does matted hair mean they have to be shaved?

[kenshinvt]

My fiancee took Gir to go get his first haircut yesterday. He is now around 4 months old. She got a call back from the groomer that his hair was matted and it would be too painful, etc. for him if she brushed it out. Therefore, she needed to shave him.

My fiancee stopped by and the groomer showed her some minor matting on his legs and stomach. We usually brush him with a soft bristled brush and hadn't noticed any substantial matting. Definitely not enough to really catch the brush. The groomer said soft bristled brushes tend to "give" over the matted areas, so you don't notice it's there.

So Gir is now completely shaved, except for his face which is closely cropped. He looks ridiculous.. like a miniature schnauzer or perhaps a lion. Is this the normal/accepted way to deal with any perceived matting? A close-to-the-skin shave? Part of me feels suspicious that this groomer was just opting for a lazy way out of the puppy cut we requested.. Then again, I don't groom dogs for a living.

[my2boyz]

Lots of groomers take the easy way out and shave dogs...less time on each dog means more time for more dogs = more money. Not too many groomers want to take the time to brush through tangles but tangles and mats can usually be brushed out if you shake a little corn starch on the matted area and brush with a pin brush. I don't use soft bristled brushed because they don't get all the way through the coat. My Biewer girls have a ton of hair and they're losing their puppy fuzz so that tends to tangle easily but I used the corn starch and pin brush and they came right out.

Lots of groomers call the cut you got a 'puppy' cut but if they shave them I think they just took the easy way out. To me a puppy cut should be fluffy and cute...not shaved to the skin.

[Nancy1999]

Your wise to keep an open mind about this, I used the wrong type of brush when I first started to groom Joey, and brush type is extremely important, furthermore you also need to follow brushing with a comb that it placed next to the skin, as this really shows the areas where tangling has started. There are certain areas such as under the arms, that tend to mat faster, and you should carefully inspect any of the area that were previously matted. Most puppies will mat, as they get older, only cotton coats mat badly and silky coats hardly ever tangle or mat.

There are certain products that you can uses before shampooing to comb out any mats, such as Cowboy Magic. Once you get a mat wet, it's even more difficult to remove, so thoroughly inspect before bathing, and make sure you use a good conditioner after shampooing and don't forget to rinse really well. I recommend investing in a good pin brush. The pin brushes sold at pet stores can be very scratchy if you brush your arm with them, a good pin brush has specially polished tips that won't scratch your dog. Many people love the CC pin brush, but I have found that the lesser-known Madden pin brush is an excellent choice as well. To answer your question there are matting combs that have a blade that will cut the hair, and can be used if the mat is not too close to the skin, however with multiple mats, shaving is usually the best option, as this causes the dog less pain. It's not that unusual for someone to have to have their dog shaved once as a puppy, because as I stated earlier puppies seem to mat easier than adult hair. Clothing also promotes matting, so you might want to pay extra attention if your dog wears clothes. By the way some people love the lion cut. I want to see a picture.

[tishas_star]

I've read to brush them with a leave in conditioner or water at least then when you think you have out any snarls to use a comb over them. If you find a matt work from the tips down after parting it into smaller sections. Sorry they shaved your baby. I find snarls on my baby in the same spots.

[Punkin&Piper]

Thats what happend to me when Piper went for her 1st haircut i dropped off a littlt black and gray dog and got back a solid gray dog w/ no hair and I keep them both that way now. Its low maintenance

[iuplori]

Selah's puppy coat was always getting matted, and so when her adult coat broke, we had to practically have her shaved to get the mats out- it was easier on the dog then waiting for us to pick through the mats. Now her adult coat stays nice with just daily combing.

[kenshinvt]

here's a pic

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by kenshinvt

here's a pic

When we first got Pebbles I also used a soft human brush and never realized he was matted. I learned the hard way after he needed to be shaved too. He's adorable and it will grow back. Nancy1999 is so right on with everything she said and very knowledgable so if I were you I would take her advice and run with it.

In the very least, if you have been brushing daily even with a soft brush just the exposure to brushing is excellent even if he needed to be shaved.

[RachelGenson]

Oh my gosh, she is still a cutie!!

[chachi]

If there are too many matts or the matts are close to the skin then yes it is best to have them shaved. In the future use a comb first then a brush for finishing. Its also good to use a detangler or conditioning spray

[GurleyGirl]

She looks so cute with her new cut! I always have my pups shaved down around 4 to 6 months old.... the new hair is always so much nicer than the puppy hair..... although they usually come back with a different hair color(lighter) after the shave down.

You'll be surprised how fast her hair will grow and how much nicer it will be.

She is a doll!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by kenshinvt

here's a pic

What a little darling, it does look like her adult coat will be silky, she is so tiny what a cutie, I love her little charm necklace, and she looks very trendy. You might want to get a little shirt if she will spend much time in the sun, or air conditioning. Many people who dress their dogs keep their coats clipped short, and this is usually the best option for a cotton coat. Does her charm say "GR" sounds a little lion-like.

[Deenie]

I had trouble with Guinness at first too, using the wrong type of brush and wrong shampoo. Invest in the Pet Silk shampoo and conditioner, leave it on for like even just a minute and you will notice a HUGE change.

Guinness got one of those cuts, too. It's not Yorkieish but it looks cute on him with his Ozzie top (it's all wavy). The hair will grow back honey (((hugs)))

[JeanieK]

he is so young it will grow back quickly. Now you can start fresh and you know what to watch for. Trying to comb matts out of a puppy that age would have been a real battle and he might have ended up hating to be groomed so It's best this way.

[Joeysmom]

I don't think you HAVE to shave them... the groomer probably can't afford to spend the time it takes to get them out gently. Phoebe gets mats, esp. if I don't groom her every few days. It's not that time consuming if you keep after them all the time. I have to use a comb, and I'm very gentle and slow about it so that it doesn't hurt her. I also started daily grooming when I got her at 13 weeks so she would be acclimated to the sensation. She's a dream girl.

Still...if I get behind on the mats, it will only take me a half hour or so to de-mat her without cutting her hair off! I find it frustrating that as expensive as grooming costs, they won't spend the time doing that to preserve the coat. Then again, maybe some groomers do.

Just my opinion..and your little boy is adorable even without hiscoat!

deb