Dog Community

Help Please!!!

Posted : 7/1/2006 9:41:08 AM

I am babysitting my neighbors dog for the weekend. It is a Shih Tzu and is very matted. When he got here he looked fluffy and cute but as it turns out that was just the top side. Underneath he is matted. Inside his thighs he has little dreadlocks that he will not let me touch. Around his ears and face is a mess.

So maybe I'm asking for the impossible here but is there anyway that I can detangle him before tomorrow? And do it without going out to buy all kinds of equipment and products? I don't imagine she would be pleased to come home to a shaved dog. Its really not my job, as I only told her I would watch him for the weekend while she was out of town, but I feel sorry for him. And for me. I have never had to deal with matting before. Man I love huskies.

Xebby

Posted : 7/1/2006 9:45:05 AM

There are some shampoos out there to help detangle the fur. I don't know which ones are better. I'm shure the owner would be so happy to get her beautiful little pup back all detanged and might even agree to pay for the shampoo. With this breed it's almost a must to have it goomed regulary anyway.

willowchow

Posted : 7/1/2006 10:26:06 AM

I think it's going to be pretty painful for him if you start trying to brush that out especially if he's all matted underneath too.

I'd leave it alone and strongly suggest to the neighbor that they have him shaved. You could just say he'd be so much cooler for the summer that way she won't be offended. You could just say you know someone with the same kind of dog who just did it to theirs.

huskymom

Posted : 7/1/2006 11:11:02 AM

I had thought about mentioning it to her. She may go for it. I'm not sure. I have to bath him anyway because he's been playing with Onyx and she likes to slobber on him an roll him in the dirt. LOL.

Lori, maybe I could tell her how much less maintenence it is as well. She's lazy about taking care of him. I can tell how little he is exercised because after playing with Onyx for 10 minutes yesterday morning he napped for 4 hours, got up, peed and went back to sleep for another hour before he was ready for another round.

willowchow

Posted : 7/1/2006 11:19:42 AM

Oh, if it's as bad as you're saying, you're going to have a hard time rinsing him.

Poor guy..

starsenchis

Posted : 7/1/2006 11:57:32 AM

Don't get him wet while he's all matted!! It'll just make them harder if not impossible to remove.

What you can do is go to the drugstore and pick up some "Frizz Ease" hair serum (John Frieda makes it) or if you have something similar for yourself, that'll work, too. It's basically a smoothing, slick silicone based serum. Apply liberally to the mats and you might be able to work them out with your fingers or a wide tooth comb, then a finer tooth comb.
After you get the mats out, use whatever dog shampoo you have around to wash him, and make sure to use a conditioner afterward- people conditioner is just fine for dogs- whatever you use on yourself will work if you don't have dog conditioner.

This is your best bet and will cost you little to nothing. Let us know how you make out!

Alicia

Posted : 7/1/2006 9:17:56 PM

The best way to de mat him would be to bathe him and let him sit with conditioner on for maybe 15 minutes to loosen the mats. Then sit under the dryer and slowy work the mats apart (hopefully you have a super duck, grooming arm, stand dryer or someone willing to hold the dryer for you because you need 2 hands [

]). The dryer really helps to loosen the mats, and if you gently pull them apart with your fingers and/or a pin brush, they will come out.