I'm Freaking Out...Murphy Has Started The Coat Change

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I was just doing Murph's nightly "belly rub" and found two enormous mats...and they wern't there yesterday.  They are really huge, and there's no way to comb them out.  I have been dreading this day.  Murphy has big problems with grooming since he was a new puppy.  I have come to the conclusion that he has "tactile sensitivity".  My son (who has Down Syndrome) also has this, and he things touching his skin feel very different to him than to the rest of us.  We have to buy him shirts that have absolutely no tags...even cutting them out doesn't help.  As a result, we only comb Murph very lightly and never for more than a few minutes at a time.  I talk to him through the whole thing very softly and lightly pet him. Treats don't work at all, because it's an anxiety thing.  Even then, he's scared, but he will tolerate it.  I don't know if there is such a thing as "tactile sensitivity" with a dog...I've never heard of it, but I do believe that Murphy has this.  There is absolutely no way for me to comb the mats out daily for a few months like I did with Guinness.  It would be torture for Murph, and it just isn't fair to him.  I am going to have to have his coat cut way down, and it breaks my heart.  I'm going to start by cutting these mats out myself, but my guess is he'll be at the groomer's by the end of the week.  I can't even imagine him without this big, fluffy coat.  Anyone been through this with a coat like Murphy's and a Dood who has serious issues with being combed or brushed?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Jane ..... have you tried the Les Pooches brush on him .... I say this because Sophie hates being combed and brushed with many brushes, but she will let me brush the crap out of her with a Les Pooches brush. With a comb if I even hit the smallest snag she is mad and starts jumping around. The other thing is you really don't have to cut him all the way down, just the ones on the belly area and maybe cut the rest of him down by half! I know I was so scared to cut Sophie, but after I finally did, I loved her new do! She is still shaggy (she didn't have a real haircut for the first 1.5 years). Better to cut him down a little now than shave him later! With Lucy as soon as I noticed the first couple matts off she went for a haircut.. Just cutting her down by an inch or better helped (of course she didn't really mind being brushed).

When I was looking at your beach pictures and noticing how long his coat was, I was wondering how in the world you were going to get him through the coat change.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have no advice, just sympathy. I also had tactile sensitivity as a kid, but grew out of it as I got older, so I know exactly what you mean.
Murphy is so cute, he will still be adorable with his hair cut short. And over time, he may get used to being groomed. I hope some of the others have some helpful advice for you, I just have virtual hugs. :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have actually tried the Les Pooches brush along with many other types of brushes. We went through everything to desensitize him, and nothing worked. For the past several months he would tolerate being combed lightly for just a few minutes. I had to be very calm and talk softly to him while I was combing. By doing this often I was able to maintain his coat, and he was happy. I will definitely just have them cut his "tummy area" short and start with just a trim on the rest of him to see how that works out. Thanks for the advice, encouragement and virtual hugs!

[Ali & Sonny D.]

Sonny absolutely hates to be combed, brushed etc... It's like a joke when I try to comb him, chasing him around on all 4's(me) while I try to get to him. Unfortunately during Sonny's coat change he was badly matted and was shaved down. (I cried!!!!) But anyway, makes me wonder if he has some sensitivity as well. I now make sure to bring him to his groomer every 5/6 weeks so that doesn't happen again and I will continue to chase him down in between. I am going to order a Les Pooches brush as well. I have a Chris Christensen T brush but doesn't seem to do anything but brush his top layer.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Poor Murphy, I feel bad he gets scared so easy with combing or brushing. I have kept Hunter cut short all summer but I am going to start letting her grow out for the winter but she only mats in a few areas fortunately. I have no advise just {{Hugs}}

[shelly]

Oh Boy, Jane - have we ever!!! I'm sure you can remember me freakin' out about this in the past - LOL In fact, I just went thru' this with Tori again.... but my magician, wonder-worker of a groomer saved her coat. She was so matted from a bath I HAD to give her after going the the ER with the corn cob... she does NOT like me to brush her and will only sit for a few minutes, but she was at the groomer for about 5 hours and she worked a little at a time with her then gave her a rest - but.... she showed me this mat splitter that works off your thumb... I have one but it's more square than the one she showed me - it's rectangular... if I put Tori in the tub - no water, she seems to stay better and tolerate the brushing. I also use this detangle spray that works great called Perfect coat by Clear Choice..I got it in Petco...If all else fails maybe a patient groomer can cut him down only under the belly and leave his back and sides longer. Tori's is like this - and you'd never notice it.. if you do, it looks like she has a vest on UNDER her. I'll try and take a picture now and upload it... fingers crossed for you

[Ali & Sonny D.]

How on earth dies she do so well with Troi and not so with Sonny???? lol FYI the brush mentioned in the other post is the one I have. Before you order one you can borrow mine. (was this a newer posting? I should have checked) Anyway I am guessing Sonny has a much thicker coat b/c if I blow on Sonny's all is see is more fur not skin. (he also has an undercoat, but not sure exactly what that means)

[shelly]

LOL I don't know.... but she TRULY does! You should see how much hair she took off of her (it was all over the floor when we went to get her) - and yet she still looks so long - Gee wonder where she gets her hair from... I know she's not mine biologically - but... LOL. I looking for the pics now!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My groomer thins Ned's coat. Perhaps that is what yours did. Ned's coat is extremely thick.

[shelly]

Jane ~ just remembered something about a foum or blog post where in the worst case scenario, if Murph needs to be cut down... after the cutting, the dog actually tolerated the brushing sessions because it wasn't bothersome to him anymore and therefore, was able to continue brushing due to the shorter coat... I'll look for that too....

[shelly]

Found it... it was Ricki and Tara here's the link... let's see if I can do this now....
http://www.doodlekisses.com/profiles/blogs/a-breakthrough-and-a-huge

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks, Shelly. I missed that post when we were away. There is some hope!