I'm a bad Mom...
I tried to keep up with brushing him, but suddenly he's absolutely FULL of mats- and they're in weird places, like his back??? Is he finally getting his adult hair or something? He's starting to look more grey, he's still very dark, but I can't figure out why all the sudden he has such bad mats. I've been working on them every night and I have some doggie tangle spray (i'm not sure how well it works, but it makes him spell pretty!) but I don't know if I can brush them out fast enough. Any suggestions? Does this sound like a puppy to adult coat conversion? Poor Gus- he's so pretty with his hair but he's beginning to run everytime he sees me reach for the brush- thankfully he watches TV so we've been having longer brushing sessions while watching the Olympics :) I feel like a bad sheepie mom to let him get these mats, but they seem to have developed out of the blue. Gah.... Thanks for any suggestions!! |
|
|
| JOIN the CLUB!!!
Heart is 14 months old and the same thing is happening to us...except I DO have a great groomer who spends time getting out the 'hard' mats I can't get to...especially under belly and under legpit mats... 
So between me working on her every other day and then taking her to her groomer every 4-6 weeks we are (barely) keeping up with those nasty ole mats!!!! 
I would really try to find a good groomer in your area. I am so lucky I found 2 great OLD ENGLISH groomers...( meaning the head groomer has sheepies and has taught an assistant HOW to correctly groom!!!!!) And the best part is I pay about $60.00 (PLUS a very generous tip..I want to keep them VERY happy!!!!  ) |
One more reason to move to St Louis!!!!!! 
As for Gus' Mom, no you're not. Bad, that is. Sybil - who is 2 and one HOPES going through her FINAL major coat change (her sister is a piece of cake to groom at this point) has mats EVERYWHERE, including her back. Shoot, she has mats in places even I didn't know they could mat. I work on her for 1-2 hours every night. I worked on one side last night - not the whole side, even, just a section. And by the time I stood her up the side that was mat free the night before had rematted. If I had half a brain I would shave her to the skin. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing that. I've done it twice before in her case. I just have a feeling that this is the final battle between me and the great mat-maker, so I'm willing to slug it out. Maybe
Kristine |
That's funny- I live in Fitchburg but my husband is from STL- I feel like I'm at home either way- maybe I'll call your groomer in STL next time I'm down there, any chance they're in Florissant? 
1-2 hours is no where near the time I can wrestle Gus into submission. He's so strong, and he kicks! (ow) And he never whines or anything, but I imagine me tugging at his hair for 1/2 an hour drives him crazy. Some nights he's more acceptin than others. We'll just continue to fight the war I suppose, I was so sad last time we cut his hair, I'd hate to shave him  |
| Summer has matts behind her ears, on elbows, an then round her girly bits, and on her side where she scratches. If she is in a good mood she lets me tease them out but I have just been cutting them out with my little round ended scissors! |
| Tonks and Luna are 10 months old and I'm brushing and de-matting daily. I've given up hope of getting everything out, every day. I think "today I'll get them off their ears, and chins. Tomorrow will be paws. legs and armpits."
And even with daily brushing and matt removal, I'll still find a weird one. You think the back is weird? Luna had one smack in the middle of her forehead! And I swear it was NOT there the night before. Someone here on the board suggested adding some fish oil to their diets, in the form of a little canned tuna. I went overboard and got them some California Natural Salmon and Sweet Potato wet food. I noticed a difference in the coats relatively rapidly. Also a difference in how the house began to smell.  So I'm now going to try actual fish oil.
Also, as someone who "over grooms" I'm being very careful to use shampoos and conditioners that are very specifically for frequent use. Its also helping reduce the number and the degree of severity of the matting. |
| Oh! Interesting!!
What grooming tools do you use to demat him? Maybe there's a clue there. If he's matted to the skin or has big mats, you need to get in there with your fingers and rip the mats open to better be able to grab them. I'm using three different slickers plus a mat splitter and I'm not taking out as much coat as you may think... You'll be doing yourself a favor if you strip the undercoat a bit on his neck, chest and shoulders. You can still leave the length, but it will emphasize his sheepdog pear-shapedness and MORE IMPORTANTLY, leave less undercoat to mat. 
