Snarls behind the ears

[BarbV]

my theory is that hair behind ears is too soft that is why it mats so fast, so it needs to be little more stiff to be like other hair. I am wondering if anyone tried a touch of regular hair spray or mousse? I got Coat dressing from CC as a gift, it is mousse spray so I have been applying it on the hair and it gives same effect like human mousse does- makes hair workable that stays better. So far so good.

I ordered the Coat dressing, but haven't tried it yet. Glad to hear you like it!

 

[Smudge]

Are you talking about the 80s crimper look?

I talked to Jennifer and Erin both about that. Erin does not show shelties, but she shows ACD. She has been around shelties a long time and knows almost as much about them as Jennifer. They said a few things:

1. It can be caused by wet fur not being dried properly. Erin said a good suggestion would be to invest in a dryer if it really, really bothered me.

2. Jennifer said Skipper, her sable merle performance dog, had this problem for a long time. It was caused by being greasy. She said she would give him a bath, and then in a day or two his fur behind his ears would look bad again. She said not to give up hope, because he eventually grew out of it. I am assuming maybe she means he got his adult coat in and maybe the texture of his fur changed. My first sheltie, Gizmo, never had the wonky fur behind his ears. Fluffy doesn't have it as bad, but hers needs improvement, too.


Baby powder does not work for me, either. I had very oily bangs as a teenager, and my mom always told me to put baby powder on it. It didn't work. I might try the cornstarch.

edit:

I not sure if I understood if you were talking about the crimper look or not, but that's what I was talking about above.

 

[BarbV]

I actually don't have a slicker!

All I have is a pin brush and comb.

I would be lost without my slicker. This is the one I use....dirt cheap but highly effective. It was cheaper than the one that I bought at Petsmart, but does not tear his coat. Particularly great for the tender ears, but I use it everywear.

http://www.petdesheddingtools.com/brushes/psi-lawrence-slicker-brush.html

 

[Smudge]

I would be lost without my slicker.

Me, too! I read that the slicker is actually used for the undercoat (or helping to remove some of it) and that a regular pin brush is used for the top coat. I watched a collie grooming video, and that was what the woman said on the video anyway. It was on youtube.

 

[BarbV]

Me, too! I read that the slicker is actually used for the undercoat (or helping to remove some of it) and that a regular pin brush is used for the top coat. I watched a collie grooming video, and that was what the woman said on the video anyway. It was on youtube.

Well, not exactly.

When you line brush, no matter what kind of brush you use, you ultimately get both the undercoat and the top coat because you are brushing from skin to end - across the entire body.

The slicker or rake just tends to be more efficient at the thick stuff. I always start with a slicker or rake - line brushing all the way. Then finish line brushing with a pin brush to smooth things out.

In Bacca's case, I usually just use the pin brush on his body because he doesn't have alot of undercoat.

I use my 35mm pin brush on Indy and the shorter 20mm on Bacca (since I don't use the slicker or rake so much).

The slicker is great on ears and legs. These are the parts that get really tangled. On those, I start at the ends and work my way up. Then finish again with the pin brush.

I also use the slicker to fluff up the top of the feet before trimming excess hair.

You want a slicker which is not too stiff, has a soft underpart, and feels comfortable in the hand - and that's why I love the Lawrence.

 

[Smudge]

The slicker is great on ears and legs. These are the parts that get really tangled. On those, I start at the ends and work my way up. Then finish again with the pin brush.

Yeah. I have to use the slicker on the legs before the pin brush or Smudge will cuss me out. He loves giving death glares from the grooming table!

 

[BarbV]

Yeah. I have to use the slicker on the legs before the pin brush or Smudge will cuss me out. He loves giving death glares from the grooming table!

Yes, if looks could kill!

 

[Mirabella]

Kobe's breeder used thinning scissors to take off those long stand-up strands behind his ears. He said you would do that for showing but it certainly made that area easier to comb and did make him look cuter.

 

[Smudge]

Kobe's breeder used thinning scissors to take off those long stand-up strands behind his ears. He said you would do that for showing but it certainly made that area easier to comb and did make him look cuter.

I'm not brave enough to trim anything yet. I'm sure both of mine need a shape up, but my groomer is expecting a child in a few months, and she just got a new sheltie so it will have to wait for a while.

I do a pretty mean poop chute though.

 

[BarbV]

What a week at the cottage can do....!

Snarls, burrs, and mink poop!

Spent the better part of the morning last this week, dealing with very messy dogs.

Indy's ears had gotten very snarled and matted.

So step by step, I rubbed baby powder in. First tried to loosen up with the slicker and comb as much as possible. Then took the thinning shears and cut up lengthwise, and then the slicker...brush, brush, brush, then snip somemore,. then brush (always using my left hand to hold the fur away from the skin so as not to pull on his sensitive ears)

But I got the job done, and Indy is still talking to me. :sadsmile: