Taking out the undercoat?
 I must confess, I myself wasn't sure of proper grooming technique when I first got her until playing a video I found here over and over and over...lol Sid's fur is now tightly knotted rather close to her skin. I don't own a long-pinned slicker so I've been using a rake (at least I think it's a rake). Even with the loads of leave-in conditioner/detangler I've used, I swear that I've pulled out most of her undercoat. I have probably spent about 8 hours so far (over a few days) working on her coat and feel exceedingly guilty and incompetent. Line brushing was easy when I could part her fur down to the skin but now... Any ideas??? I'm so lucky - she is very patient with me - even though she's about to pop!!! I've already talked w/my coowners (lovely people) and said I would show them what I know about line grooming. Just need to know how I could better treat Sidney's coat. Thanks!!!  |
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| Before starting line grooming I would suggest to get her matt free so you are doing the right thing by taking all the matted undercoat out, when she is eventually matt free then line groom her regulary at least once a week to keep her in top condition. |
| Don't worry about stripping the coat, it's fine for now. Um.. what I mean is, if you are new to grooming, it would be best to use a comb or matt breaker to get all the matts out and get used to line grooming on a slightly stripped coat.
I have found brushes (all kinds) don't really go to the skin like a comb can ON A PUPPY COAT, I find the comb much easier. Get one with a comfortable handle. I know you want to show, but concentrate on getting the matts out and getting used to grooming first. The coat will grow back to it's full thickness in no time, during which time you can take your dog to show classes I guess 
I have stripped out Ru's coat by combing him instead of brushing since I got him. He's 14 months and honestly, I comb him twice a week and it seems like a whole other coat comes off him each time! But while he is going through his coat change I can't cope with a full thick coat in the puppy coat because it's so fluffy and matts so quickly. However, he still looks really fluffy but is much, much easier to groom. If you are a beginner I strongly suggest using a comb to line groom first, get out all the matts. Then when you are ready use a brush (of course this could be any time you wish) and as the coat gets more mature you will find the fur is more course it will be easier to use a brush. This is just my advice for a beginner as I am one too Unless you have someone there to help, it takes a little while to get the grooming right, especially for show.
I have two combs, the metal kind. One has wide teeth one end and narrower the other, I use this one for de-matting. The other one has a wooden handle, slightly longer teeth which I would say have medium spacing. You need to find what is right for you. |
| If you are in any inexpirienced keep away from Matt breakers as they are not that easy to use, the same applies to a rake, a good comb if used properly will do the trick but be very careful as the coat can break very easily. When showing I always moisten the coat with a hair conditioner diluted with water this makes the coat flexible and the coat does not break so easily. bgirl.nemesis: I am sorry to contradict you but if you cannot get right down to the skin with a wire brush then you are doing something wrong, most show people only use a rake to take out unnecessary undercoat if we have matts we pluck the coat very gently and then brush them out. If you are going to show then you have to try and save the coat as much as possible and it will take you hours to finish the work but it is worth it in the end when you have a lovely OES in full coat. By the way before a show I usually have or rather had my sheepies on the table for at least five hours and that is not including wash, dry and ironing. If I can help you in any way please PM me. Stewart |
| "ironing" ????? |
Quote: bgirl.nemesis: I am sorry to contradict you but if you cannot get right down to the skin with a wire brush then you are doing something wrong, most show people only use a rake to take out unnecessary undercoat if we have matts we pluck the coat very gently and then brush them out.
No problem, you are the one with experience, I value your advice
I have trouble with brushes. I've tried Hindes pin brushes (without heads on the pins) but find the little matts just escape between the pins and I have a dog with bigger matts in a day or two. If I comb him through I have no problem with matts at all, I've never had a matt bigger than 3cms yet and he stays that way for 4-5 days. Is there such a thing as a brush with the pins closer together? Maybe I need a square paddle one as the rounded edge seems to be the problem with getting to the skin, like trying to paint a picture in detail with a huge blunt brush if that makes sense? Also Ru seems to hate the brushes, but is not bothered by the combs. I know it's all a matter of training (him and me) I've got Mandy's videos and followed them to the letter but still can't seem to work with a brush, it feels so wrong. Sorry for hijacking the thread  |
| I have three old plastic hair picks, (yes, I admit to doing kinky perms YEARS ago). I keep one in the living room and when we are sitting in the evening I use it on Abbey. She loves it and it is nice for little touch ups and seems to get deep enough. Anyone else used these? |
| I use the Avon dentangling combs on Summer. work really well.... |
| hi
just like to start with, i am no expert of oes having only had one this year and his hair is just really starting to get long i am a dog groomer, new to that also. but this is how i am coping: i use a coat king to get out his undercoat, a matt breaker for that matts, i use a pin brush daily, line combing when possible or just a good brush, i use coconut oil on him the day before a bath, never bath a dog with matts as they get tighter! so i cover him in a little oil, then line comb him, the day after the matts are much easier to deal with with conditioner or oil on them. and then bath, but be sure to add shampoo before the water to break down the oil, or you will never get it out. you can also get whitening shampoo which you put on and leave 5 minutes or whatever the bottle says, but be extra careful around the face, you may need to apply this a number of times to get the stains out. i do also confess to clipping his face, from below the eyes to under his chin, i found when he had a drink he was so messy that even 5 minutes after he was still dripping, and no amount of wiping it up, constantly and all the mess all over the floor was keeping him hygenic, then i saw a picture on a grooming forum with an oes with this clip so i thought i would try it and it works for me 5f blade (6mm). one day when i get used to the demands of his coat which is now about 6" long i will let his face grow. but his not a show dog, well not yet anyway. his still got issues from his last home. i brush billy on a daily basis but i do a section a day so he dousnt get too bored with it and wants it done then a big groom on a sunday. every time i finish grooming a dog and then let my dogs out billy goes running into the grooming room, dives on the table and demands a brush, it cant be a bad thing! when i decieded to get an oes i didnt realise what high maintence they were, i am prepared for all this but i am so glad there are sites like this where you can ask for help and tips on all sorts x |
| Wow some good tips there! Just a couple of things, I have been using the Mars Coat King on the shoulders, neck and chest as the sheepie should look slimmer in those areas. But as you are using blades, as the fur grows back, it is a little tricky to manage, it matts a little more and they are harder to get out. My advice would be to only use the Coat King in those areas. The rest of your sheepie's undercoat can be removed by continuing to use the comb to line groom, if that is what you want.
The other thing is, you need to be grooming for about 3 hours a week (some would say at least 3 hours at this stage) it takes me about that long to line groom, pluck the ears, trim between pads and clean teeth if necessary, it will vary from dog to dog, and with experience, but you really need to be doing 2-3 hours of brushing a week if your dog is getting these matts. That way you will keep up with them. Something else that might help is how often you bathe your dog. This varies from dog to dog again, but as an example, Rufus gets a bath every 4- 6 weeks. If you over bathe you can get skin problems, the line grooming will keep the coat clean in the meantime. When Ru gets muddy we just use a garden hose or a bucket of warm water to clean his legs and under his tummy, again everyone is different. You already know not to bath your dog with any matts. Hope this helps |
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