Halas' Swimming Leads to Baldness!!!

[Leslie and Halas]

I posted earlier in July that I had been taking Halas swimming/creek hiking quite a bit.  He absolutely loves it.  The only downside is trying to brush him when we get home.  He hates it when I brush him, maybe because he thinks that takes away from his Tina the Groomer time.  He loves her, and she has told me many times that he's perfect with her, and he lets her do any grooming thing that she needs to without complaint.  So I was a bad mommy, and I didn't brush him like I should have.  The photos below show his progress.

Here he is right after we got home from one of our hikes.  Cute, curly, wet hair.

Here he is a couple of weeks later, after a few more hikes and swims.  He's starting to look a little rough...

And these next 2 photos are Halas now, after being groomed Saturday.  I warned Tina the Groomer that she might have to shave him, but she thought she wouldn't have to.  I wanted his coat shorter anyway, so as long as his tail and most of his head could stay fluffy, I told her I expected that she'd at least have to shave certain sections.  After spending about an hour on half of one leg, she texted me that he was going to be pretty short.  She felt terrible, but I told her it was entirely my fault.  I expected him to look pretty silly when I picked him up, but she was able to do more with him than I thought she could.  His beard had to be shaved, but he still has his tail and head hair.  The only things that look really silly are his legs.  I don't know how he holds himself up with those spindley things.  Anyway, I don't think he looks too bad.  I think he's still pretty adorable.  He's still got that cute face and those sweet eyes.  And now I can have the vet recheck his fatty lumps, since they are much easier to see now.  You can really see them on his right hip.  So here's my bald boy!!!

[Sharon & Monty]

Looks like a happy boy to me!  Still very cute.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

He looks happy :)  And still cute! 

[Bonnie and Kona]

You look different Halas but you are still the cutest guy on the block. Look at that sweet face! 

I clipped Kona down to about 3/4 inch with all the swimming in the ocean. 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Aw!  We had to do the same with Quincy.  I think Halas looks lean and lanky, just like Q did!  Just as cute, just a different look!  And grooming is much easier, but keep after that tail!  Happy swim and hike!  

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

She did a really good job for having to shave him down!  He still looks adorable.  Great job on the face. 

[Linda Copeland]

OMG, I am afraid that is what I am going to have to do with my 14 mo. old Sadie. She HATES to be brushed. I have a grooming table and the works. Haven't found a groomer yet, so I am trying to do it myself. But now she is so matted, I am feeling really guilty about it and try and tackle a little every night, but then the part I fixed is matted the next day. Oh dear, I guess I should just shave her. He does look really sweet:)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Oh my doodle, but he does look adorable. I like all doodles better beardless but this is shaving a beard a bit wide : ) He's probably happy.

[Deborah Brown]

Awwww... he looks fine.  I probably would have trimmed the tail down just to be proportional.  :)  If he's going to keep swimming, he might as well be super short.  He will dry out so much quicker.  He can have hair in October!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

He looks very handsome and "buff" in his new haircut!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Well, now when he goes swimming, you won't even need to think about needing to brush!!!!! :-}  Ned has a coat that mats when wet.  He doesn't really immerse himself in the ocean past his tummy.  He ends up wet but not soaked like Clancy.  We spray Horse Mane 'N Tail on the dogs before and after.  So far it has worked.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

What a cutie!!!!

[Gail and Bailey]

Still a very handsome boy!