Grooming

[TMmom]

Good morning all,

I have my first TM and am curious as to which brushes or rakes are the best for grooming a TM? I also have a Sheltie and groom her at home every couple days and now also do the TM, but want to make sure I am using the correct tools. Any advice?

 

[ruthcatrin]

I use a pin brush, similar to this, and a rake like this one. I also have a longer tined rake, that I use on his tail and ruff, but I found that at a local show and haven't yet found it online to link to. Some folks also use metal tined comb for areas behind the ears and the like. And I find that a slicker brush can come in handy for areas like the short ruff on the sides of his face during shed, though if I didn't already have one I don't know that I'd bother to buy one.

Tools like the furminator don't work well on TMs, partially because they can actually damage the outer coat, and partially because the TMs coat is SO thick, the furminator just can't reach deep enough. I've used one on the short coat on Apollo's legs, but otherwise I find them pretty useless on these dogs.

Get your TM used to having her britches and tail groomed NOW or you'll regret it later. Directly behind the ears is the other spot that'll tend to mat.

I highly recommend Chris Christensen's Ice on Ice for use on their tail and britches and any other spots that mat. If you've never used it before buy the Ready To Use bottle first, pour it into a standard spray bottle for easy use (I hate the pump sprays that all this stuff comes with). If you like it, keep the RTU bottle cause it has easy instructions on it for making up more from the concentrate, and just buy a bottle of concentrate. Its MUCH cheaper that way!

For bathing I use Chris Christensen's Spectrum One Course Coat shampoo (and use the matching conditioner on his britches and tail and ruff). I prefer it because it not only does a nice job on his coat but also doesn't have much smell. However if you're ok with (or prefer) perfumy shampoos then Crown Royale's Formula 3 also works very well on their coats. I've tried a couple others, but I have issues with most of the perfumes used in these so those are the only two that I've used for any length of time.

Did you post pictures of your baby somewhere that I missed? Where did you get him/her from?

 

[ruthcatrin]

Oh, your TM probly won't need a bath any more often than every 3 to 4 months or so unless they get into something nasty. Mud will brush right out of their coat as soon as it dries.

 

[TMmom]

Here you go. She's so sweet. I posted them with my profile and also in the TM pictures. I got her from CA-Flashpoint Ranch. How do you feel about having her groomed at the groomers I use for the Sheltie?

 

[ruthcatrin]

*shrug* up to you. I've always done all Apollo's grooming, though I did recently price out what he'd cost to have done at a local shop just in case something happens and we can't do it ourselves.

I've never groomed a sheltie (or any of the collie types for that matter), so I can't compare. Make sure they don't do any clipping, and trimming should be limited to her feet and "neatening". These dogs don't grow in their outer coat every year, so if they trim it down to far she could be naked for the winter.

 

[ruthcatrin]

We brush Apollo once a week as long as he's not shedding. But you could go even a few weeks without brushing (during non-shedding season) with no problems. I use the weekly brush as part of my regular check him over for "stuff", and I find he handles the brushing of his tail better if I keep it up regularly rather than let it go. Her first summer though, keep an eye on the spots right behind her ears, Apollo matted BADLY and constantly there his first summer, though he's never had problems since.

 

[ruthcatrin]

For comparison's purposes: out side of TM shedding season my Himalayan cat takes more time and energy to groom than my TM does.

 

[TMmom]

Yes, you are right. Behind her ears is giving me such a fit. I thought I was doing something wrong. I use a dematting tool behind her ears and she is not happy about it. Roughly how long is shedding season? Usually when does it start and stop?Thank you for such useful information.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Comb out behind her ears every day with a fine toothed comb, and pick up some of the Ice on Ice for use when it does start to matt on you.

Keep in mind that last year's shed was screwed all to hell (and every single TM owner I know, world wide, agrees), and my weird weather appears to have messed with Apollo's shed this year. And that I'm further north and colder than you (upstate NY). Apollo usually starts showing signs of loose coat in the mid to end of March. But doesn't usually start to truely BLOW his coat till the end of April at least. Length depends, in general, a couple months, but weather can and does screw with them. Apollo JUST YESTERDAY blew his britches, even though I'd have said he was otherwise done by mid-July this year (he didn't even really start truely blowing his coat till the end of May this year, though I was seeing some small amounts of loose fur at the end of March).

