Grooming nightmare!

I groomed a 15 month old chocolate LD today with a fleecy coat--I do some grooming as a small home business. The man told me that the dog had "some matting"--well, as soon as I touched her head, I felt a mat as big as a grapefruit between her ears in the back--the neck was worse. As I got her home and started to work on her, it was clear that the mats (and there were MANY) went all the way to the skin. She has debris trapped in her fur and even her tail was totally matted. I really tried to get through the mats, but i soon knew that the comb was coming off the clippers and shaving would have to be done.I think she must have blown her puppy coat sometime after her last grooming, which I am guessing was about 4 months ago, and that is when the big mats formed. I got as many of the mats off as I could and tried to salvage the rest of her coat by clipping with a 3/8 " comb and then blending to the shaved areas. After I was done, she looked and felt much better--so sad to let her get like that!

I spoke to the owner about grooming and he didn't even OWN a dog comb--just a brush! ARGH! But he is following my advice and buying the needed equipment and is happy to get some directions from me about coat care. Now that the puppy coat mats are gone and he has a totally dematted (and practically bald) dog, maybe he can keep up with what should be a gorgeous coat.

here are some pictures--I am hoping to see her again in 6 weeks to even out what grows back in.

here she is after a bit if shaving:

This is after I have done half the face:

And here is the finished product:

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bonnie and Kona on August 8, 2011 at 9:05pm

You did an amazing job salvaging what looks like an adorable puppy. Sounds awful. Poor baby.

Permalink Reply by F, Calla & Luca on August 8, 2011 at 9:10pm

Poor pup. She must feel must better.

Permalink Reply by Kyoko on August 8, 2011 at 9:17pm

She looks 100% better!!

Permalink Reply by Barbie on August 8, 2011 at 9:51pm

Yah, I'll bet she feels 100% better also. Ginny, what type of comb do you recommend for my Chowdoodle? I have 3 different ones, but they're old and there's probably something better out on the market that I'm not aware of.

Permalink Reply by Ginny Nightingale on August 9, 2011 at 4:51am

Well, I use the old fashioned steel comb with wide teeth at one end and narrower teeth at the other--I believe that is the best for combing after you have brushed. Doodle Country store has one with rotating teeth for less tangling up in the hair--You might want to try that!

Permalink Reply by Barbie on August 9, 2011 at 7:22pm

Thank you! I'll check that out.

Permalink Reply by Lynda Kamrath on August 9, 2011 at 2:36pm

Poor dog and poor you. Actually he does not look that bad. And the good news is that it does grow in very quickly. That is great that you are giving the owner some information on what he needs to do for his dog. It will be better next time.

Permalink Reply by Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie on August 9, 2011 at 8:51pm