Clipping through mats, help!
Even after all the scissoring we've done, the AGC at high speed and with the #10 blade won't penetrate the mats except little skiffs off the surface. Total mats, especially around the chest, neck and scruff and basically the blade just hangs and buzzes. They are cutting nicely on the legs and not-so-badly matted areas, so I know the cutters are working. What is the secret or technique we need to know??? |
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| Alright so your sure that there is not hair stuck inbetween the blade to prevent it from cutting. This will happen from time to time and you will have to completely soak the blade in blade wash; use a toothbrush to clean out all the hair that will get stuck between the two surfaces that rub on the backside of the blade. Then don't forget to oil after you clean....
The only other thing I can think to tell you is to hold the dogs skin with your left hand and pull it tight, then with your right gently try to get underneath the matts with your clipper. Don't try and just make one swipe with the clipper to remove the whole matt. Go in and out in and out to make sure your not clogging the blade or pulling any skin up with the hair. I know this is kinda a bad job of how to explain it all... but I hope it helps a little. |
| Perhaps you need a "Skip Tooth" blade that will allow more hair/mats to get to the cutting surfaces. |
| Well, I know the cutters are cutting properly from trimming other non-matted areas and are keeping it cool and oiled. It is likely true that we are attempting to cut too much out at once. I can see how attacking the mat a little at a time would work, however, when her chest is one mat top to bottom, that's a little discouraging!
Let me re-ask the question in a different way: when an OES comes into a groomer from a badly neglected situation and needs to be shaved, how does a groomer work through the problem? We could bite the bullet and take her in to a pro this time to get a fresh start, but I don't mind the "baptism by fire" approach to fighting through this to learn how to groom her properly. We have a 4F blade and the 10. Looks like the shortest skip tooth is a 5. Should I pick that up on the way home? By the way, we also got a mat cutting rake (admittedly a cheaper one) and it is doing very little except annoy Sunny too. Thanks! Jesse |
| Are you getting under the matts with the clippers? When
we did the neighbors dog there were several very tight, and close to the skin matts. A skip tooth would work best, but the #10 should do it. If you can get under the matt at one edge and work the clipper just a bit at a time, you can get it off. Clipping off a matt isn't going to be like clipping non-matted fur because the teeth cannot penetrate it and therefor won't clip through it. You will have to get the clipper between the matt and the skin. It will probably take several tries. Just make sure it is a pleasant as possible for the dog because he will never forget it if he doesn't like it. 
I remember when Tucker blew his puppy coat and we had to shave him. Totally new to me, and totally frustrating the first time!! Also, being a new blade, it may have a coating on it. Stick it in cleaner and run it. If it is coated you will know the coating is coming off when the motor changes pitch. If that is the case, removing the coating will make a world of difference. Just a thought - cause it has happened to me. Shellie |
| I used a #5 to shave Rags down after I rescued her. What a nightmare! It took 6 1/2 hrs. The problem was she was matted to the skin and a #5 leaves about 3/4 of an inch. After my 6 1/2 hrs I decided to go over her again with a #10 and that finally got all the matts.
You do need to work at areas a little at a time. I was using scissors and the clippers. As her undercoat was one giant matt. See photo: 
A 10 should work well. And that is what most groomers will use when the dog is matted. You need to find a spot where you can see to the skin. Start there and go from there. Always make sure you have the clipper blade flat against the body too. The best way is to start at the head and work towards to the butt. |
| Thanks for the input. That gives me renewed hope and some ideas. I washed the blades in acetone prior to starting, so that should have taken off any coating. |
| I hear ya! As stated, sometimes the blades get jammed with grit and won't move or cut. Clean the blade in blade wash, dry and try again. Cool Lube helps cool the blade and lube too. I use that after each wash. With MO I was washing often since she's a little pig pen and sand from the irrigation ditch gets down to the skin.
Keep feeling the blades for heat. If they get too hot, they lose their cutting edge....plus you burn the dog. You can't clip through a mat, you have to slip under. If even with cleaning you still get the "clatter" you may have to slip the cutting blade off the head......the part that moves back and forth can be force off to the side......bugger to get back on after cleaning as you have to pry up the clip holder. So hopefully blade wash and a good stiff toothbrush does the trick. Hold the blade up to the light and look for sand caught between the teeth. Chest, tummy are the worst. You may end up a bit close there to where the skin shows through when you are done. Slap some sun screen and forgetaboutit. Patience. It takes hours to do the job unless you have multiple clippers and blades and can be switching back and forth. |
| Whew! We succeeded in getting her about 95% done now. She still has some tufts and pokies on the most difficult areas: on the tummy and especially her face. By the time we finished last night we had ALL had enough though! Hopefully Saturday morning we can get some of that cleaned up and looking a little less silly, then maybe I'll get some pics up. She sure looks scrawny and petite now though, despite the 5 or so pounds I think she's put on in the last two weeks since we brought her home. She has giant oversized paws too, I think confirming the vet's belief that her early pregnancy probably stunted her growth.
On a side note, after reading all I can find on the forum about the Mars Coat King rakes, I'm still a little confused on how to use one, though I'm getting sold on the idea of acquiring one. I see two different approaches, 1) rake gently right through the coat, or 2) lift the outer coat and rake underneath. I'm guessing that a lot of that depends on how long the coat is? At what length does stripping the inner coat become viable? |
| I have not used our Mars yet, hoping I never have to. It sounds like you are finally getting there though! Sorry I can't give any advice, just wanted to say good luck! A few days' work will make the world of difference so it's worth it! Hugs. |
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