Dog Community

Onyx' ridiculous coat

Posted : 7/24/2010 7:43:19 AM

So Onyx has this stupid coat that does not release her undercoat at all. I'm used to Crusher's type of coat, where the undercoat comes out whether you brush it or not, but Onyx' is so stubborn. She sheds all year long, but not like Crusher, and she looks fat. I don't even like to pet her except on her head, cause it never feels good, ya know?

This week I tried out a shedding comb on her. I use a shedding rake on Crusher, but it does NOTHING with Onyx. Over the course of the week I line brushed almost her entire body. What sneezy-itchy-fluff in your nose-type of work! But holy cow! What a difference! I can feel her ribs. Her coat is shiny! She hasn't spun around trying to bite her butt in the last couple days. I feel bad that I've never done this to this extent before. It literally took hours to do it. And normally, I just don't have that kind of time, but Tyler has the girls out of town, so I had time this week. I think from now on I'm gonna start taking her in to be groomed a couple times a year. She wasn't matted or anything, but wow what a difference.

I did have a passing thought of spritzing water on her as I did it to help with the floating hair everywhere. Do you groomers think that would work? Or would it just make a mess of things?

willowchow

Posted : 7/24/2010 10:57:47 AM

Yeah, I think it would work. I had read somewhere it's better not to brush the coat when it's totally dry. I usually use a spritz or something and sometimes I just spray the brush with it instead of her.

grab01

Posted : 7/24/2010 3:03:48 PM

If you can find a good deal on a forced air dryer, doing that at home every few months after a bath really helps keep the undercoat floaties down as well. We used to take Aesop to the dog wash every few months (and still do once in awhile when we don't want to pick up hair that gets blown around the yard) but it got too easy to put it off for far too long, and then he looked scruffy. We finally bought a dryer and it's more than paid for itself in convenience.

He spends most of his time looking presentable (his current scruffiness excluded) and I can also use it on the wee dogs..who take about 5 minutes each to dry :p

jennie_c_d

Posted : 7/24/2010 8:45:22 PM

You can even blow them out dry. A small force dryer is affordable, at roughly the cost of 2 grooms (depending, of course, on your groomer:) and WELL worth the money. You could use it on Crusher, too. It's REALLY fun to blow out Huskies when their coat is blowing.

shamrockmommy

Posted : 7/26/2010 12:44:25 PM

I like to use a grooming spray to spritz the coat lightly before I comb through. SOme of my favorite sprays are: Magic Touch #3, The Stuff and a people product Infusium 23 leave in. I actually like the latter because it's inexpensive and really helps with letting loose coat go.

Spritz lightly, comb through. Easy peasy.

spiritdogs

Posted : 7/26/2010 12:50:16 PM

jennie_c_d
You can even blow them out dry. A small force dryer is affordable, at roughly the cost of 2 grooms (depending, of course, on your groomer:) and WELL worth the money. You could use it on Crusher, too. It's REALLY fun to blow out Huskies when their coat is blowing.

Yes, especially if you have a hair net, and a separate room with an air exchanger, and a plug for your nose. Devil

shamrockmommy

Posted : 7/26/2010 12:53:32 PM

Those types of blowouts I would recommend doing outside, otherwise it will be like a snowstorm of dog hair- everywhere! lol

grab01

Posted : 7/27/2010 12:26:59 AM

we do the blowing out outside. In the garage if it's icky out, but that was just messy

huskymom

Posted : 7/27/2010 12:04:41 PM

I've been keeping an eye out for dryers, or deals on them anyway. Haven't caught a good one yet. But ya, I really would like to have on.

rwbeagles

Posted : 7/27/2010 12:08:27 PM

Let your local grooming shops know you are looking. Sometimes they want to sell their older ones to replace and you can get a deal. They still work but perhaps they need a new cord or good clean or just don't have as MUCH oomph as they used to..

Jewlieee

Posted : 7/27/2010 2:25:57 PM

I got my first dryer from a groomer (used)

huskymom

Posted : 7/28/2010 10:31:36 AM

Good Idea. I'll call around today and see.