Ear Trims
- Thread starter fee26
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My Cozy with untrimmed ears? Never.
Any picture of our dogs with untrimmed ears is soley the fault of yours truly. Sometimes it just slips by and they don't get their trimming like they should. They look Sooo much better trimmed though.
If you don't have one get an electric trimmer. It takes me about an hour nd a half to trim both girls ears by hand, and about a half hour with the electric clipper. It took some time to get them used to it, but now it's a breeze!
GAD
Any picture of our dogs with untrimmed ears is soley the fault of yours truly. Sometimes it just slips by and they don't get their trimming like they should. They look Sooo much better trimmed though.
If you don't have one get an electric trimmer. It takes me about an hour nd a half to trim both girls ears by hand, and about a half hour with the electric clipper. It took some time to get them used to it, but now it's a breeze!
GAD
Jeannie
Super Moderator
To trim ears, hold the ear up and comb the hair down and trim off the excess that hangs below the ear leather. Trim all around the ear to neaten it up. Take the thinning shears and trim up all that long hair on the top of the ear. I also keep the hair around the ear canal cut very short. That helps the air get to the ear and helps prevent ear infections. Experiment a few times with the trimming. Remember if you make a mistake--you have an endless supply to practice with.
Jeannie
Jeannie
Thank you for your helpful responses. I took your advice, called up one last mental image of Cosette and proceeded to "trim" Claude's ears. The results are shocking! He doesn't loOK LIKE COZY!! He looks like the creature from the Black Lagoon!!! I was thinking that GAD must trim the hair on the tops of her ears to make it seem so short and glow-y. I mean, why else would it take an hour and a half if there was not a lot of cutting involved. I do not think that was the thing to do. He looks like I took a weed-whacker to his ears.:eek He is so funny looking, I cannot keep from laughing at him. I think Claude understood that I was laughing at him too because he tried to run away halfway through his appointment!
I wish I could send you all a picture of what I did. I just don't know how we will hold our heads up in doggie class tonight.
I'll bet Claude hopes that Spring Break will be over soon so that I will go back to work and leave him alone.
Thanks again. This was truly a learning experience.
I'll bet Claude hopes that Spring Break will be over soon so that I will go back to work and leave him alone.
Thanks again. This was truly a learning experience.
Jeannie
Super Moderator
don't be ashamed. In a few weeks it will all grow back and you can try again. Remember you should use thinning shears not scissors to trim the hair on top of the ears--that way they will not look like a weed wacker went through them. Keep practicing and it will get better and easier each time
Jeannie
Jeannie
Absolutely! Don't give up!
Cozy and Daisy didn't look good the first time we tried. We used normal scissors and MAN did they look goofey! They both sulked for days.
We got a pair of thinning shears that set us back about $90, but what a difference. What takes me so long is using the shears. They make it difficult for me to get a lot done quickly.
Yes I do trim the hair over and under their ears. Otherwise they have nice flat ears surrounded by bushy Newf-hair!
Imagine a hairy Newf statue and you need to trim away all the stuff that doesnt look like a newf.
Don't worry - if a dumb old man like me can do it...
-GAD-
Cozy and Daisy didn't look good the first time we tried. We used normal scissors and MAN did they look goofey! They both sulked for days.
We got a pair of thinning shears that set us back about $90, but what a difference. What takes me so long is using the shears. They make it difficult for me to get a lot done quickly.
Yes I do trim the hair over and under their ears. Otherwise they have nice flat ears surrounded by bushy Newf-hair!
Imagine a hairy Newf statue and you need to trim away all the stuff that doesnt look like a newf.
Don't worry - if a dumb old man like me can do it...
-GAD-
I'm so glad I saw this here. Our newfie, Xena, is just over a year old. Last summer with the puppy hair we had no pronlem keeping the tangles out, but then winter came, and the hair behind her ears started getting matted. Not wanting to hurt the pour dear, I brushed out all the top hair and left the knots thinking they would "grow out", so I could cut them with scissors.
