Brushing Full Coat Question-again.
How often do you brush your dog if he/she has a full coat? If your dog still has an undercoat, please tell me. I think I am exaggerating a little when I complain because I really do think I have a lot of the undercoat combed out. It's just those "areas" I stated in another thread that are problematic. Well.. not problems. She is matt free and has been since I've started combing her (and not lying to myself about how much time I'm investing in it). I'm just fishin' for other folks to come out and share their success or problems. don't get me wrong... I LIKE this new adventure I'm on. And I would definitely describe it as an adventure. 
I just feel like I AM doing a good job ...but keep expecting the NEXT comb session (following day) with her to be flawless...not having to run the comb through an area over and over those little tangles. SO just wondering how often everyone else is doing it. Outside of the mars rake (which I'm getting I SWEAR).... how you manage to keep their DOG(SSSSSS) in full coat. I'm jealous! Is this a nightly grooming thing for you? What areas cause you the most problems (if any)? |
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| Well, I just shaved the wigglebums down for summer. But, prior to that, I was alternating and brushing one dog out completely every night and the other one just got a "brush through", so that there were no major problems for the next day. So, I guess they each got a thorough brushing four times a week. As long as I kept that up, it would only take about an hour for the dog that was getting the "complete" brush out.
I didn't strip a lot of the undercoat out at all. I did it maybe once a month and just took out the real problem areas (joints, legs, neck). It is work and some areas are just more prone to matting than others. I have to admire you doing this now while she's herding on the weekends.  |
| Ok here goes.....
It has taken me years to figure this out, but I finally have. First of all, don't keep using a comb for everything. Use a pin brush, a Chris Christenson, or Hindes, or #1 AllSystems,... none of the cheap ones will do. Buy a spray bottle and put mostly water with about 1oz of whatever conditioner you have handy. Use a grooming table. Beside your grooming table have your pin brush, your combination comb (resco is my favorite), your spray bottle with water/conditioner mixture, your nail clippers, hemostats, cotton balls, baby oil or ear cleaner, small scissors for snipping foot pad fur, and a longer set of scissors or thinning shears for trimming bum and feet. Lay your dog on the table with the dogs' back facing you and his or her spine as close to the edge of the table as possible. Do a complete line brushing as Carl described, using your fingers to pull down about a hands width and an inch thick line of fur at a time. Brush through with the pin brush, using a little spray to lubricate and cut down on static. *If* you run into a tangle use the comb to gently comb through it. If you run into a mat, break it up with either your fingers or a mat rake into tiny mats and then comb through with your comb. Continue doing lines til about the dogs elbow, then do the same process but with you facing the dogs belly, still brushing "up" the legs. Then use your comb to line comb the dogs feet, and finish with trimming the fur between pads flush with the pad, and clip nails while you're there. While near the front legs I usually use a comb to do that side of the dogs head and muzzle and under the chin. This is a good time to get out your hemostats and pluck some ear hair, then use a cotton ball and some ear cleaner to finish the ear. Using a comb on BOTH sides of the ear prevents mats from building around the edge of the ear. After you are done one side of the dog, do a quick brush down to get the fur back in place, it does not have to be line by line but try to follow the general pattern you did to get it that way. Every now and then with the dog standing and the fur fluffed up, trim around the feet to make a neat circle and trim the bum to about an inch and a half or so of coat for cleanliness. Flip the dog over and repeat. I do all this once a week. Every Sunday is grooming day, no matter what. No putting it off, no doing just half and saying "I'll get to the rest later or tomorrow" Because that never happens. LOL I stick to a routine, and it only takes me about an hour and a half each time. Done, then I don't worry about it for the rest of the week and they can just enjoy being dogs. By keeping a routine it makes it easier for when you want to bath too, you know the dog is mat free, so a quick brush through before a bath is all that is needed. Then, FULLY dry the dog, and do a FULL grooming after the dog is dry to prevent new mats. I am by no means an expert, I'm still trying to master grooming for show, BUT I do think I have this part of the grooming down pat. LOL Really, I think the key is to stick to a routine. Do the whole dog, set aside that hour and a half or two hours and do it. It took me longer than an hour and a half at first, it was about two and a half hours to finish this routine the first time, and it has gradually gotten shorter. Good luck!  |
| The spray bottle with a bit of conditioner in it is what I use too.
