I'm thinking of changing his name..

Mrs Beblo

Mrs Beblo

New member
Can't decide whether it should be "MATT" or Shaggy....
Any suggestions?
What's the deal with the matts lately? He started getting them in the spring. Sue M got them ALL out. We bought the Mars Coat King. I brush him *at least* twice a day, we don't have carpets (I was thinking maybe static?)
Could it be from all the rain that we've had this year?
I'm not talking those pesky behind the ears matts, I'm talking belly, butt, chest...everywhere!
Somebody??? Anybody???
 
luvxl k 9

luvxl k 9

New member
Apache is right there with him. I swear all I have to do is look at the boy and he gets all matted up. And yes we also have the MCK as well as various rakes and brushes and still he gets them.
 
SheilaT

SheilaT

New member
Ice on Ice helps with Riley's matt issues. Angus rarely gets them. I spray them down and rake them out almost every day.
 
ardeagold

ardeagold

New member
Get some Chris Christensen Ice on Ice. After all the mats are out...totally drench the areas that mat (I use a spray bottle and spray as I work through - usually the leg feathers...front and rear, butt area, groin, behind the ears, and sometimes the chest if the hair is long). Work through with your fingers...then comb through and let dry (or blow dry). Don't rinse out.

This is NOT slippery...no silicone...does NOT make the coat oily...and works WONDERS. You know how many dogs I have with heavy coats (if you don't...the number is 10). We get about one small tangle a month...per dog. They swim every day...and don't always get blown out...just toweled off.

You can do this weekly....if you want. I don't. I only apply it about once every 3 weeks after combing through the dogs. I just spray as I comb. It's fine to put on dry hair...or wet hair. But I think it works better if you use it when the dog is totally dry. If you run into a small mat or tangle then...spray it down, work it through, then wait a bit. Then work the mat out.

Also...make sure to apply it immediately after your dog gets bathed and is dried. I spray down the "matting" areas then. Conditioner does not keep mats from forming...Cole gets totally sprayed down with Ice on Ice the day we get home from a show, so I won't be battling mats before his next bath (which is in a week). Mats only take a day or so to form...and they can get really large and tight in that time, so I don't even let them get started.

I also don't brush the dogs...I comb them out. I only brush as a finishing touch. Combing gets each tangle as it's starting. You can feel a comb "catch" whereas a brush won't. I find that the Ice on Ice works better as a "preventative" than as a remedy if the dog's already matted. It does work. Try it.

Ice on Ice also keeps the coat from turning red from the sun. It keeps the dirt from sticking to them. It keeps the coat from breaking. Etc.

I get the concentrate and mix with water in a spray bottle as directed. One bottle will last one dog a long time.

Pricing seems to be the same everywhere, so I just order it from the Chris Christensen site itself.

http://www.chrissystems.com/iceonice1.htm
 
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Angela

Angela

Super Moderator
Just brushing doesn't work, you need to comb and or rake, a section at a time. Ice on Ice is great like Donna said.
I find Gracie is the worst for mats as she is spayed and the boys are intact, even so, they get some mats.
 
Mrs Beblo

Mrs Beblo

New member
Thanks Guys! I'm just amazed that they seemed to start out of nowhere. He used to only ever get matts behind his ears,but that was mostly because Lemony's always grabbing him there. Ever since the springtime, it's as if they're coming non stop! ~ And I can't blame Lemons because he hasn't been here so much after he broke his leg.
Buford does not have a thick coat, it's the straighter, silkier kind.
I wonder if it's because he's getting older? Can their coats change with age? If I just knew what was causing it, I'd know what I was dealing with!
Meanwhile, I'll get the Ice On Ice (and brush and brush and brush and brush some more)
 
Faye

Faye

New member
Molly has been getting matts all summer too. horrible and it does not seem to matter if I brush her 10 times a day.
 
R Taft

R Taft

Active member
victoria1140 said:
does anyone use anything else apart from ice on ice as we cant get that here in the uk
Click to expand...
Any horse product that helps with de-tangling manes and tails...........I have used a variety with success. I think one is called "mane n tail". I use a lot of stuff for our dogs that we have in our barn for the horses :) Ronnie
 
ardeagold

ardeagold

New member
Don't brush...COMB!!!

Separate the hair where it mats, and spray as you go. Spray it ALL first...rub through with your fingers...wait about 5 mins, and then start separating and then combing it section by section...down to the skin. You can do this ALL over the body, but especially on those areas that mat.

Brushing only gets the top layer.

Here's a comb you can use....it comes from PetSmart but you can find them everywhere.

One caution...never use a metal comb on dry hair. Only if it's wet (that's where the Ice on Ice comes in)

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752780

This has been a wet summer, overall. Especially this fall. They get damp, sit, lay down and the hair mats. Also if there's loose undercoat, it'll get all tangled up and cause mats too.

Combing the whole body, like I mentioned above, will get out the undercoat and the Ice on Ice will keep it from re-matting. But you do have to feel around and comb through every few days.

Hope this helps!

Mrs Beblo said:
Thanks Guys! I'm just amazed that they seemed to start out of nowhere. He used to only ever get matts behind his ears,but that was mostly because Lemony's always grabbing him there. Ever since the springtime, it's as if they're coming non stop! ~ And I can't blame Lemons because he hasn't been here so much after he broke his leg.
Buford does not have a thick coat, it's the straighter, silkier kind.
I wonder if it's because he's getting older? Can their coats change with age? If I just knew what was causing it, I'd know what I was dealing with!
Meanwhile, I'll get the Ice On Ice (and brush and brush and brush and brush some more)
Click to expand...
 
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msumner

msumner

New member
victoria1140 said:
does anyone use anything else apart from ice on ice as we cant get that here in the uk
Click to expand...
Cowboy Magic! - (or a strange combo of "organic evoo & apple cider vinegar rubbed into hands and then deep into the YAK areas . . . also on the food for internal).

The Ice on Ice hasn't done anything for me so far . . .
 
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