The rest of the year, I barely get so much as a single hair off of him when I brush him.

 

[TMmom]

Do you think her being an inside dog will play any role in this? We take walks but, if put out in the yard Laufey usually only goes out briefly if it's too warm. Just to do her business and then she wants back in with the rest of us. Spoiled.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Apollo's a mostly indoor dog, and yah, he doesn't care for the summer heat eitehr!

 

[elastigirl]

Very, very late responding, but just wanted to say that Ivy mats badly behind the ears too. I finally decided it was easier to clip them out. It's just not worth the fight and honestly, her fur is so thick you can't tell.

 

[TMmom]

I do brush her frequently and trim her nails, all not a problem, but she still gets mats behind the ears. I did let the groomer work on her for deshedding and the poor lady was at her coat all day. I just laughed, because her coat is crazy thick.

 

[Catia]

Count Tessa in on the ear fur matting up too, and back of her legs-the pantaloons.
This year was her 1st shed.

I've found a few things help a lot in getting that coat to blow once it starts--
if your pooch enjoys swimming, your life will be easier-because this is the best way to loosen it.
A nice bath a day or two after swimming, with a conditioning rinse to help the fur slip out faster--and believe me it will.

Don't get sucked in by all of the super expensive marketing tactics for pet shampoos-they are basically the same exact ingredients as human shampoos.

I use johnson & Johnsons (calming lavender scent) baby shampoo--this way I can get a really good thorough face & head scrub & never worry about her eyes getting burned like with regular shampoo. Less than ~3.79 for the 20oz bottle at Walmart--and made in Canada
Since Tessa has never had her eyes burn from shampoo, she has no qualms about getting her face scrubbed. The lavender scent is light & lovely.
This is my #1 favorite shampoo to use on dogs.

For conditioner, when I use it, I just use either a cheap bottle of Suave or VO5 or White Rain, in whatever scent I like--at about $1 a bottle, I can use 1/2 the bottle if I want.

I know there's a lot of groomers who use all kinds of expensive niche market products, but I don't want a poofy, brushed out, blown dry look, I like Tessa's natural coat without poof & blow dry.
I've yet to find any human conditioners that dulled or weighted down her fur. None ever looked greasy, so don't fret about using what you've got.

By accident, I came across Suave kids detangler spray, cost is less than $2.
It is hypoallergenic (to human kids) & also tear free.
It is cheap at walmart or the grocery store, & has Amodiethicone in it, along with other stuff. This is the same ingredient in *Show Season's Chrome Coat*...
It works wonders for spots like behind the ears, back of legs & tail.
Only thing that bumms me out is that it only comes in 2 scents right now, a berry & an apple.
The smell is strong & fruity when wet--but it dries just about scentless. Thank God!
It doesn't leave a build up & gives a ton of slip--even to that tail fur! It helps repel dirt & tangles.

Loreal Kids also has an Orange Mango Smoothie 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner/detangler. Also tear free. Doesn't smell bad at all-mellow citrusy like smell.

Now I'm on a mission for a human spray on detangler that I like the smell of, or is completely unscented.
The stores around here do not carry the Johnson's & Johnson's tear free detangler--& I'm really wanting to try that one out on her.

Mane & Tail shampoo was great, but I found their conditioner did not give enough 'slip' to help the shed, or to do a good job of helping to detangle, so not worth it for a TM coat--but nice for a no build up light conditioner for me since I have fine hair...

 

[Hector]

Now I'm on a mission for a human spray on detangler that I like the smell of, or is completely unscented.
The stores around here do not carry the Johnson's & Johnson's tear free detangler--& I'm really wanting to try that one out on her.

Mane & Tail shampoo was great, but I found their conditioner did not give enough 'slip' to help the shed, or to do a good job of helping to detangle, so not worth it for a TM coat--but nice for a no build up light conditioner for me since I have fine hair...

Catia, have you looked into hylyt bath spray products? It works pretty well on my dogs. Don't over do it and I don't know how well it will work on a TM, but it works well on my belgian. It is coconut scented.