How to save a wool coat.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Many of you with wool coated doodles get into trouble with the coat change between 8 and 18 months. If you are dead set against having a groomer shave your doodle here are some steps you can try. What have you got to lose? If you doodle looks messy or funny after you can still get it shaved.

 

Step one:  Blow out the coat with a high velocity blower. Use a detangling spray like "The Stuff" while blowing. This step could take up to an hour. Many of you think a blower is really for professional groomers only, but the money spent on this piece of equipment will make your and your doodle's life so much easier. You will save the cost of the equipment by reducing the need for professional grooming.

 

Step two: Cut the coat down to about 1 1/2 inches in length with scissors.. Be very careful around the armpits, just in front of the hips and around the throat as there is a lot of loose skin there that's easy to catch with scissors. In delicate areas, put your comb in between the skin and your scissors. If you can't get your comb in there you might as well stop there and have your doodle shaved as matts close to the skin will not brush out.

 

Step three: Blow coat again. This will loosen a lot of the tangles.

 

Step four: Start brushing and as the 'fuzz' starts to appear, trim it off. Continue with this until most of the fuzz stops coming up. Brush each 4 inch section in all directions. north, northeast, east etc.

 

Step five: Comb out the coat. You can use various products and dematting techniques during this phase. Here are some dematting techniques.

Pull apart matts with your fingers

Comb with one tyne..ie turn your comb so you are combing with the end of the comb.

Cut matt apart in the direction of hair growth with scissors and brush out.

Comb in litte bits working from the outside and gradually work towards the skin.

 This may still take quite a while even with all the brushing you have done.

 

Step six: Blow coat again to check for missed matts. Trim off any parts that are sticking out. If you don't find any, you can go ahead and wash your doodle.  good work.

 

Step seven: Blow the water out of the coat, always going in the direction of hair growth. ALLOW TO DRY NATURALLY!!!

 

If a coat is totally out of control, this process could take 6 to 10 hours to save the coat. Your doodle must be very patient. If it is too stressful for the dog, go ahead with the shaving. It's not worth torturing your dog.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I have this one in my grooming shop
http://petagree.net/store/dryers_&_accessories/force_dryers/dri...

I need a second one for upstairs. I have been toting my first one up and down stairs so not all my dogs get as much blowing off as they need. I want to keep it in my garage to use on my dogs as they come in the house. I am thinking I might order this one.
http://petagree.net/store/dryers_&_accessories/force_dryers/met...

[Rosemarie, Roxie & Kirby]

The second one is more in my price range right now. I'll be ordering it this week :) Thanks again, for all of your help, I know Roxie will be appreciating it this week when she only gets her summer cut, instead of a shave!