brushing

[dmcgynn]

Hi Jake is doing great here he is just so gentle and sweet. I have been brushing him a little each day is there any hints you can give me on how to do this properly, he keeps biting at the brush I give him something else to chew on which last about 20 secs. I also have just put a little pressure on his scruff with one hand while I brush with the other. I just want him to get used to the brushing and be doing it the right way.

Thanks
Diane

 

[Juli]

Hi Diane,
Congrats on the new puppy. It seems only yesterday I was here obsessing and stressing over my new guy! A few months goes by and you're an old pro

When Satchel was a wee one I brushed him at the same time every AM. After his morning biz,drink of H2O and a little play. We did a "settle" exercise and then brushed. Just a little bit at a time and then added a few minutes each day (don't forget the soothing voice and treats) After a few months he was snoring thru his grooming session and looking forward to our bonding time. Consistency has really helped with any training we have done with him. I wish the kids would respond so well to freeze dried liver! Enjoy him!

 

[Jeannie]

OK The mistake I see a lot of people make is they try to groom their dogs on the floor or in their laps. The floor and laps are for play and love not for grooming. You need to get a space--bath mat on the dryer, table of some sort--any place where Jake is up and out of his territory. He will soon learn that this place is for standing and being groomed NOT for play.

Remember that you still have a puppy. You cannot expect him to stand for any length of time. Even one minute at this age is a wonderful accomplishiment. Treats and lots of praise goes a long long way. I would first just train him to stand with out much emphasis on brushing. Trying to do too many things at one time can really stress a puppy. But it IS good that you are starting now on the brushing. It will soon become just a part of life--some day.

Another thing, be sure you brush or comb (pin brush is ok for now but as the hair grows you WILL need to invest in a comb) from the skin out. Most matting occurs near the skin where most people fail to comb thoroughly. Don't forget the under arms and between the back legs.

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Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda www.newfland.com

[This message has been edited by jggrosch (edited 04-07-2002).]

 

[Kodiak]

Question: Besides going to the groomers, Kodi gets brushed regularly. I've noticed on the top middle section of his back, he's loosing his long wavey hair

This shorter hair is like duck down, very soft and feels like cotton and is only about 1 1/2 inches long. Both his shoulders and rear still have lots of long black wavey hair. Is this hair loss normal for a male Newfie? I don't want to panic just yet. He'll be a year old on April 16th. Thanks for any help

Brenda and Kodi

 

[Maggiesmom]

I came up with a alternate solution cuz I dont have a place to put them up, I would LOVE a grooming table but A-I dont have one and B-I dont have a place to put it (although I'm sure if needed I could find a place

) I have a spare bedroom that they have their doggie stuff in. We dont go in there with them EXCEPT when its grooming time. I take them in there one at a time and we spend about 1/2 hour each brushing and clipping and trimming etc. Since thats the only thing WE do in there they understand that when WE are in there is brushin time with mommy....

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Shawn....
Maggie, JoJo, Alex, & Destiny too
http://www.geocities.com/furrycritterspage/furrycritterspage.html

 

[Jeannie]

Brenda,
It is NOT normal for any dog to loose large amounts of the long guard hairs. I would contact your vet and get a complete blood count including Thyroid. Sara and Panda had the same thing, losing guard hairs, and they have low thyroid. On both my girls I could just grab the hair, pull and get a handful of guard hairs. That is what I mean about losing guard hairs, losing a few is normal.

If I did read you post correctly you stated that he was 1 year old. I assume he has blown his puppy fur by now, if not, then that could be the reason and there is no need to see a vet.

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Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda
www.newfland.com

 

[Kodiak]

Jeannie, when Kodi's littermates were growing their long hair, he was not (he had the hair of a flat coated retriever). He finally started getting a coat around 9 months of age. Long wavey hairs started growing from his tail up to his neck, then grew down his sides and some of the feathering started on his legs. He was groomed 2 weeks ago and the middle of the back long hairs were there then, but they're missing now in one big area. The shorter hair in question is like duck down, very soft. I tried tugging at his hair but only get a few strands. When "blowing" his coat, what would he look like? Do they loose the long guard hairs? Should I wait to see if he starts loosing more hair before having a thyroid test done? My husband brushes him regularly with the pin brush, is this OK? I'm trying not to panic just yet!

