Mars Coat King

[Puppypeoplenj]

Okay, since joining this forum, I have heard all about the miracle that is the mars coat king. I understand that it gets underhair out and that it can be over-used and thin the coat. My question for you all is, where in your grooming routine does this tool come in? As in, in what order do you use your tools, MCK included? Right now we're slicker, rake, then comb. I know we should also get a pin brush, correct? Brand suggestions for that are welcome, too. I'm basically trying to figure out the best way to get out all this undercoat since we don't have a dryer and likely won't for a long while.

I don't mind the 10-month old half puppy/half adult thing he's rocking right now, but his butt area is driving me nuts! It looks horrible no matter what I do. It's dry and coarse and never lays flats and shiny like the rest of his coat. It reminds me of a yak. Orca is still intact, if that's relevant. I'm hoping the MCK will be the answer to this problem.

 

[Senea]

I'd love the answer to the butt question. Taver is 18 months and his end looks like a wide load.

 

[AngusMcDubhsMom]

My Gracie has the "yak butt" too. I don't know of a "cure" for it, but it helps me to spritz her with a leave in conditioner like Ice on Ice or Mane and Tail conditioner so it's not so dry. I generally use the MCK when she's blowing coat (the big shed in spring and fall) to get the undercoat out. Then finish off with the rake. I judge by her coat what tools to use. Daily brushing I use the slicker, then rake and comb for tougher spots.

 

[Aika]

Oh I'm glad to hear other Newfies also have crazy butt hair. Aika 's butt hair is not soft and shinny like the rest of her body and it does stick up. The worst part is how smelly it can also get and the dandruff. Thanks to some tips I got from a Newfie owner I met in IG I seem to be doing better in this area. I switched to using a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar after she gets wet, I also use mink oil and on a daily basis I use a leave in Conditioner. Her hair still not like the rest of her body but at least is soft and it smells good. The dandruff has also stopped.
As for brushing, I use a groomer's stone every morning and a straight brush followed by a rake in the evenings (this is also when I spray her with the oil).

 

[wrknnwf]

Her fur will change, I'm sure. She probably still has puppy coat back there. Butt and shoulders seem to be the last areas to change. A couple of seasonal sheds will make a difference. I don't think the MCK will help with that problem at this point. However, it will be good in the future. Know that it can break the hairs and shorten the coat some, so it may make the problem worse at first.

It is good for undercoat removal and can be used at any point in grooming if you have areas that need it. I rarely use it all over the body and never on bony areas like legs. I find that a comb and slicker are all that I need in addition to a really good pair of curved shears and thinning shears. However, I do use a smaller MKC under the ears just behind the cheek area. Helps keep that area shorter and less prone to mats. But every dog is different and each has it's own coat dilemmas.

Mostly I use a comb all over the body. The slicker comes in handy on small mats that need to be teased apart and for raising the fur between the toes for scissoring. The curved shears are great for trimming ear fringe and the bottoms of feet or cutting apart bigger mats into smaller sections and for trimming feathers. The thinners are indispensable for trimming long ear flap hair (after brushing up with the slicker) and the tops of feet (once the hair is combed up with the slicker) and for evening out the coat if it looks choppy.

Get Jeannie's (our NN moderator) grooming video or refer to some of the other videos mentioned in older posts. I think Bettina had a good website on grooming and there are some others, too. Also check YouTube. I'm sure you can find something there.

Anyway, be patient with the butt fuzz. It will probably go away in time. I remember when I first showed Piper as a pup and that was one of my problem grooming areas. I draped a heavy towel over her flanks while I dried her. Helped the fur lay down some. But it always popped up again after a while. hahahaha.

 

[jolliz]

I have found a steel comb works best for me, and after I get the mats, tangles, and undercoat out, I use the Mars Coat King to thin the hair on her chest and pantaloons.

Lately, because of my arthritis, grooming is getting hard, so we've been taking her into a groomer for a bath and some electric clipping to thin down her coat, particularly her pantaloons. She has such a lovely, thick coat, I hate to do it but it hurts me to comb too much. Once trimmed down I can manage her coat pretty well. She loves being groomed.

Our first Newf Mudge had terrible allergies and never had a full coat. I always wanted a Newf with a great coat, and I got one in Izzy!