muzzle while grooming?
does anyone muzzle their dog when they groom them? the dog is 2 years old and our relationship is as good as it's going to get...so i'm not worried about offending him. he is very strong willed anyway. i just have to figure out a way to get rid of these mats our or else i will have to shave him down all too often. so frustrating that i have been combing him hours a day and still i will most likely have to shave what is 95% a beautiful coat. i've read thru a lot of posts and while i have found specifics on how to remove a mat, there isn't much about how to remove a mat from a sheepdog who refuses to be groomed. even my professional groomer says she has to work on him 10 min at a time because he is too difficult to deal with... hate to throw in the towel but i just don't know what else to do except just shave him a couple times a year and do my best in between. drives me nuts because i'm a do it yourselfer and i just can't figure this one out. oh well...just rambling. where can i buy this cowboy magic? maybe i'll try that. |
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| Is it just his feet that are matted? If so, you could shave just his feet and start over with them. Yes, it will look very dumb but as fast as their hair grows you could take your time getting him used to grooming implements at his feet while they are naked. Run the brush or comb softly over his feet a little bit every day. Most dogs are particularly sensitive about their feet and if you are tugging at mats it would make him even crankier about you messing with his paws.
If there are small individual mats you could also just cut them out and blend the new hair and old hair. Like a doggie combover. If you do want to use a muzzle there is a good post about how to use it with treats and the like. Just use the search function at the top of the page. |
| My dog was the same way and his feet are still tickelish. What you have to do is be so gentle that you don't evoke the behavior and don't allow the behavior either. Persistance in letting them know it isn't OK to bite you and being gentle are the two things I reccommend. You can use a muzzle that is no big deal and may help them learn a different way to communicate. Remember if it will hurt you it will hurt them.
Good luck and have fun. |
| I totally understand- my Tuck is the same about his legs and feet. I had to work very long and try many solutions but it is getting better.
When I was at the point you are at I stuck my dog in the tub, wet his legs and feet, soaked him in conditioner and very gently cut out the worst and brushed (VERY gently) out the rest. then after I washed his whole coat out. It worked, but I wouldn't do it again. We ended up with some areas that looked like they were weed wacked. I really didn't want to shave him at the time, because of the time of year. And I am not one to say, go ahead and shave him, but in your case as in mine it may be the way to go. His fur will grow out very quickly. I shave my dog down every spring and he gets a fresh start. That way you get to brush him a little bit every day and it becomes a joy for both of you because there are no mats or snags and he learns that brushing is pain free. Plus that way by this time next year he will be gorgeous! It is going to take a lot of treats and soft soothing talk and maybe some distraction, and don't discount being very firm with him and setting your mind that you will do X# of minutes of brushing and he will tolerate it. I am convinced there are very few issues, including grooming problems that can't be overcome. Just be careful not to hurt him or punish him - he will never forget it, and you will have to work twice as hard and twice as long to earn his trust again You could try Rescue Remedy, it did help us a little. It seems to take the edge off when he would normally start getting tense. Grooming is a really great time to share quiet time with your dog where he knows he is the center of your attention. Most dogs really enjoy at least that part - or they learn to! I say - start over with a shorter coat. Pulling and trying to break up matts is only going to make you both hate it more. It really isn't any fun to brush a dog who doesn't want you to.  |
| great, thanks guys...this forum has been wonderful so far. one more question since you guys seem to be experts. i've always taken him to a groomer to be shaved. i'd like to try it myself...i know the basic steps and what to do, not to do from books and vidoes, but i've never had a pair of clippers in my hands...and am a bit frightened and worried that i'll get 20% of the way done and he'll start to get impatient.
am i at a high risk of cutting/hurting the dog? i was originally going to try to use a 1 inch attachment, but now think that maybe using a 4 or a 7 blade would be the best. i know the oster comes with a 10...which i think might be too short. i'm hoping that shaving isn't as big a deal as i am making it...but it would make me feel better to hear it from someone who has done it before...if the worst case is that he looks funny and i have to take him to the groomer anyway, no big deal...but i don't need a trip to the vet. thanks! andy in pittsburgh |
| You may want to take the dog to a groomer - shop around for one who
knows OES though. I made that mistake! I think I have made just about all the mistakes you could imagine over the years. Here is what I would consider... Shaving an OES (especially the first time) is going to take a good amount of time. To do a good job takes me hours. The clipper is going to cost some money if you don't already have an animal clipper. Don't use a human one - it will either die mid-job, overheat, dull quickly, or not have enough motor to do heavy fur. However, a trip to the groomer can be almost as expensive depending where you live. You also run the risk, however slight, of hurting or angering the dog. You may not want to have the dog associate this experience with you. If you don't plan to keep the dog in a shorter coat, I vote for the groomer. Let him/her be the bad guy. If you are set on doing this, go slow, take lots of breaks, or split it into a few days even, and give lots of treats and love and praise. Make it the best you possibly can. The dog won't forget it, especially if he hates it. Check out the thread "clippers!" in the grooming section back in December I think. There is some great info there if you haven't seen it. Good luck! Shellie (in PA) |
| Buy the equivallent of an Oster A-5, I have the 2 speed model with a Vac-U-Groomer attachmnet to suck the hair like the groomers have the clippers and a # 10 blade with a set of clip on's will be fine to start. You can get the blades up to 1/2 inch cut depth sometimes 5/8's, get ceramic blades they run cooler last longer and stay sharper. if you cut the body at 3/4 inch this is perfect. Cut the head at 1 to 1/4 inches and the ears at about the same 1 1/4 or a little longer. Number #10 around the butt under the tail for an inch and increasse clip height in 1/4 inch increments until body lenght, then take the 1/4 inch blade and feather it all in. Cut in two directions or it will be uneven. Restrain the dog with something comfortable until they get used to being clipped for your safety, I guarantee you will get your finger cut with the clipper blade and you will get frustrated because the dog wants to get away so put some bandades near and a couple of bottles of water and a bowl of water. Don't work where the dog can see the neighbor kids running around. Have a fan blowing on you and the dog. Brush the dog before you clip if it is matted, a few won't matter but allot will. Remember to stop and kiss the dog any time they seem frustrated tell them you love them pet them, hug them etc. the clippers cost about 150 - 200 dollars the Vac-U-Groomer costs 75 after shipping. A trip to the groomers cost 75 on average 3 times per year you have re cooped your investment in two years. Oh by the way use the #10 to clip the hair under the paws so it doesn't mat and track dirt.
You will do fine it does take 3 hours 4 without the Vac and will make an increadible mess. One more thing take Ibuprofen before you start you will thank me later. Have fun and let us know how it goes. |
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