Matting
Is it possible she is matting so much because of a coat change? I would like to shave her down and start over with a new coat ... but I love her long hair and worry that she's be cold in alaska. I think I might need some grooming tips. Right now I am only using a slicker brush. Is there a better option that I am not utilizing? |
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| I was SOOOOO proud of my girls; thier coats were so easy to brush when they were little. And everyone said "just you wait; the dreaded coat change will come, and with it, MATS".
And sure enough it did. From about month 8 through to now (we're at month 18 ) its mats, mats, mats. we've had a bit of a respite the last couple of months, but I've noticed it getting bad again. Here's what has worked well for me.... At 9 months I shaved the girls down. Not to the skin, but enough to remove a good deal of the puppy coat. Alot of people here have posted that the adult coat comes in easier, and nicer with a shave or two or three. This video posted by Ron of Grannie Annie dematting was TREMENDOUSLY helpful to me. http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=22360 I love the way she breaks them up with her fingers and uses the slicker after that. It really helped me save alot of coat. Before that I was using a mat breaker for every mat, and it was taking alot of hair out. But don't count the mat-breaker out. I still find mine to be really useful. Tonks and Luna will be getting shaved again at the end of May. As much as I will hate losing the lovely long coats we've been growing out, I know that it will look even prettier this time next year! |
| if the coat is matting get show seasons detangle spray (American), this can be used on dry or wet hair works better on the wet though. I use this when i get matted dogs in, last week the oes I had in was very matted, I placed him in the bath washed and dry using first aid shampoo and sprayed the detangle in left it for 5mins then started to fluff dry they came out very easy.
I always say I wouldn't be without the first aid shampoo and detangle everything else could go but not those two. I am a prof dog groomer so I try all these products on the market and nearly all th detangle sprays are a load of rubbish. |
| I am so glad that I saw this post. Jenny is 9 mons old and I noticed last month that every time I turned around there was another mat to get out. We are getting her shaved soon, not to the skin, but at least I feel comfortable knowing that her coat with come in better. I wish this site was around when I had my first two sheepies. |
| Bally started matting like crazy a month or so ago (6 or 7 months old) when all those cute little wiry grey hairs started coming through. We gave him a fairly decent length hair cut and that helped a lot. Watch out for tummy and chest matts if you do this though, because they seemed to be really persistent no matter what. |
| And ARMPIT MATS!!! they are awful. |
| armpit mats are bad. Summer has lots on her tummy as well but she is due for a cut. I just love her fluffy but the matts have gone past rescuing her coat. I have a feeling she will be almost all white when she is clipped though like a little sheep! |
| There are MANY sheepies that are shaved in alaska!!!!!!!!!!
2, it's almost April. ..........so it's warming up esp. if the dog has been living there for several months (so your dog is acclimated to the weather already). I'm not a fan of the shaved look, but we had our dog clipped down to a few inches several times in Alaska. Another poster on here that lives in Eagle River shaves hers and they do fine!  |
| We went through the same thing with Charlie at about the same age. Now, just a few months later, he's doing MUCH better. He does, however, get matts now on the outsides of his hind legs. When we had our "grooming lessons" yesterday, the guy showed us how to brush through them, watch for them when bathing and drying, which will all help us keep them under control. He strongly suggests using a slicker brush as you blow dry him and to wait until they're almost dry before you start gently pat/brush them out. Then, take a fine-toothed grooming comb to them to get out the rest. He said he hardly ever has to cut them out. It made so much sense and we feel like we can tackle them now. Of course, a grooming blow dryer is the key--I can't believe the tricks you can do with one of those puppies!! We love it!!!! |
| I am so glad I read about your problem. My OES Dexter is 1 year old today and for the last 2 or 3 months the matting has begon. I try to brush him every day, but it seems like whe he wakes up in the morning there are 10 mats to tak the place of the 1 or 2 I was able to brush out. I spoke to a new groomer about him today and she said that it was probably the puppy coat that was causing it and that we needed to "clip" him back down to a puppy coat. I love his long hair and am worried that he too will be upset about the hair cut. I am from Illinois and Dexter got quite hot during the summer last year. He is scheduled for the haircut next week. Do you think it's too early?
Dani -- Dexter's mommy |
| We had Chloe clipped short last week. I'm a newbie with the grooming and the coat care. The groomer suggested that it would be easier for me with a shorter coat. I'll learn as it begins to grow again, Chloe is so patient with me. I've read scads of information here on technique, thanks so much. |
| I always find my dogs matt behind the ears and no matter what I do I can't stop it. I think it stems from people scratching there when they pat them. I comb and keep it under control every day but there are times when I have resorted to a quick clip when no one was looking. |
MING wrote: I always find my dogs matt behind the ears and no matter what I do I can't stop it. I think it stems from people scratching there when they pat them. I comb and keep it under control every day but there are times when I have resorted to a quick clip when no one was looking.
Funny you posting this today. For the last week or two Tiggy's ears are terrible. Huge big matts appear every day. I cannot figure out how they get there. I'm wondering if she is scratching them but there is no sign of redness or bleeding and her ears are clean. Also I havent caught her at it so its probably not that.  |
| ^^^
I keep getting you two posters above mixed up since your usernames appear to be a lot alike at first glance. |
| That's true! |
I finally got sorted and found out how to post an avatar so maybe that will help  |
Yeah! It's a great avatar, too!  |
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