After Much Deliberation...

[Camilla and Darwin]

After much deliberation, combing through lots and lots of discussions, and agonizing, I came to a decision.

I was brushing through Darwin today, and found three matts on his chest. I knew it must be the beginning of the dreaded coat change. I have to say I AM prepared. I bought a new brush, and i have already developed the habit of completely line brushing him every night. But after working on those matts for 20 minutes, his fur was red and sore and he hated it the whole time.

I decided that although I would have to continue brushing through him daily, it would be a lot easier if his coat was shorter. I recently posted about how puffy Darwin has become, and it really has. I knew it would be much easier to tangle than if I cut it down to a more reasonable length. I really didn't want to. I had become accustomed to constantly being stopped on the street and having Darwin fawned over. People loved his outrageous puffiness. But I thought it would be easier for both of us.

So, I cut it all off. It's around a half inch now. I have since noted two large differences. Brushing through him takes less time, much less. And second, he is much more comfortable now. I think he was always really hot in our little apartment, judging from how he always insisted on laying against the door crack, where the winter air leaked in. Now, he will cuddle with me on the couch as long as I want him to. Also, he has seemed to be MUCH more ambitious when he is playing with his friends. His good doggie friend Mauii is a VERY energetic lab and she loves to run. He would halfheartedly chase her around but plop down for a breather fairly quickly. These past few days, he has been a madman! He has chased Mauii around until we forced him to come in. Perhaps it is that he is cooler now, so he doesn't overheat as quickly. Perhaps he just feels different without all the fur.

Bottom line, as much as I loved my fluffy puffy pup... we are both happier now. Perhaps one day I will grow it out to it's earlier length. But we are both enjoying the new shorter do! Hopefully I will get better with time with his grooming... it looks a little choppy!

Before:

After:

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Darwin looks great!
One tip with matts...you need to use a comb or matt-buster tool and get all the way down to the skin to keep the matts at bay. No amount of brushing will work as well. Brush first and then use the comb/tool, I think you'll be happy with the results.

[Frannie & Callie]

Darwin looks adorable! I'm getting Callie groomed tomorrow for just the same reason (and she's a little stinky and I don't want to try to bathe her and make the mats worse). I've LOVED Callie's big fluffy coat but daily brushing just isn't keeping on top of these mats. She violently hates the mat rake.

Camilla - you made the good decision - better to trim up Darwin now than torture you both and then having to shave him to the skin because the mats are bad!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thank you, I am glad he still has a little bit of his "doodley" look.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I'm so excited as well! Darwin could really use a nice doggie romp.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I think he looks WONDERFUL!!!! Peri is getting groomed tomorrow and I am thinking she will look like this (we too are dealing with matts...)

[Azure & Muppet]

Camilla, I really understand your dilemma. I have spent hours working out mats on Muppet the last couple days. I brush him regularly, but playing in the snow seems to cause matting. I think Darwin looks great. I can't wait to see him this Saturday.