My dogs get brushed once a week. Brie is nearly a full day and Kelsey is about 2 hours due to stripped out undercoat. If you spray as you layer groom is cleanses and protects the coat. Also do not wash her all over everytime you bath her. Wash the whites for so many washes then occassionally all over. washing all over everytime creates matting and softens the coat in the greys so it matts more easily. Areas that you want to grow coat/repair you can buy a spray on/leave on conditioner or mink oil to help with growth on those areas,most pet supply places have that, it protects the coat from snapping and encourages growth in the areas that require more length. 
I use a pin brush and also a little metal comb that I use to just gently pick apart a matt and then my fingers to break up the rest of the matt then run the pin brush over that when the matt is broken up. Use the comb for the beard and in the arm pits and between the front legs where they tend to knot more. Also the comb on the toes to get out little knotts. When you get your Mars, before using it for the first time, make sure yuki is knott free. If you strike a big matt the mars will just cut the chunk and leave a hole there, so better for the first time to groom her throughly then use the mars to strip the undercoat. From then on it will be easier when you brush her to run through with the mars after brushing her to keep the undercoat away. Always lift the coat up and strip from underneath in a very gentle downward stroke then bring down the next layer and repeat when using a mars. You'll be amazed at how much undercoat comes out on the mars.  |
| The people I was looking for to give me tips!! Thanks!!! Very helpful. I definitely wasn't using any water/conditioner. Just that mr. groom spray which has helped 100% on static, fly aways, and Yuki always getting SHOCKED (VERY dry here).
Quote: Also do not wash her all over everytime you bath her. Wash the whites for so many washes then occassionally all over. washing all over everytime creates matting and softens the coat in the greys so it matts more easily.
That's what we were doing BEFORE sheep herding. Now we've got no choice but to give her a full bath. She kicks up so much poop when she runs along with the wet mud from the frozen ground ............it's sick and the stinkiest thing you've ever smelled. Plus, she's tripped (her whole body) just about every time she's been out there. The baths may be where some of our problem is. Even with the ground drying, she still needs the baths because she's all up in sheep turds when she's herding them. Hopefully it'll be just her legs that get dirty when summer comes. |
| I just tried buying the Mars Rake through amazon (link provided on the general board by ron)... but they don't ship this item to my location. Bummer.
I did end up getting it at another site though. Can't wait to get it. Now I need a water spray from walmart.  |
| Great advise above!
With the one/week full grooming schedule, how do you adjust this for rainy or snowy weather? I just finished brushing, and the next am we had rain and fog. The undercarriage especially and legs is my challenge. At the end of the night, when he was dried off I worked those areas again. Any product suggestions for bad weather ? (I think we need a raindrop repellant  ) |
Quote: (I think we need a raindrop repellant )
funny! |
| Zahra what Joahaeyo uses the "Mr Groom" it has a mink oil in it and vitamin E and conditioner all designed to protect the coat. Wet weather, spray lightly along his belly down the insides of his legs and around the bottom of the feet. With the oil is sort of waterproofs the coat and it is a product that does not build up in the coat too.
Then when he has been outside just a matter of a hand towel to wipe the excess water off the coat then let him dry further and just flick the pin brush lightly through that area after he is totally dry |
lisaoes wrote: Zahra what Joahaeyo uses the "Mr Groom" it has a mink oil in it and vitamin E and conditioner all designed to protect the coat. Wet weather, spray lightly along his belly down the insides of his legs and around the bottom of the feet. With the oil is sort of waterproofs the coat and it is a product that does not build up in the coat too.
Then when he has been outside just a matter of a hand towel to wipe the excess water off the coat then let him dry further and just flick the pin brush lightly through that area after he is totally dry Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love it, Mr Groom! I'm ordering it tomorrow.
Thanks for ending my stuggle with rainy days !! |
| Zahra this is a terific product too, we call them here "moisture magnets" , found the same thing at Petsmart, it is called the "super absorbent towel", link below.
http://www.petsmart.com/global/search/s ... 26059&Ne=2 It is a little towel that you use to wipe the wet area and works better then a normal towel, it sucks/draws the water out of the coat. You just lift the foot and squeeze the wet area with this towel same with underneath too if they are wet there, no rubbing just a squeeze to absorb the water, then you are not creating knots. When the towel fills with water you just wring out the excess and use straight away on the other areas you want to dry. Saves on lots of normal towels if they are really wet. Forgot to say too when using the Mr. Groom, don't spray on the plumbing underneath. If the weather is really wet you can use it right up the legs on the outside and inside too. It just stops water wetting all the way through to the skin |
lisaoes wrote: Zahra this is a terific product too, we call them here "moisture magnets" , found the same thing at Petsmart, it is called the "super absorbent towel", link below.
Thanks again Lisa! I'll pick one up next time I go to Petco. Really appreciate the suggestions, we are going for a little longer coat--so I want to be prepared for spring shower( and downpours  )
Have a great weekend! |
| I used to brush Jasper about a hour each night. He has the thickest hair ever, and it tangles up sooo easily. I'd run over it with a rake comb, then a fine tooth comb, and finally a slicker brush to fluff him up. Boy, I don't miss that! lol Now, I just run the slicker across him about once a week for maybe 5 minutes and he's good. |
| HELP. of course i'd have problems with my order.
email i got Quote: The comments for your order are: Unfortunately, we are back ordered on the 10 tooth blade medium (we do have the 8 tooth medium which is recommended for the same breeds). Since the "Coat King" comes from England I am not sure when they will arrive but we will mail it the day we receive it. Sorry for the delay. Phyllis
Should I reply back and say "No, I want my dang 10 tooth rake or should I settle for the 8 one?" |
| The less teeth the better. |
| thanks. will get that then. |
I just got this - (sorry I don't know how to shorten this link  )
http://www.petedge.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=1730&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=12&iSubCat=152&iSubSubCat=158&iProductID=1730 A wonderful new friend showed me how to strip the undercoat a couple weeks ago at a dogshow. There isn't any secret to it (like I thought! ) and I
have been using this matbreaker to strip Tucker's undercoat. Works like a dream. I love love love it! It is a little different from the one I had tried before -( actually the one I think you tried to order!) I'm not sure you want it for the same thing, but it is much easier for me to use than the mars #10. There are very sharp teeth like the mars, but this one has little burs on the flat sides of the blades which is what seems to really get through the webby part of his undercoat. Tucker sat very still for me for the first time in a long time so he must have really liked it. He did not like the other one - at all. Or maybe it was just me, who knows! If you can't get it and you want it, PM me and I'll help you out. Shellie |
| Which Hindes or #1 All Systems brushes do use? I checked Pet Edge and their are several different kind.
I know you guys are tired of the same questions but I'm not sure which ones to order. Thanks, Laurie |
| I forget how old Yuki is but it could be very possible that you are going through puppy coat change and that is the worst time to try keeping a dog in coat. You can literally brush the dog out at night and the next morning find huge mats so that may be part of your frustration. Good news is that it gets easier once the adult coat comes in. |
| I WAS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION ON THE RIGHT GROOMING PRODUCTS TO USE. I FOUND AN OLDER POST ON WHAT TO USE AND I DID. WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MADE. CHRIS CHRISTENSEN PRODUCTS ARE AWESOME. I ORDERED A PIN BRUSH, A BUTTERCOMB AND A GREAT SPRAY CALLED ICE ON ICE. IT CAN BE USED AS A GROOMING SPRAY OR A FINISHING SPRAY. REPELS MOISTURE, RAIN, AND HAS A SUNSCREEN. I LOVE IT.
http://www.chrissystems.com/iceonice1.htm |
| Where can I get "Mr. Groom" I have been reading all the grooming post and I also was wondering what to do about dudley getting wet, and someone mentioned this product. thanks
jim |
| Hi Griff, google the name Mr. Groom Mink Oil on the www and it will bring up stores that stock it in the states.
It is more know as a sunsceen, conditioner of the coat but it does repell water getting right down to the skin, been using it for years and does not soften the coat, but is a good grooming product to help coats and protect them from sun and the wet. Great for dogs that pee on themselves too as it puts a coating on the coat to help stop urine staining also. Hope this helps. |
| Thanks I found it after I posted.
http://www.mrgroom.com/ griff |
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