Grooming

[Kendora]

Hi-Pepper is a LH boy-black and tan. We are having a little problem with grooming. (I picked this forum because of coats, etc...but if someone thinks it belongs in temperment, let me know) anyhow-when we got him he was a mess!:eek: Matty and dirty, yuk! We got the baby cleaned up, and there was no combing this boy. The groomer at PetSmart clipped his mats out and that was all she could do. We figured as his hair grows in, we'd just be really viligant about coming and brushing him so that he wouldn't get so tangly. WELL! He is a little **** to groom! :stubborn: He does very well for his back and neck- but if i try his underarms or tail, he cries and cries. I am very gentle and soothing to him, but then-if I try for his hindlegs-he gets very angry. :angry: Should we just keep him clipped? What do other people do for longhairs? Thanks:circle:

[lotsadox]

I just brush my long hair a lot and occasionally cut out a mat, but he's good about it. You could try laying him on his side and just hold him. When he lays still give him a treat and pet him. Then just progress from there. When he'll lay still and let you pet him, brush him a little and give a treat for good behaviour. It can take a while, but usually works in the end. Good luck!

[dutchman]

First off I use a fine tooth flea comb on my LH boys as it seems to do the best job of keeping matts out and collecting dead hair. I have one with a big padded handle that is easy to use. Tanner is no problem while he has a very thick coat and it sometimes pulls quite a bit he never tries to bite and will only let out the ocassional grunt. Frank on the other hand hates to have his tail combed. I'll admit it does pull some times but I do try to grab the hair next to the skin with one hand while combing with the other to minimize the pulling.

I know you have issues you are working on with Pepper but I will admit to having to use a muzzle on Frank, and Dexter in order to work on their feet. Tanner is kind of netural there he use to be fine w.o the muzzle but has been taking lessons from his brothers. I'm glad Dexter is a smooth and only needs nail trimmings as that is a big enough struggle. I use a small pair of sissors that has blunt ends to trim the foot hairs. That helps minimize anyone getting poked when they struggle.

Her is one idea for working with pepper. You will have to decide if a muzzle would need to be added or not to keep eveyone safe. In my case Dexter would bit my hand Frannk will try to bite the tools and I don't want to hurt him. Have two people work with him. One person pretty much holds his head and rubs him behind the ears talking to him trying to keep him calm. Of course that won't work when you are working on those behind the ear hairs. On my boys those behind the ears locations are where they are most likely to develop matts.

It's best for my boys if they get combed twice a week on average but I can get by for two full weeks w/o any major matts forming. It they go over three weeks I may run into some spots that will need to be cut out. I can sometimes pick at the behind the ear matts and get rid of them if the boys are willing to sit still that long. Tanner is more likely to let me do this than Frank.

Good luck,

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner and Dexter)

[Kendora]

Yeah, I think I need to get some different grooming tools. Pepper has never tried to bite me when grooming, just the tools. He just cries and growls at me. Treats would probably help too. I'm glad to know that the tail is a sensitive area for more dox than just Pep. By the way, we've had some really good days! Thanks for all advice!:flower: