Grooming: How to?
Quote: Hi all! I've never posted before but I am on here often. My sweet Oliver is 7 months old (and although I should've asked sooner) I'm not too sure of how to groom him and I can't find a forum about it already (although I'm sure there is one  )I have two brushes that I brush him with right now, a wire and one that is "aspca" but seems like a normal hair brush. I typically just use the wire to get mats out. Also, an explanation of preventing mats and getting them out would be great.Another concern I have is his coat. I don't know if he's getting his adult coat or what, but it seems like he has two coats- one on his upper half of his body from his neck to mid back, and then one one his behind. His upper coat is like sleek and black, but then his back coat is the more typically puffy oes coat, with a brown tinge. I'm worried that he will keep the brown though because it won't go away no matter how many times I bathe him. Oliver isn't a show dog, but I just want to know that I'm not messing his coat up  Thanks!  |
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| Welcome!! If you haven't started brushing yet, do so. Can be with a boar bristle hair brush for humans, you just want to introduce the idea of brushing to your dog. Also at 7 he is entering the mat stage when the hair changes from puppy to adult. If you don't brush daily, correctly, you get mats. Don't panic, instead practice now and when the mats are beyond you, have him clipped down and start over. Most of us have gone that route. Good instruction on how to groom is in the grooming forum. Line brushing is critical, one little section all the way down to the skin without scratching the skin. You won't be able to do more than a few minutes to start and make it enjoyable, treat at the end. Build up over time. Eventually it will get to where you sit down with a good movie, your dog, groom and your pups snoozes.........eventually. You will need better grooming tools that what is sold in the pet stores. Grooming section will explain as well as the folks here. You'll also need a detangler/conditioner to spritz as your groom, especially on mat prone areas. Don't worry, we all goofed up initially, it's a learning process. |
| Carl has done a great photo lesson on how to line grooming which you should start doing now he is still young. viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11885 Link to the pictures: http://www.angelfire.com/trek/lindonloo ... gdemo.html I am doing this regularly now with Monty and keep him in long coat. At first Monty really wriggled and would roll on his back rather than staying in one position, but I got gently firm with him as I had to get some mats out of his leg pits. After several days of working on him and making him stay in a lay position rather than rolling around, he relaxed and now he enjoys lying there for a good line grooming. I groom every three days to keep the mats from forming in rubbing areas such as the leg pits. It gets harder to groom as their coat gets fuller, I really found the grooming hardwork for a spell when Monty was growing into full coat, especially as he was a struggler and then it was hard to get mats out but we fought through that spell and things are easier now. I often do the grooming before we are going to agility practice so he knows something good is going to happen afterwards. And he gets a carrot afterwards for his patience. Both Carl and I use the Madan pin brushes, they are really great and I have tried many types of brushes. You can get them on-line. Tanja |
Thank you all so much for the replies! I've been line brushing him now, (although I'm not sure with the right brushes) and he does fine as far as being still, but he does NOT want to lay his head down for me  We're still working on it though, he should do fine soon. |
| Lots of praise when he does it for a few minutes and maybe a treat (tiny but irresistable) if you are a treat rewarder. Never let him decide when he is done and always end on a positive note. That goes a long way to making it something they really enjoy. Short sessions at first, and working up to longer periods. I hope you enjoy it too, it is a great bonding time for you both! Check out the grooming tutorials and some of the suggested equipment. Having the right tools can make a HUGE differrence. Before you know it you will both be looking forward to grooming time. Shellie |
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