Where's my coat?!

[nbrard]

Thank you!

Both of them are finally getting nice feathers on their legs, but the hair on their bodies remains short. I keep hoping it will grow in. My comment on the groomer stands....never let them trim anything but poop chutes (and only directly down the line) and feet (no legs). Unless, of course, your groomer also happens to specialize in Shelties.

So far I am doing all the grooming myself. The breeder that gave me Brie taught me how to groom while doing Mikos back in February. I took photos when he was done to refer back to! The only trimming I usually do is their feet and the poop chute but I did attempt ears last month. I am still on a learning curve for brushing but I am getting there. I just ordered the 35mm pin brush to add to my collection so hopefully by the time his coat comes in I will be better. Tomorrow I will have been a sheltie owner for 8 months so still a beginner!

I found a picture of my forever pup at about the same age.....now that was a coat!

That is an amazing coat! I don't think I've seen any with that much coat!

He is so handsome!!!! He looks fine to me!

Thank you, we think he is pretty handsome no matter how much coat he has. My son laughs and says that a year from now we will probably be complaining because he has too much coat to brush!

 

[BarbV]

Nancy,

Grooming our Shelties is a constant learning curve. I keep learning new techniques and new tools.

I also find that it depends on the dog. I groom Indy differently than I groom Bacca. Their coats are very different.

I do think, though, is not matter the age or the coat type, keeping it in the best condition possible is critical.

I don't overgroom my dogs....once a week at the most, but I'm very careful to make sure I groom with either water, Ice on Ice or my other backup, diluted Naked Care http://www.nakedcare.com/ )

 

[nbrard]

Nancy,

Grooming our Shelties is a constant learning curve. I keep learning new techniques and new tools.

I also find that it depends on the dog. I groom Indy differently than I groom Bacca. Their coats are very different.

I do think, though, is not matter the age or the coat type, keeping it in the best condition possible is critical.

I don't overgroom my dogs....once a week at the most, but I'm very careful to make sure I groom with either water, Ice on Ice or my other backup, diluted Naked Care http://www.nakedcare.com/ )

Thanks for the tips Barb. I like to hear once a week at the most because that is what I have been doing, but I admit that often it gets pushed closer to 2 weeks because I will opt for a walk in the evening instead of brushing. Mikos and Brie have very different coats as well. Mikos has a more coarse feeling hair that is longer while Brie has shorter hair that is very soft (perfect for nuzzling your face into!). I have been using some CC conditioner in the water when I brush but I like the sound of the Naked Care product.

 

[BarbV]

Thanks for the tips Barb. I like to hear once a week at the most because that is what I have been doing, but I admit that often it gets pushed closer to 2 weeks because I will opt for a walk in the evening instead of brushing. Mikos and Brie have very different coats as well. Mikos has a more coarse feeling hair that is longer while Brie has shorter hair that is very soft (perfect for nuzzling your face into!). I have been using some CC conditioner in the water when I brush but I like the sound of the Naked Care product.

To be honest, mine is mostly pushed to every two or three weeks as well. My point was that you don't need to be a fanatic and groom every day. Weekly is ideal, but even monthly is ok for non-show dogs as long as you keep the nails under control.

The worse mistake I ever made was not learning to trim my forever pups nails myself. The poor baby's nails were starting to curl and the groomer could never cut them back far enough. And I was a GOOD mom!

 

[Chris]

I do grooming once a week -- I just run it like an assembly line. I wish I'd kept up on puppy nails better -- but by regular trimming, I've beaten back the long veins.

 

[Sumac3890]

I brush mine out once a week when they are not shedding. We try and do nails every week and need to get to it this week. We may even try to do Parker's nails this time, just to get him used to it.
Baths I only do a few times a year but they do play in the sprinkler.

 

[BarbV]

I brush mine out once a week when they are not shedding. We try and do nails every week and need to get to it this week. We may even try to do Parker's nails this time, just to get him used to it.
Baths I only do a few times a year but they do play in the sprinkler.

Nothing like a good wet down to help loosen up the undercoat! But then a good brush is required. Since my dogs have been in and out of the river and sprinklers all summer, they seem to have been blowing coat all summer long. So, yes, they are now brushed more often than before. Water = shed = brush!

 

[Pal's Mom]

Nancy,

He really is beautiful. My boys are 16 months and 20 months and they look to e in about the same stage. I am very glad that you asked the question because I was wondering the same thing.


Donna

 

[Little Lilly]

My Lilly is 16 months right now and her coat looks like it's in the same state as your handsome man's! I can't wait for that gorgeous adult coat to come in. I love the massive amounts of hair!

 

[Kelsey]

That is exactly how my sheltie looks at three years old. But yours has a beautiful coat... My guy's is soft, short, and scraggly with no undercoat. Sigh.