:help: Since life has been such a mess, Cali hasn't gotten groomed in a long time (a few months). She has quite a few mats. I bought a mat comb, that kinda saws the mats out, but it takes forever and is more a pain in the neck then it's worth. If I use a clippers to 'shave' them out, would that work? :confused: If I completely shaved all of her hair off, would it grow back? How awful I am, I know :notworthy:. Should I just take her to a groomer? I feel like that would be a cop-out, but maybe that's what would be best. I don't know?! My other idea :idea1: was to give her a bath :bath2: with her shampoo & load her up with conditioner and let her soak in it, then try to comb her out. A groomer once told me "Take a comb, get under the mat & pull it out...." OUCH! That hurts!!! :buttkick: Any advice would sure be helpful. :hug: Thanks (and I :heart: Icons. :idiot: )
Sorry no advice here as I have short hairs. I think I would take her to a good professional groomer, but not the one who wants to pull out the mats. I pity the poor creature who finds itself on her/his grooming table.
Annie & the New Jersey Doxie Gang
When Zuzu gets a small mat I have found that snipping into it from the end--kind of "fringing it" works well to get it started. I will sometimes just chop the whole thing out if there is a nasty burr or pricker stuck in it. Do you think you could do an hour a day and get her done in a week?
but......if you don't want to go that route, I would go with either of 2 options.
professional groomer and if you can, have the vet give doggie a light sedative. a valium? maybe, because it sounds as if this may be a long process and stressful.
Shaving is certainly the faster, and may be the least invasive way to go, and of course the hair will grow back. It depends on what percentage she is covered. While the hair is growing back, you can get in the habit of routine grooming. If you shave Cali buy a sweater NOW (they tend to sell out really fast and then when you really need one, they are sold out.) Measure and take the tape measure with you to the store to measure the sweater. (A lot of places won't let you return sweaters.) I have found that they LOOK like they will fit in the store and then they are too small, so go for larger if you are in doubt, because they really don't stretch and it's a struggle to get a too tight sweater on and off.
Let us know what you do, becuase mats are bad news, they tighten and tug the skin, they hold debris, dead skin cells and other nasties.
Good luck!
Oh man. Thanks for the info. She is pretty bad, of course, I've seen worse. I just feel SO guilty :stupid:-but between my health, buying a house, the issues with the kids, :runaway: (me) etc., etc., it has just escaped getting done. Not saying she hasn't had a bath in a long time, just not a deep brushing like should be done all the time.
Now, with the kids in school (2 outta 3), I hope to find the time to do it right and often. Again-I feel SO bad the way it is. Maybe next time, I'll get a smooth, but I like the LH :crybaby2:.
From some one who groomed their own Bouvier's for 20 years buy some Cowboy Magic in the tube rub it on the matt gentle comb out works fantastic. Bouvier nick name is the Dirty Beard Matt city Bouvier Beards. You can buy Cowboy Magic at CowboyMagic. com or usually found at Horse supply places.If the matt is down to the skin you may have to shave the area or cut it very carefully but Cowboy Magic usually works on all matts may have to rub it in good. Please do not bathe a matted dog it will set the matts like concrete.
Papbouv
Wow, I'll have to look into getting some of that. Thanks for your help. I'll try to work on her this weekend. :bandaid: :pray:
I've one of the hairy wonders on this board and, went looking for the comb suggested, but being in Australia not many things are easy to get, spoke to breeder and she said use a hack saw blade like a comb. Amy was not matted but I tease them out when I find them, but I must say its taken a few weeks of 10 mins a night but we are near t he end of the dead coat and I get to snuggle close while doing it. She actually looks as if she has lost weight, but its mostly hair.
Roberta
Quote from: Roberta on October 10, 2008, 06:04:20 PM
I've one of the hairy wonders on this board and, went looking for the comb suggested, but being in Australia not many things are easy to get, spoke to breeder and she said use a hack saw blade like a comb. Amy was not matted but I tease them out when I find them, but I must say its taken a few weeks of 10 mins a night but we are near t he end of the dead coat and I get to snuggle close while doing it. She actually looks as if she has lost weight, but its mostly hair.
Roberta
The hacksaw blade sounds scary!!! I'll see what I can do & what works best before I take her to a groomer. I agree, it helps bond :thumb:. Thanks for the info. and suggestions.