The only reason Sybil still has a speck of hair on her body is she does enjoy being groomed. Do you have a table? Even if you don't have a grooming table, a sturdy table with something non-slip on it could make a big difference in your ability to control the Mule and protect your back. Mind you, all this "great" advice coming from the self-proclaimed grooming impaired, so take it for what it's worth
Kristine |
Darth Snuggle wrote: And even with daily brushing and matt removal, I'll still find a weird one. You think the back is weird? Luna had one smack in the middle of her forehead! And I swear it was NOT there the night before.
Also known as reason #473 to not raise siblings They chew on each other, rip on each other, lick each other, any time they get each other wet, instant mat! That's usually how some of the truly funky mats come into being. At least on their heads.
After questioning Sybil seriously and at great length on this issue it finally dawned on me. 
Kristine |
| Keeping a sheepie in full coat require hours of brushing. When I kept Tasker in coat we brushed every night for at least an hour. There are many here who groom to show and I am sure they will tell you what an awful lot of work it is.
At this point, your best option may be to clip him down and let him grow back out. |
| Archie is in danger of being renamed - to Matt!
He drew blood today, as he said enough is enough, then he said sorry and licked me to death |
| Ah, it is happily becoming a bad memory. At 28 months, we are well into his 2nd coat. I am liking it soooo much better.
This coat was daily mats. He is 1 yr in this picture - 
I would get one side done every night. So by the 2nd day, when I was back to the original side, he would be matted. Then add in the belly, around the boy parts, his head and chin.... Now we have this -  And it is work, but so much less that it seems easy.
And, he is great about grooming, so it is just me getting to it! |
| I'm with Kristine on that matt-splitting tool! What a big difference it made for us! I only recently ordered this from Cherrybrook, and am really happy with it:
http://www.cherrybrook.com/index.cfm/a/ ... maginetics And as for them getting each other wet, and it causing matts? I don't know that the girls licking each other is really the culprit... http://sharing.theflip.com/session/7ad0 ... eo/2063904 I'm gonna pretend they don't also have a little wading pool here at the house, and blame Doggy-daycare! |
| Yup! That's the matbreaker I was talking about. It's a godsend for stripping out undercoat.
And, yeah, I see what you mean about the wetness factor
My girls will hang out and "kiss" each other, causing convulsions in co-breeder. At least when the one in alleged show coat is involved.
To groom or not to groom (i.e. to go to bed at a decent hour for a change). THAT is the question... After I finished working with Sybil in the back yard I let her hang out while I put the agility equipment away for mowing purposes. She spent the entire time rolling on her back. The back that I've dematted three times this week alone. Oh, yeah, gonna be a long week...
Kristine  |
Mad Dog wrote: To groom or not to groom (i.e. to go to bed at a decent hour for a change). THAT is the question... Kristine Oh I know that one. I get ready for bed, give the girls a cuddle as I go, and-- wait! What's this; a mat? Suddenly I have all my tools out and its 2 hours later. |
| I am totally the oddball.
I sit on the floor to groom, with the dogs on an old quilt to protect the carpet. Either my feet or my back is going to be sore and a heating pad feels wonderful on my back.
I use a rake, a comb with 2 spacing of the tines (narrow and medium), a pair of small bandage scissors and a cheapo clipper with a narrow blade for between the pads. I have a flashlight, hemostat, Q-tips and cotton balls for the ears. My favorite comb is over thirty years old and the tines are stating to fall out.  I haven't been able to find another one like it and the name of the company is long worn off.
I blame the cats for the mats on Riley. She loves to play with them and they chew on her front legs and chest hair. |
| I have mat rakes but I have only used a comb on my guys so far. My last OES had a terrible undercoat. That mat splitter intrigues me though. Is it easy to use...looks a little scary. |
| Okay Darth Snuggle, that is only the coolest doggie pool ever! Where did auntie find it? |
jcc9797 wrote: Okay Darth Snuggle, that is only the coolest doggie pool ever! Where did auntie find it?
the "Aunties" are actually the gals that run our Doggie Daycare. Its pretty cool, huh? I wouldn't mind getting one myself at some point! I'll ask them if its something that can be purchased, and where. |
| I love google:
http://www.allpetsradio.com/articleps.php?id=43 http://www.onedogonebone.com/ |
| yeooouch - I hope they are more chew resistant than a nylabone for that price - yikers! |
| I too sit on the floor like MOM of 3.....
With the Heart hair I have been dealing with, (total fuzzy cotton) I am now using a pin brush, slicker, and rake...I have a dematting tool and a comb also. She is pretty good except when I try to brush her back legs by her belly and her tummy
Here is Heart after her first time at the groomers with her summer cut. I was so pleased with the way she turned out... (Gus's mom....my groomer is on Kingshighway and Chippewa. Very close to my house.... When you come to St. Louis, make a grooming appointment, drop Gusgus off then come to the Hill and we can go to lunch or take a tour...it will be soo fun!!! By the time we are done, it will be time to pick him up!) |
| Another floor sitter here - although Marley is just as happy laying on the table for hours, I find sitting on the living room floor easier on my back. I use a Christensen pin brush and sometimes a comb - I know bad Kerry. Marley has a very course coat. Coat texture has a lot to do with how much they matt and a softer coat will matt more easily.
I went through two shave downs when she was at her worse coat changes. then she blew her entire undercoat for some as yet unknown reason this spring. Now the undercoat is coming back in nicely - and I think the major coat changes are over!!!!! she will be three next month. I asked Jere Marder once how long grooming should take and she said three hours a week. either in one sitting - or doing the dog in fifths - front and back quarters and head. Seems like now that Marley's coat is maturing that is right on the mark. I haven't actually brushed her at all this week and either tonight or tomorrow night I will spend three hours or so going over her from head to foot (feet, as we all know are the tough part and alot of time is wasted playing get that foot out from under your body!). I was surprised when I was petting her last night - not a single matt - usually when I play with her we end up pulling matts apart at the same time. So there is a light at the end of the tunnel. On the other hand, I keep Morgan shaved down because he enjoys it more, he looks nice that way and frankly two in full coat would be more than I want to handle at this time - maybe when they are both old enough to be less labor intensive. |
| Okay- questions:
1) How do you strip the undercoat?? 2) How does anyone manage to brush under the chin??? I either get a lot of slobbery nips, or he just smashes his face into the floor (he's really good at making my life difficult) 3) I have a mat-breaker, it's not the best, but it serves the purpose. the directions said to start at the bottom of the mat and kind of "saw" through, but that just plain doesn't work when he has a mat the size of a golfball. I attacked him last night and held the mat, then kind of teased it (if that makes sense) with the breaker and it seemed to do a prettty decent job, good enough that my slicker brush could finish it up. Am I using the mat breaker correctly? Do I just own a crappy one? Does my dog have steel wool for hair?? 4) Do they make straight jackets for dogs?
I think it's just going to be a learning process- part of me is just too nice and knows he wants to play so I let him go play when I should make him stay to be brushed. I don't have a proper grooming table, but maybe I'll put my yoga mat to use (since I have stopped pretending I'll ever do yoga) and put him up on our folding table with it so he doesn't slide around. I know where Kingshighway is! I'll have to check that out- we are probably coming down for my husbands 10 yr. H.S. reunion (he went to Desmett) and if we bring Gus that'd be a good day activity for him Otherwise he torments my in-law's dashund who does find him as cute as we do.
