Under the chin

[Sandy]

What is the best way to groom under the chin?  Toby has a little matted hair under there, and he doesn't really appreciate me trying to brush it out, and doesn't hold his head very well for me to try and cut them out.  :)  Any thoughts?

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

This is the only place on his body that Rooney gets matts.  We just solved it by going shorter under there - you really can't see it and problem was solved.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I keep under the chin short. That is the correct grooming for the  breed standard for ALD's. It helps with the water dipping problem too. I cut the part near the lip really short and taper the hair to the neck.

[Sandy]

Do you scissor clip it? I have trouble keeping Toby's head still because he's really not a fan of my grooming there.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I trim Under Darwin's chin pretty short... it stops him from getting matts there, easier to comb out, etc.

[Susan and Sasha]

Hi Sandy...

I keep Sasha's hair on the shorter side under her chin too.

I keep it shorter closer to her lip and then taper it out longer as I go toward her neck.

I also use Cowboy Magic on that area.

I rub a small amount in my hand and then rub it into the area under her chin...

It Really does help keep the mats away...and makes the combing easier.

If there is a mat under the chin...or anywhere else for that matter...you just rub some Cowboy Magic into the mat to loosen it up...and you can use your hands to gently pull apart the mat.

I use Cowboy Magic on Sasha's coat...not only when she has a mat...but also after I groom her.

A Litte Goes A Long Way!

I put some into my hands and rub them together...and then rub it through her coat...from head to toe.

It conditions her coat...keeps her coat cleaner...longer...and it has a nice clean scent.

I also feel that it helps to prevent her coat from matting.

I hope this is helpful...

 

[Sandy]

Where do you buy Cowboy Magic?  I'm in Canada.

[Stella]

I think Rens sell it??

[Sandy]

I just looked on-line, and it doesn't show it at Ren's.  I'd like to find some for Toby though.  Anything to make those knots easier to get through.

[Susan and Sasha]

Hi Sandy...

I keep Sasha's hair on the shorter side under her chin too.

I cut it closer by her lip and then taper it out as it goes toward her neck.

I also use Cowboy Magic in that area...as I find that it helps to keep mats from forming.

You can rub a small amount of it into Any mat...Anywhere...and then gently pull the mat apart with your fingers.

It really does work!

When I groom Sasha...I use Cowboy Magic on her enitire body...as I found that it's a wonderful conditioner for her coat...repels dirt... has a nice clean smell,,,and I find that it helps her not to mat.

I just put a Small amount in my hand and rub it between my palms...and then run it through her coat...from head to toe.

A Little Goes A Long Way! 

As far as your question about scissor cutting the area...

I've been grooming Sasha from the begiinning...so...she has learned to sit still for the grooming process.

You can work on this with Toby...especially the "hold" command...so that he learns to hold still while you are cutting...so he won't get hurt.

It helps to do the grooming when Toby is tired...and remember to use Treats as a reward for good behavior and listening!  Lol...

When I scissor cut this area...I use a sharp pair of scissors with a Blunt tip.

This is the scissor that I use for any work that I do for Sasha's face and head...with the exception of the blending shear.

Never point the scissor toward Toby's neck...and Always have your fingers or a comb...between  Toby's skin and the scissors...so he won't get cut.

I'm sure Toby will learn to sit and enjoy his grooming time...and it will be a wonderful "bonding time" for both of you...

 

 

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[Stella]

I like the beard - it is a doodle thing!!  But, Chases is so thick that we keep it a little shorter otherwise it is wet all the time - he still has an obvious beard though!  I scissor cut under there to take the length off and then comb the remainder out before tidying up.  I figure he is curly, so if it isn't 100% even no-one will be able to tell!!  Treats are my bribery for tolerating beard combing!  Comb a little, treat, comb, treat, comb, treat until it is all done!