No Grooming Day Plus Dancing Video
Monday, January 5, 2015 at 2:49PM 
Due to 3 dogs I had to demat over the holidays, my right hand is toast so today I am doing NO grooming. I did 8 dogs for other people the other day so I aggravated it. I washed and bathed Moseby and Murphy and Nathan combed them out before departure this morning. He will do the same with Brewer. Then I will do Grace tomorrow. Nathan had started here and there doing Coco and Doozie. Perhaps by tomorrow I can start doing my dogs and Coco and Doozie. You can't demat that many dogs and well you pay for it. I don't charge enough and it puts me out of commission in a painful way.
Despite the deep cold the dogs have had short spurts outside and Dennis has had 3 run like hell play sessions in the halls upstairs with everyone. It's called the chase the willies out run sessions.
As usual Grace is so full of energy so it works for her as she spreads her play out with everyone.
I know they like to run but I also think it is warming them up.
When dogs be it pups or adults lift their feet up like this and are not on alert or afraid, then it is telling you they are too cold. It is time to bring them in.
Logan and Panda remain thick as thieves.
As you can see we even have a thick sheet of ice on the pool cover. Nathan walked on it and it didn't crack. Oh my...
Doozie and Coco are really enjoying themselves but I am not sure they like it this cold. They did runs in teh house but outside it was as if they were frozen in time.... brr and they were not the only one. Here is their holiday dancing video. Thank you Carol for sharing it with us.
Brewer is back playing with us. Dad started a job and is so excited. Brewer has been and is an expert in the run like hell game. But outdoors he wanted to do what he needed to and come in to run. It actually is too cold for an extended play session. You have to be wise ands have alternative plans. There are indoor things you can do to expel energy. We run, we do retrieve - we manage to play hide and seek. We have fun and then we snuggle into blankets and watch tv. When it is this cold I think they like that the best. hehe
Enjoy it while you can dawgs - baths and grooming soon - like tomorrow!
PS: Risa's fave toy is one given to us by Lori, Roger, Pepper and Scruffy. She rubs her body all over it. The dogs LOVE being back in the familyroom. Everyone is allowed except the boys due to Adele being in heat.
Reader Comments (22)
I find there is maybe a 2-minute window to get our business done outside! As soon as they finish, I lift them up and carry them back in.
I tried using Invisible Boot today, but Levon licked it off his paws and then licked it off Trigger's paw. Lol. So not quite working for us!
I think its a short window they can stay out. We take them out many, many times but they last about 3 to 5 min top. We have gone out every half hour to 45 min. We are doing puppy training. Clarity races in after going out and heads for the pad.
Try putting on the invisible boot and then give them a treat so they are focused on that vs the feet. Then take them out.
Patches stays out as long as I will let her. The cold doesn't seem to bother her at all. She likes leaves and twigs too much and running around the backyard. I make her come in. She gets distracted with the twigs and leaves so then comes in and heads for the pad. I am in no rush - she will get there.
Darlah, I really think people who let their dogs get in this condition should not expect someone to injure themselves taking out the matts. I think that would be shave time. Your hands and wrists cannot be replaced, their hair can! Just my two cents...
Yes, we are telling people I can do knots but not felted knots.
In this weather its good you are telling her to come in. Even our adults are not staying out long. If you go out and you are too cold they are too. :-)
I think you have a slightly wider window because I have to zip them out on leashes, so they're not generating any body heat - unfortunately, our fenced off area isn't useable in the winter, so we have to get all our running done inside now. I was looking at the ifetch - does anyone have one and is it worth the money?
Good idea about a treat distraction! I will try that tomorrow!
Darlah have you tried to wear wrist braces when you work. Your fingers are free. There are some good ones that you can get. I have worn them when my arthritis was very bad. What are invisible boots? I bought the Velcro ones but Rusty is not a fan. He goes out sniffs and either does his business or comes right back in. He too has been using the pad today although he was outside too. Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for sharing Carol's Christmas video of her famous duo.
Doozie and Coco are such fun to watch.
Darlah, I also agree with Angela and others that if the dogs are 'felt matted it is
best to shave them. It is pure torture for the dogs and groomer. Most groomers
will simply hand them back to you if you do not agree to shave them.
Perhaps a shorter coat style would be better, but even shorter coats require
brushing and combing at least several times a week.
After a long battle to keep Laci w/ long hair I finally gave in to a shorter do. It took me about a year to try and perfect my skills and felt really badly that I lost that challenge. Luckily, I have a groomer that we've used through 2 dog life times and now Laci - so nearly 30 years. Laci is scissor cut every 5 weeks. I may begin to take her in after 3 weeks for a bath & blow dry b/c as Darlah has mentioned before a clean dog doesn't mat as often. I'm hoping if I do the bath and blow dry in between we can stretch the cut to 6 wks. We keep the head long so it's a compromise. Some Havs have silkier hair which I think is a bit easier. In any event, Laci needs to be combed through every day. If I find a stubborn mat the use of Mat Blaster is a great help.
Wall Mart carries a variety of wrist braces. I sometimes need them when my OA acts up.
I too enjoyed the video of Coco & Doozie! Carol is having a lot of fun w/ her dogs. I love her sense of humour!
After saying that Patches doesn't mind the cold at all, it was very different this morning first thing for some reason (colder)? She went out and lifted her paw right away, ran into the garden, did her poo business, ran back to me then put her front feet on my legs (let me up). I picked her up immediately (she was shaking) and brought her back in while rubbing her. She then went to her pad and peed. Poor baby, she tried but she was freezing, I don't know why the drastic change from yesterday. But whatever, I can't bear to have her that cold. If that may mean a puppy pad in the house always in the winter for the really cold days, no big deal for me and a lot more comfortable for her! Just my opinion.....
Angela, it is an exceptionally cold ground today as we got ice. I find our dogs are going in and out quickly. The puppies are using the pads. Maybe this afternoon when it is warmer (will it be warmer) they will go out.
The wrist brace does not work and I have tried several. The way I demat is I soak the area with dematting solution, let it sit, do the next area, let it sit, do another and let it sit. Then go back to first and pull it apart not up breaking it up then using a brush by breaking the mat from the outside in. Then I comb. I only use a matt blaster when I have no choice as the felted area is too felted. You do ruin coat with the mat blaster and or a slicker and it removes the coating on the cuticle splitting the coat so it actually changes the condition of the hair and makes it feel and act like a cotton coat. It will also knot easier. Damaged coats do. Same with our hair. Only way to remove damage is to cut it short and start anew. The way I demat gives minimal discomfort to the dog but high discomfort to me as it is tedious and timely and repetitious. This is deadly for my hands. One dog okay. 3 dogs did me in. I get told time in and time out that I brushed my dog every day but you can't as you do not get felts unless you never use a comb and the dog is left till they are dirty only brushing out on occasion. The other issue is a damaged coat which will knot daily. If you have damaged the coat using a mat blaster, splicer, slicker etc the wisest thing to do is shave the dog down yes even in winter and start anew. The hours it will save you and the dog doesn't care. You are the only one that cares. The hair that comes in will be a better texture and you still should comb daily on a shaved down dog just for the conditioning but really then you only have to comb out the tail and the ears and beard. No one has a coat like Shoshi in my lines unless they have managed to damage the coat not intentionally mind you. We learn as we go. Shoshi has a pure cottony coat and I have shaved her down in layers so she looks shaggy but I can now brush her once a week and she won't knot unless she is dirty. That is my wakeup that it is time to wash. You always get out all knots BEFORE washing or it will felt. In Shoshi's case I just use a clipper with a comb and shag her out again and voila knots gone. From hell coat to easy. I like long coats as that is why I got a coated breed but Shoshi is way happier and so am I that we are not doing grooming marathons. Besides she looks cute in a shag look. I did cut her head hair that I am now letting grow out. Head hair grows slowly so we are in the stage where you can't see her hair. In a month or two she will get a hair tie. They can still see with the hair down.
Darlah - the Mat Blaster I'm talking about is not a utencil, but a spray made by All Systems. My groomer uses it and also sells it. I find it works quite well.
I don't know how you groom all the dogs you do.
Darlah, I really appreciate the pointers you give us in these blogs. I have so much to learn even though I have had quite a few dogs and have attended many seminars. They are such amazing sentient beings, each breed being unique, and there is so much to learn to keep each and every one to whom you give a forever home healthy and happy.
Sorry, I meant to add that the people with the matted dogs may only be brushing them, not combing them after. I know that when I have always 'brushed' my dogs, after the brushing I always comb and often find a few little knots with the comb that were missed with the brush. So, combing is very important.
That is the cutest video of Doozie and Coco. Well done Carol and so wonderful to watch. They are just adorable and so well trained!
Yes - adorable video.
Angela - the key is the fine tooth comb finds the mats and tangles and a brush just smooths out and finds them only when bad.
Debi: Good to know as there is a mat blaster that is deadly to the hair. If you are finding the hair is tangling too much you need to change shampoos/conditioners and perhaps the grooming spray. Sometimes mixing it up and then going back to the product you like works better or use a very gentle clarifier. You can also use a lemon water as a clarifier (last rinse) to clarify as well. I haven't tried All Systems mat blaster. I don't tend to use All Systems as it leaves the hair too harsh feeling (the shampoo and conditioner). Some people love it for the show as it doesn't coat the cuticle as much as other products but its great for that fullness desired for the ring.
Thx for the info Darlah. You have reminded me that I bought a clarifying shampoo from Doug and should give it to my groomer to use. I seem to recall he said not to use it regularly. I am a huge fan of lemons for many things so I may try that once home.
I've recently put Laci on Missing Link but not for her coat. It will be interesting to see if I notices changes in her coat as well.
It takes 6 to 8 weeks and it does effect the coat. I give all mine Missing Link including the pups. The pups get a puppy version. The senior get a senior version. It also boosts their immunities. Which clarifier - as it matters. Some are very gentle in stripping the build-up and others not. You only want to use it once every couple of months.
I'll have to check when we rtn home Darlah. I have several - oatmeal - brightening - and clarifying. Use the oatmeal 99% of the time. Maybe it's time for a clarifying treatment. I have to laugh as Laci's hair is like mine - the ocean air has it all poufy! Looks good on her - NOT me! Oh well, guess my hair is on holidays too! LOL
Debi:
That's what holidays is for - just relaxing and not fretting about a thing. :-0