Brenda and Kodi

 

[Juli]

Jeannie,
Couple of questions;
1. Could you tell me exactly what type of comb I should buy or be looking for.
2. I have been brushing him on the patio table and would like to invest in a grooming table. The person at the usual catalog place I use said most of the grooming tables are not sturdy enough for the weight of a Newf and suggested I build one or try Sett-r-rite.com (?) because they were built extremely well. Any suggestions?
3. When I brush him, he falls asleep standing up, snoring and the works. Should I insist he stay alert?
Thanks

 

[Jeannie]

I will answer all the questions that I can in this on reply. (I don't know everything--Sarnewfie can you add a few ideas??)
First, when a dog blows coat they are shedding the UNDERCOAT. Undercoat is the soft fuzzy hairs near the skin. Usually it is lighter than the guard hairs. No they should not shed guard hairs. The hairs could have gotten broken off for some reason. Since you cannot "pull" many guard hairs out I would wait and see. Many times it a dog rubs against somthing the guard hairs may break off leaving patches. They can look really bad when blowing coat. The best thing is to comb it out or use a high volocity dryer to blow it out. Yes it is easier said than done, but the hair has to come out somehow sometime.

As far as a comb to purchase I use a Greyhound comb. The course/medium teeth. I also use a pin brush (got mine from Avon--great because it is guaranteed for life--they have replaced it three times for me)but never a slicker brush on the coat because I think it breaks off the hairs.

Grooming tables? I have a hydrolic one that raises and lowers. Cost is about $300-400. Many people use regular grooming tables for newfs. I have one that I take places and there is no problem as far as the table holding the dog. Choose one that has the largest table area you can find AND try to get one that has adjustable legs. (Or you can cut the legs shorter on a standard table) Lowering the legs does 2 things, makes it easier to get the newf on the table and lowers the center of gravity so the table is less likely to tip. Hey if your newf is so relaxed while grooming that he falls asleep let him. Many times I comb (not groom) my girls as they are laying on their sides. In fact I find this way much easier to thoroughly comb the belly and between the legs. I comb one side then have them lay on the other side and comb that side. They usually fall asleep. So if you are just combing you newf and the dog relaxes and sleeps you don't really need a table. If you are actually cutting the hair or your newf is not cooperating then yes a table is a must.

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Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda
www.newfland.com

 

[Kodiak]

I'm sorry, but I have another question. In the "short hair" area, Kodi is now covered with small white flakes that you can't miss on a black coat

Upon parting his short hairs I noticed his skin is flaking. His skin is fine where the long hairs are. Could this be soap left on by his grooming or dry skin? I've yet to see him scratch the area. If it's dry skin, what do I add to his food or rub into his coat? Any help would be appreciated...thank you

Brenda

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

I don't know if I have much to add here, but one of my black dogs has the white flakies. He always seems to have them and they don't seem to amount to much or cause any problem. But since I have been adding vitamin E to his diet, I have seen an improvement. Since it seems all this has started since he was groomed, could he be having a bad reaction to the shampoo or something. Maybe you could find out what was used and ask Jeannie. Are there hypo-allergenic shampoos for dogs? Good luck!
Lynn

 

[Kodiak]

Lynn, I'll try the vitamin E added to his food and also call the groomer to see what type of shampoo she used. He had no reaction the first time he was groomed, so I'm hoping maybe it's just shampoo that didn't get rinsed off throughly. Thanks

Brenda

 

[Jeannie]

Is the skin red or have red bumps? If there are bumps are they crusty? Could be a bacterial infection. A trip to the vet may be in order is it gets worse. Usually antibiotics and a good medicated shampoo will do the trick. Sara tends to get those bumps and white flakes. I use a Cholorhexadine shampoo that i get from the vet. (I buy it by the gallon and always keep it on hand.) If it is not real bad you may be able to buy the shampoo with a vet visit and get cleared up without antibiotics. I also notice that when Sara has this condition she is usually blowing coat.

I would try the vitamins as well as adding oil to their food. I add a can of tuna once a week. Also ask your groomer about a hot oil treatment.




------------------
Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda
www.newfland.com

 

[Kodiak]

I will check for little red bumps and also check with his groomer to see what shampoo she uses. If I find red bumps, then it's off to the vet. I like the idea of the Vitamin E and adding a can of tuna to his dinner once a week. Thank you

Brenda

 

[Kodiak]

No red bumps, but alot of white flakes. Groomer was closed today, but I will check out what shampoo she used on Kodi.

Brenda