Now I'm so embarrased - it's like there is a second ear behind her ear, it's so matted. SO Last week I cut it down to about 2 inches, and brushed. Xena doesn't mind being brushed, BUT she hates when I'm pulling behind her ears, so I left it.
If I cut the whole thing off she'd only five 1/2 fur over the skin behind her ear. But I'm no longer hopeful of it ever getting better unless I do.
ADVICE PLEASE!! both on what to do, and how to be sure it doesn't happen again "cut as soon as you get a little knot you can't brish out"
Thanks. And please don't be too harsh, I've never had such a hairry dog.
Now I'm so embarrased - it's like there is a second ear behind her ear, it's so matted. SO Last week I cut it down to about 2 inches, and brushed. Xena doesn't mind being brushed, BUT she hates when I'm pulling behind her ears, so I left it.
If I cut the whole thing off she'd only five 1/2 fur over the skin behind her ear. But I'm no longer hopeful of it ever getting better unless I do.
ADVICE PLEASE!! both on what to do, and how to be sure it doesn't happen again "cut as soon as you get a little knot you can't brish out"
Thanks. And please don't be too harsh, I've never had such a hairry dog.
Jeannie
Super Moderator
I get so many dog in my shop with matts behind the ears. The only humane thing you can do is shave the matt out with clippers. Do not try to use scissors because the matt is most likely to the skin and you will cut you dog. Start by trying to use a 10 blade and if you cannot get it out use a 15 blade. If you have to see if your local groomer can shave them out for you. You will have a bald spot behind the ear, but if you don't get it out NOW it will only get worse and worse. don't try to comb it out either. It is too painful for the dog. You can trim the long hairs around the ear so the bald spot is not as noticeable.
Prevention is the best cure for matts behind the ear. You have to comb (comb not brush) the hair behind the ear faithfully. I will matt very easily as you already know. Also if you don't show you dog you can keep that hair trimmed neatly so it is easier to care for. Good luck in getting them out and then remember comb.....comb......comb
Jeannie
Prevention is the best cure for matts behind the ear. You have to comb (comb not brush) the hair behind the ear faithfully. I will matt very easily as you already know. Also if you don't show you dog you can keep that hair trimmed neatly so it is easier to care for. Good luck in getting them out and then remember comb.....comb......comb
Jeannie
Hey, no one is mean to anyone here. I think GAD would boot them right out!!
To get that mess out, try to take a few cuts with your scissors toward her skin, but be very careful not to cut her skin! Then, with a metal comb or a rake, tease those tangles out. You should be able to get it that way. Don't worry if you have to cut it and there's nothing left. Fur grows back.
To prevent matts, just make it a routine to comb that area with a fine metal comb at least every few days. The other places to watch are her pants and inside her elbows. Do you have a rake? I truly don't know how I lived without mine! I use a Twinco rake- wooden handle with 2 rows of nails set in a V shape- first, then I go through with the Millers Forge rake- white plastic handle with 2 straight rows of nails. The 2nd one gets even more of the dead hair out. Another handy tool is a Matt Rake- blue handle with blades. Again, be careful not to cut either the dog or yourself. Those blades are sharp!! If you rake your Newf out every week, you won't have matts.
Good luck, and give her a hug for me.
Lynne
To get that mess out, try to take a few cuts with your scissors toward her skin, but be very careful not to cut her skin! Then, with a metal comb or a rake, tease those tangles out. You should be able to get it that way. Don't worry if you have to cut it and there's nothing left. Fur grows back.
To prevent matts, just make it a routine to comb that area with a fine metal comb at least every few days. The other places to watch are her pants and inside her elbows. Do you have a rake? I truly don't know how I lived without mine! I use a Twinco rake- wooden handle with 2 rows of nails set in a V shape- first, then I go through with the Millers Forge rake- white plastic handle with 2 straight rows of nails. The 2nd one gets even more of the dead hair out. Another handy tool is a Matt Rake- blue handle with blades. Again, be careful not to cut either the dog or yourself. Those blades are sharp!! If you rake your Newf out every week, you won't have matts.
Good luck, and give her a hug for me.
Lynne