When do you start with the Mars stripper?

[shellyk]

Our puppy is 20 weeks and only is starting to get adult fur on her tail and down the middle of her back. It seems too soon to start stripping but I don't have any experience. Her butt area is looking really fluffy and I wonder if this is an area that could be stripped? I haven't ordered the stripper yet because it seemed so big and I didn't want to scare her with it. Also I don't want to buy two different sizes - puppy and adult? Is this something I should be doing now so she will get used to it?

 

[BlackLightning]

Some Newfs never require the use of an MCK! It depends on the coat, but 20 weeks is too young in my opinion. I rarely use my MCK and my guys are 4 years old. It does work well to thin the chest and the pants, etc, but I really only use it if I am seeing a ton of volume. Otherwise, I just shape with thinning shears and make sure to fully comb out with a greyhound comb.

If you are simply trying to remove bulk, I'd start by line combing. That bulk might be nothing more than dead undercoat. I am amazed by how much less 'bulky' my guys look after a really good combing. I wouldn't use the MCK in replacement of just regular line combing. It really should be used sparingly to avoid damaging the guard hairs.

I am sure there are some great stories on here of the "MCK gone wrong"

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Do you have a rake? It's still the puppy coat and I would only comb out at this point. I didn't start using the coat king until they were around 2 or 3, but that's just me. I bought the 18" double wide, only really use once or twice a year unless I make a boo-boo then I use it to blend

 

[nowhavethreebears]

Ageed. At five months she's too young for much vigorous grooming. I have the double wide MKC but rarely use it.

The undercoat rake is your friend.