Thanks for all the suggestions! |
Gus's Mama wrote: Okay- questions: 1) How do you strip the undercoat?? I use an undercoat rake on Morgan and the Newfie pup - it does a good job of stripping the uindercoat. 2) How does anyone manage to brush under the chin??? I either get a lot of slobbery nips, or he just smashes his face into the floor (he's really good at making my life difficult) Practice - yes I get to brush (and here I use the comb as well) under the chin. 3) I have a mat-breaker, it's not the best, but it serves the purpose. the directions said to start at the bottom of the mat and kind of "saw" through, but that just plain doesn't work when he has a mat the size of a golfball. I attacked him last night and held the mat, then kind of teased it (if that makes sense) with the breaker and it seemed to do a prettty decent job, good enough that my slicker brush could finish it up. Am I using the mat breaker correctly? Do I just own a crappy one? Does my dog have steel wool for hair?? I use my hands to pull apart the mat as taught by Deb and Mandy It really does work. 4) Do they make straight jackets for dogs? No - sorry (well for sybils sake I am glad Kristine hasn't found one yet  . It takes time to get them to understand the grooming relaxation process - (at least in our breed - Mr Newfie can sleep through anything) - but it is a very important part of raising an OES puppy unless you want to keep them shaved all the time.I think it's just going to be a learning process- part of me is just too nice and knows he wants to play so I let him go play when I should make him stay to be brushed. Consistency Consistency Consistency - start with 3 of 5 minute sessions, and never let him tell you he is finished which is really important with any training Thanks for all the suggestions! |
| I'm so sorry you are having these issues- matts the size of GOLFBALLS??!
I'm beginning to think I'm very lucky or have not reached the blowing coat yet? Rufus is 12 months and we comb him through usually once a week for 2 hours or twice a week about an hour each. He has a few small matts, the biggest one so far being maybe 3cms but not tight. I think because I use a comb I'm stripping out a fair bit, but I can't get on with a brush, even my lovely straight pin one, it's just not precise enough. I can't get right to the skin with a brush at all, and the pins are so far apart compared to the comb, they barely touch the matts. We have him on the table, I can't stress how easy it can be with two people! We put Ru on his side with his back to me (I'm the one with the comb) and Greg just holds his neck down, no real pressure is needed, just a firm hand. Ru sometimes tries to get up, especially when I'm doing his legs as that is a sensitive area, but with Greg holding him its easier to be gentle while he is still. Greg just says a firm 'no' and if needed we stop for a second and gently hold him by putting a little pressure on the side of his neck and body. We have been doing this since we got him home at 8 weeks so I think thats why it's easier. The Mars Coat King is great for taking out undercoat, which will help on the sides of the neck and shoulders, and chest. Strip like crazy in these areas! |
| We have had huge matts the size of a fist almost. This was on his neack where his collar rests, I am not sure removing his collar when at home helsp at all, this one took over an hour to break down
On the whole in the white area, currently his worst area is the shortest part of his coat on his belly - which is wierd, probably from his desire to lie out in the rain, daft hound! |
Archies Slave wrote: On the whole in the white area, currently his worst area is the shortest part of his coat on his belly - which is wierd, probably from his desire to lie out in the rain, daft hound! I brushed Mareley out (in an hour last night - I was impressed) the only mats were on her belly. |
| [/b]Are there classes out there to learn how to groom your Sheepie? Or is it just word of other sheepie owners? Mine is 5months old and her coat is not that bad or is it coming??? |
ravenbrook wrote: [/b]Are there classes out there to learn how to groom your Sheepie? Or is it just word of other sheepie owners? Mine is 5months old and her coat is not that bad or is it coming???
Gosh; you sound like me; at 6 months old I was so proud of my grooming efforts; so proud that Luna and Tonks did not get mats. People laughed at me. Now I know why.
Its coming. Batten down the hatches and prepare for the storm. Its coming. Now I've yet to have anything the size of a gold ball, or even the size of a fist. But I know better than to be proud of that; because that might be coming too. I'd love it if we had a grooming tutorial day here in Atlanta. I've seen other areas pull on e off. Anyone willing to host a bunch of us and show us how to do it right? |
| That would be GREAT a sheepie grooming party sorta like AVON but for SHEEPIES ONLY! Thanks for not laughing too hard at me. I have vowed never to shave my sheepie down but reading all these posts I'm wondering if this is a pipe dream??? When will she get Fluffy and BIG?? I love the BEAR look. |
ravenbrook wrote: That would be GREAT a sheepie grooming party sorta like AVON but for SHEEPIES ONLY! Thanks for not laughing too hard at me.
