Does my puppy need a haircut now?

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PreciousSheltie

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Precious had a puppy grooming package around 4-5 months (more for socialization of getting a bath, brushed, dryed, etc) but didnt need any kind of haircut. She'll be turning 8 months in a few days and has long since grown most of her outer coat that makes her look like a lean pretty sheltie rather than a fluffy lanky puppy when I first got her.

Though I am able to do maintenance things like cut their feet hair, trim nails, do easy bottom trims around their legs, belly, tail but I do not know much about 'the way a sheltie is suppose to look' over all, especially on their face and back/side and thus go to grooming for the actual overall 'haircut'.

I've noticed that her hair on her chest area/neck is REALLY poofy, and if I don't pat it down she looks like that small puffed up creature that sprayed black ink on Jurassic park with the side gills (I clearly don't remember the name of that dinosaur LOL?!). After baths the hair looks so disproportionately longer compared to her body hair. Also, her hair on her ear is just CRAZY and is like INCHES long, waving around everywhere (not her neck, specifically literally on the top of her hair, again if I don't pat it down several times it just all stretches out like seaweed?! But anyways, this is her current photo and I can't shake off the feeling that she's looking very shaggy/sloppy. Do you think she needs a haircut now that she's grown her outer layer of hair or is this how she should be looking at this age and I should leave her hair?

This is her PATTED DOWN
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19/IcyTank/IMG_0202.jpg

Very pretty I know but.... UNPATTED and Naturalle looks like this:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19/IcyTank/IMG_0296.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19/IcyTank/IMG_0297.jpg

too long or just looks like a puppy?
 
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She looks perfectly normal for her age. I wouldn't trim anywhere other than where you are trimming. Emma looks the same.
 
Perfection

She is beautiful - just right for her age - you are doing well by her. Do not change a thing. As she gets older, her coat will smooth itself and be puffy in just the right places. Cheers, Will
 
i can't assist with the need for a haircut but I like her wild hair! she looks awesome!!

But the dinosaur was a Dilophosaurus just to clarify ;)
 
Her ears certainly need to be trimmed up, but unless its a groomer that knows what shelties are supposed to look like, and how to trim them, otherwise id be a bit hesitant on bringing her. Ive seen many a bad trim job by groomers on this forum alone:eek2: Their body never needs to be trimmed. Thinned by brushing certainly but never cut.
 
Thank you Emmasmom and Will for your feedbacks, I'm atleast glad to hear she's looking great for her age and that this stage is right/her coat will fill in

anaruadh said:
the dinosaur was a Dilophosaurus just to clarify ;)
Click to expand...

LOLOL thank you for letting me know :D

Lightplum said:
Her ears certainly need to be trimmed up, but unless its a groomer that knows what shelties are supposed to look like, and how to trim them, otherwise id be a bit hesitant on bringing her. Ive seen many a bad trim job by groomers on this forum alone:eek2: Their body never needs to be trimmed. Thinned by brushing certainly but never cut.
Click to expand...

Thanks for letting me know, I never knew that about the cut.. Are there any tips in finding a good sheltie groomer/questions to ask when meeting the groomer?? Just in the same way I asked these grooming salons and vets before on ear taping and helping me shape her ear... they had all said they didn't know the sheltie breed, ever worked with them, or knew what their ears were suppose to look like tipped, etc...... I guess I should avoid these places for a sheltie groom?? =( More so than her fluffy chest, the main thing that really wanted me to bring her in definitely WAS the ears because they're the most notable. My last sheltie never had an "Excessive on-top-of-the-ear hair problem" so I've never had to trim there but Ive noticed Precious has a lot there ever since a baby (makes glueing her ears easy but.... they've seemed to grow way too long)..
 
Haha! Buffy used to look like that when she just woke up. So cute. I love the wild ear-do.

Buffy got her first haircut from the groomer's around 6–8 months. The groomer can help even up some of her ear hair and make her look more proportional. Just tell them not to go overboard. You can also cut the ear hair yourself. I used to do that with my other Sheltie, Abigail, when her ears got out of control. Don't need to do it so much with Buffy... her hair gets long all together so usually the groomer takes care of it.

With Shelties you do want to research your groomer in advance and make sure you get a good one. It's tough to find a groomer who knows the breed... Buffy got a haircut once that made her look like a cockapoo. (There are pictures on my profile.) It might help to bring a picture of a well-groomed Sheltie.

With this breed you can do most the grooming yourself or pay someone else to do it. I groomed Abigail mostly myself, but Buffy has a hairdresser that costs about the same as mine. :winkgrin: She is much more hair-endowed though, and even though I only take her in every few months people are constantly saying she looks like she has just been blow-dried.
 
I agree with Linda (lightplum). She looks great--just has that wild ear look.

If you're brave, you can buy The Illustrated Guide to Sheltie Grooming and attempt to trim the ears yourself. That's what I do. They aren't perfect, but they don't look so crazy anymore :yes:
 
I couldn't help but giggle when I looked at the un-patted picture.:lol: However, she looks just like my other 2 when they were her age and my Sadie is right behind her at 5 mos......They're coat begins to look normal around 1 yr. and isn't fully- developed till 2 yrs. of age. CUTE PICS THOUGH!!!:wink2:
 
I am no groomer,but a one on one with our very own Ashely,and purchaseing the Illustrated Guide of Sheltie Grooming,is a life saver.


Her ears need some attention.And once they are done will make a world of differance in softening her face.Other than that..leave the rest alone.She is gorgeous!
 
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