Wow, Pet Stores Here Never Heard of Chris Christensen!!

[Wendy and Myla]

After reading many discussions in the grooming group I decided that I was going to buy the Chris Christensen 16 mm T-pin brush so today I went to all five pet stores in town and none of them knew what I was talking about!!! - I was so surprised - I guess his main market is USA and I live in BC Canada. I did find a vendor in Alberta who charges $26. plus tax and $13. for shipping and handling.  Does anyone know of any vendors in BC so I don't have to pay the shipping and handling?  I was so disappointed!  I really wanted to bring it home today and try it out on Myla - she HATES being brushed - she doesn't get many mats (so far) but tries to grab the brush every time we try to groom her!  Thanks for any help you can give me!!!!

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I'm in BC and I buy from Just Gifted. They are based in Langley but do most of their selling at dog shows. Inbetween shows they sell off their website. Super nice people. I buy a bunch of stuff from them everytime they come to Vernon in July.

[Wendy and Myla]

Thanks Barb - I am in Vernon!!  - but I don't want to wait till July!  Maybe we could go to the coast and look up "Just Gifted" in Langley.  I really want one of these brushes!!!

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

If you go on line they will send you one. They don't have a store in Langley as they do most of their business at dog shows and the rest on line. It is not too far to mail at least, so mailing will be quite reasonalble.

BTW I live in Spall by O'Keefe

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't know of any pet supply stores here in the Chicago area that carry Chris Christensen brushes, either, or any of the higher end grooming tools. It doesn't look like they sell to retail stores from their website, only through distributors:http://www.chrissystems.com/international-distributors-for-chris-ch...

  Perhaps a professional groomer in your area has a supplier and could get one for you? 

[Wendy and Myla]

I guess I just figured from the discussions it was readily available!  LOL  I guess I'll pay for the shipping and handling!  I want it fairly soon to get Myla used to grooming!  She's just a year and I'm hoping her coat will stay the same but you never know!  Thanks Karen - I will ask my groomer but she swears by the slicker brush.

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

I haven't tried the slicker brush yet, but I can vouch for Kona accepting the Chris Christensen oblong wooden pin brush MUCH better than any of the metal pin brushes I bought at pet stores. And like several have mentioned, I also couldn't find any at pet stores and I live in LA where you'd think there would be higher demand. No such luck. I also bought the 16 mm T-brush. I was afraid the tines might be too short, but they are great, and he tolerates those metal tines almost as well as the wooden pins. I put him into a sit position, and let him lick on a treat that I'm holding with one hand while I brush him with the other hand. Obviously, I have to move him around to his sides in order to get his feet, but he really does do a LOT better since I bought the wooden pin brush! Before, he wouldn't let me touch his feet. He is on the small side (20 pounds at 6 months) so he feet might be a little smaller and more tender than a bigger doodle.

[Janice Sutherland]

I found the same problem with introducing my pups to brushing. They were initially fearful of the brush if it tugged even a tiny bit and wanted nothing to do with it. I had to start by running just the back of the brush over their fur with intermittent treats and then progressed to turning the brush over and gliding the brush over the top of the coat, and then progressed to using very, very short and strokes with NO tugging and intermittent treats. As soon as I was able to carefully remove the tangles and get the brush to glide through their coat in long strokes against their skin they found it to be enjoyable. Only took 2 sessions for each to get them to see that it was not something to be fearful of and that in fact it felt good. Now they are happy to have a brush session. I started with dog brushes but quickly moved to an old pin brush of mine. It has nice round nubbins on the end of the tines and is not stiff. I plan to get a nice quality dog brush, but for now this works perfectly. I tend to order online and if its from the States I get it sent to the Montana shipping outlet. It is only an hour away from where I live. I bought all my grooming stuff this way. Clippers, dryer, scissors, groom vac for the clippers etc. There are some fantastic and economical outlets. I found it waaaay less expensive. Often get free shipping with certain size orders.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Hi Wendy  I just came across this post.  Do you shop Amazon?  They have a lot of Chris Christenen products and I believe they carry the 16 mm T pin brush.  If you do decide to get one on Amazon, you might go in through the preferred vendors tab on the main page on Dk.

Good luck.

[Wendy and Myla]

Thanks Linda - I went on to Amazon but Amazon.ca (in Canada) doesn't carry Chris Christensen products as far as I could see - just the Amazon.com.  I'm not sure why.  There are a couple of places that sell it in Canada, I was just hoping not to have to pay shipping and handling but I will have to.  I hope the brush works better than the comb and slicker I'm currently using!