I have vowed never to shave my sheepie down but reading all these posts I'm wondering if this is a pipe dream??? When will she get Fluffy and BIG?? I love the BEAR look. I wanted to avoid the shave too, but when the summer heat got to be too much, and then our AC went out, I knew it was kinder to cut them down. That being said, I made sure I found a groomer that wouldn't just shave to the skin, but actually give them a cute cut:  |
this one is a before and after shot. |
ravenbrook wrote: That would be GREAT a sheepie grooming party sorta like AVON but for SHEEPIES ONLY! Thanks for not laughing too hard at me.
I have vowed never to shave my sheepie down but reading all these posts I'm wondering if this is a pipe dream??? When will she get Fluffy and BIG?? I love the BEAR look. Even if you clip, you don't have to clip to the skin. With clippers, you can get a different blade to leave more length. I also hate cutting my guy down but I have another puppy coming in a few weeks and I wanted him to be maintenance free until we got into the swing of things with having a puppy in the house. I have a hard time trimming at all and I let him get way, way too long so he needed the cut. Like Kerry said, softer hair mats a lot easier and also, the softer hair doesn't puff out like a harsher coat will. It'll be long and shaggy and still adorable but not the cotton ball you might be thinking of! |
| That is a nice cut and ya do want them comfy yours both look cute but it is hard for a sheepie to look bad |
Quote: 2) How does anyone manage to brush under the chin??? I either get a lot of slobbery nips, or he just smashes his face into the floor (he's really good at making my life difficult)
I have exactly the same problem with Fitz. In order to prevent him from slobbery nips or smashing his face into the floor, I hold onto his chin hairs and try to sorta brush around my hand. It doesn't work well.
Fitz mats like crazy - I was sick for a week and so he didn't get his usual daily brush, and he had mats the size of my fist all over. I tell you though: Chris Christensen's Ice on Ice is nice - it's saving my sanity! It helps get through the matts and seems to prevent them too. Just don't use it anywhere near laminate floors, it's deadly slippery, learned that the hard way! |
| I also use Ice on Ice and like it alot. I use it after using the Day to Day shampoo, followed by the Thick N Thicker rinse and the Afterbath conditioner. I think the whole process is a bit long, but i get good results. Our matting is definitely better for it, I think. |
| shaving them down during the coat change can make things better for both of you. it gives you a clean slate so to speak and their hair grows at a rate of about 1/2 inch a month so it doesn't take long to get big and fluffy (and mat free) again. |
ravenbrook wrote: [/b]Are there classes out there to learn how to groom your Sheepie? Or is it just word of other sheepie owners? Mine is 5months old and her coat is not that bad or is it coming???
Should have been around in the spring. We had one in Harrisburg. |
We could always have another  |
| Come finish my patio for me and I'll think about it! |
Maxmm wrote: Come finish my patio for me and I'll think about it!
how is the waterfall coming? |
| Okay - I have not been logging in much - too much going on. But I will send you a PM as I live in the Madison area and have found 2 fairly good groomers one with OES experience and less expensive last time was less than $70. |
| between the humidity here from the rains, and the age (Val it isn't just Heart, trust me) they are all in that litter going thru their coat change right now........... I am so glad i separated checkers and Calypso or they would not have any coat left at this point..............
With Calypso it appears to be her neck more than anything. I think she and her mom are 'mouthing' on each other....... causing it. |
| maxmm
Oh that would have been perfect my uncle lives in Harrisburg and has been wanting me to come and visit!! If anything comes up again please let me know. I would love to meet with other sheepie moms and dads |
we use a mikki matt splitter (a single blade) and an untangler rake with rotating teeth on Henry and it seems to be much less tugging on the coat takes me about 20minutes every 2nd day to brush his coat (he goes to the vet fortnightly for a spa day  )
((Links for the brushes/matt splitters and Henry, lead to Images)). |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|