. A bacteria called staphylococcus which may reside on their skin can get in the skin which is actually thinly scratched by an improperly used slicker, it then infects the skin and possibly the blood and can even be fatal. I won't recommend running a slicker across your own skin to see what it does, because it hurts a lot, and can infect your own skin as well, but I have gotten my own hand with it once and it made my hand bleed.
Slickers are very flexible, thin wire, so I can't see how that would penetrate the coat better than a pin brush, which by the way, for OES, a pin brush with NO tips is best. The ones with tips catch on the long hair and wrap around, pulling it and breaking it. And Joaheyo.... an OES coat is not "cottony"  It is actually quite harsh, or it should be. The undercoat only has a cottony feel to it. |
| By the way, in response to Stormi's post on spray with conditioner, that was a suggestion made to me to assist in grooming, as line brushing a dry coat can damage it, very very little conditioner, as you do not want the coat to become softened if you plan to show. If plain water works, just use that. |
| Yeah, I will try mixing water/and a tiny bit of cond. Probably would help with the tricky areas under her armpit. My dog's hair would be very coarse too but I guess the different standards make it necessary for my breed to use conditioner each and every time while bathing.
Okay. I will just have to get used to the pin brush. I guess I just feel the bristles or whatever their called (pins?) are too far apart so when I brush, it doesn't really create the smooth flowing effect my slicker brush does. I do notice that if I brush from the roots and straight up, the pin brush does make my dog's hair quite fluffy. This is what I want too. She looks too oily if her hair is brushed "flat." I never brush the skin with the slicker. I am "normally" against slicker brush usage unless properly done too, but Isis got very used to it as a puppy. Unfortunately because she was given no choice. I will just have to be patient and learn to stick with the pin brush. I really don't mean any damage/harm to my dog's coat OR skin. |
| I have been told by my breeder that the pin brush recommended for OES's is not the pin brush with the rounded (balled) tips, but a straight pin brush. Hindes makes several different style brushes, but this is the one I use:
http://www.petedge.com/shopping/product ... uctID=1451 Balled tip brush will attack too much of the undercoat (if are worried about). If you are looking for that smooth effect, maybe a bristle brush to finish him/her off could work. Something maybe like this: http://www.petedge.com/shopping/product ... ductID=482 |
| You are right, El Gato. You shouldn't use the pin brush with the little ball tips on the top. It will break the hairs. The kind I use is a Safari Stainless steel. I got it at a dog show along with 2 combination combs, one large and one with the smaller teeth. I went to one of the women that were grooming the OES, for her to show me what was the best to buy.
I have heard that the All systems brushes work really well, I am not sure if it is all just different brand names of almost the same brushes and combs or if the quality is that much different. I had bought my first grooming products at Petsmart, and when they were puppies, it worked great! When they were older though, those same products did not go through the hair very well. I am glad we are getting all of these wonderful tips on grooming. This forum has always been great, but it is nice to see it grow. Stormi and co. |
| I have a slicker brush that Pet Edge carries and as a groomer have always used it on all coats. If you use it on the hair only, not on the skin, it will get alot of the undercoat and split up little matts like no other. The pin brush, as is with my experience with it , not able to do the job of a slicker. I've use the slicker on my oes and have not seen any damage. I also line brush my dog.
When customers have a hard time brushing at home we find they are using a pin brush. We recommend a slicker and we show them how to use it and the dogs them come to the shop less matted for us. Products like Pro Glo or Show Coat can be used to prevent damage and make brushing easier. I'm not talking preping for show animals--That's not my expertise. May |
| If you don't brush to the skin your oes may look fine on top, if not fuzzy and teased, but underneath it will eventually be so matted it will be like someone glued felt to the dog.... |
| youve said most of it willow, show or not there really is no easy or fast method of grooming an OES they are very high maintenence, you only get out what at first you put in, if my dogs are not showing they are still gone through layer by layer and if done properly i.e pin brush ( no bobbles) and fingers to tease the mats then it can take a good few hours.
Yes a slicker will indeed make everything easy but you wont have much quality coat left sorry buts thats fact. patience is a virtue with OES it is vital Huggles B-eye |
| Well, I got a different pin brush and it's working great!!!
I think I'm going to have to ask my groomer or someone how to use thinning shears. I kept the sissors in place and just kept cutting. (didn't move them....just cut, cut, cut, cut). It barely got anything and just scared my dog (probably because usually when I cut something, hair just comes off ...but I kept chomping and chomping). The only movement I got is if I cut the same spot SEVERAL times and even then, I was unhappy. *drat* ahh well. Things usually take practice anywho. |
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