Very Warm Wet and Muddy
Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 5:28PM 
This is getting to be a theme. One would think it was spring. It is now raining and they say the temps will continue to drop. Dogs are not a fan of the wet but they did go out a bunch today between the rain.
Saffron's hair is starting to grow back in after puppies. It's a mess in this photo but it's the theme for the day. She was actually combed out hours before this photo.
Chase arrived today. Kona is laying on Nathan's neck as I type. I know as I was just in the tv room talking about what we will be watching in a bit.
Leti is still in heat - no connection (think its too early) but she is madly flirting. The boys think Jeannie is in heat and n we are not breeding her. Have to laugh. Didn't she just have pups? Nathan says yes 5 months ago. If that is so, she is a month early. Just because they think it doesn't make it so.
Kat is still sleeping with Dennis. I have the girls and Nathan has the boys. The joys of heat but no headphones when watching the pad. That's a bonus. This will pass till the next is in heat.
I decided no bathing today with this weather. I rinsed feet off etc. It's a futile process.
How are you dealing with the wetness?
Reader Comments (17)
Not coping with all this wet and mud and waterlogged grassy area, I have a very matted dog who doesn't want a combing or brushing so I guess I am going to have to cut the down. Really upset about cutting hair but I don't have much option as I don't want to hurt pup.
Never mind it will grow at a rate of two inches in seven months.
Hope you manage to get all your baths done and the weather gets kind Darlah.
My two have short cuts so it is much easier for me. I take them for walks in a ravine every day. I found out soon enough long for my two was just not practical. I love them to pieces at any length.
Su:
Cut them down or have them cut down. Don't fret. Hair does grow if you like the longer look. With longer you must brush and comb every other day or at the worse case every 3 days. You must be able to take a comb through them. Otherwise shorter is the best but short hair mats too. Depending on the texture, it can be as bad as long hair. A thinner coat mats less. A thicker coat mats more. A cotton type coat mats easier than say a silky coat. Remember tails, ears etc. Wash when they start getting matted as that means their coat is dirty.
I have had coats long and short. I still keep Shoshi in a short coat though not as short as Angela's. Shoshi has a cotton coat. It is what is best for her. I had her in a long coat for 9 plus years. Risa I have had a short coat on her and to be honest she looks ridiculous. She no longer looks like a havanese so I grew her coat out again and she will remain with a long coat till she is no more. But seniors have their hair thin out so work on her coat is minimal.
The point is each choice is personal and each coat has different needs. Do what is right for you.
If you want minimal care cut it down to 3/4 of an inch long. But you should still brush and comb. Otherwise you will eventually need to get a shave down.
If you want to retain the long hair cut with scissors through the center of the knot from the root straight down then pull apart after spraying with detangler. You will end up with less coat and therefore mat less but I wouldn't do this on a dog that already had a sparse coat.
Havanese are actually cooler in summer with a full coat and warmer in winter. Sounds crazy but it is true.
Rusty looks scraggly with the wet and mud. We try to brush every other day. He is happy once we get started. Funny guy. I don't know what kind of coat Rusty has cotton or silk. I think cotton. Darlah you can tell me next time we visit. It is getting colder. Glad you didn't bath today Darlah. I am sure you were busy enough without it. Just finished watching CNN town hall. Wow. Now I can't sleep.
Darlah, Thank you for the information and advice. :-)
I do like a longer coat and as you say pup is cool in summer with her longer coat. I do believe she has a cotton coat, she is in need of a bath so I will cut out the matted hair and get shampooing and conditioning. I was trying to hold out for dry weather but that isn't going to happen any time soon.
Thank you again Darlah for your help it is very appreciated
Su & pup
Hi again,
I started going for short when Patches' hair grew into her eyes. The elastics wouldn't stay in and unfortunately reminded me of when I was a kid and my Mum used to put my hair in a tight pony tail for school. It used to give me a headache by the end of the day. I know the trick is not to make it tight and to do it so it stays in for the Havanese.
In our ravine, we have burs, mud, wet (even in summer the dew seems to stay in the grass until noon), grass seeds, and everything else so, when I tried to let Radar's hair grow it just wasn't practical and he didn't like grooming at all. As well I use harnesses on them and that adds to the tangles.
Even with short hair I still brush and comb every day. I just find it easier to maintain. As well, I bath them every two weeks. It is all easier for me and them since I am a senior myself with back problems.
I agree with Darlah of course, it is whatever is better for you and your pup. For me and my pups, short is the way to go.
Su:
By cutting through the mats you will reduce the coat making it easier in the long run. Just don't go crazy. If you lose too much coat it looks sparse.
Angela:
That was my point. It is up to the individual. If they have the time, desire etc. is a factor. No need to defend. We all like something different. As I am a breeder, I believe people come to me to see dogs in their natural state. I do show short coats when people come so they understand how it changes the look and I always qualify it with combing and brushing. Short coats won't necessarily keep you from not combing a dog. Plus it is good for their skin to comb and brush. If a dog doesn't like it, it is important to keep at it as they get conditioned. In their later years they will get blocked pores and brushing and combing does help.
By the way, there are ways of putting latex bands on that do not hurt the head. You can also put the band half way up, pull the end through and put another band in to keep it in place. None of that is tight to the head.
In the near distant future Pippin will be neutered. I'm worried that it will be difficult to comb his underside for a few days and wondered if trimming his belly before the procedure would be a good idea or if it would cause mats when growing out. I love his coat and would hate to trim him all over.
Thank you again Darlah and thanks too to you Angela.
I do comb daily but wriggly pup does not make it easy. I need to hog tie her.
I trim the hair on pups head so it is easier to keep clean and out of her eyes. Her coat isn't naturally as long as Talemaker puppies, I think it is about three to four inches across her body.
I used Show Season dematting spray but it is really highly perfumed and if diluted doesn't do much to loosen the matting. I will try the tropiclean de matting spray is the other one by plush puppy?
Angela, your dogs look great, so clean and so happy, that you for sharing your experience of coats and hygiene with me really appreciate your knowledge.
Why not get a used grooming table with a nose that keeps her in position so you can brush. They feel secure and its easier for you. Just a thought.
Su: Thanks. I like this forum for sharing our differing ways of doing things and why. Good luck.
Karen:
You can have him shaved all around his privates and it will grow back. Do you have a trimmer?
Another tip when neutering and spaying is if you do not like the shaved leg look from the iv insist that they pull the hair up and band it so you can't see the shaved part. You have to bring in the rubber bands though.
Try Tropiclean. It is smelly but many like the smell and it is cheap. Go into a store and spray it and see.
I don't have a trimmer, but can have him trimmed.
Using rubber bands to pull the hair up sounds like a good idea. Should I look for a certain kind of rubber band?
Thank you Darlah.
The larger latex bands that Rens sell are good quality.
Karen: If you lived closer, I would do it for you. No charge...
Thank you Darlah. I really appreciate your kindness & good advice.
One grooming table on its way albeit a folding one. It also has an arm and noose, hardly been used.
Will see what happens with the noose, will have to get her used to it slowly so we have positive outcome.