Grooming rant and question: Which tool?

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by MandiesMom

Thanks for the tip on the Pet Silk Silk Serum. Where do you buy that? Do you sell it?

Jenny sells it too at toplinepet.com

I have a couple larger bottles left.

[MyDearSam]

Originally Posted by chachi

I have a dematting comb a regular one and love it. Its not hard to use or dangerous. A small one would probably come in handy for matts that are close to the skin. You just put the dematting comb in toward the skin and at the beginning of the matt and pull the comb through the matt gently. you do lose a tiny bit of hair because your breaking the matt but it isnt noticable or anything your gonna give a second thought to. I have used it on jewels and she has never yelped in pain from cutting through the matts. People that dont use them think they dont need them but they sure do save you from having to get them shaved down.

Thanks, chachi. I think I'm just going to order both sizes and see which works for me. Hopefully that, along with some of the other tips given, will help us not have to deal with this any more!

[MandiesMom]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Jenny sells it too at toplinepet.com

I have a couple larger bottles left.

Oh, I'll have to check both of your sites out. I thought Jenny quit carrying Pet Silk.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by MyDearSam

I have a Safari comb and absolutely love it. Can you use baby powder corn starch? It's amazing how many things I've found in the 2 year old's room that I can use on Sam, LOL. I do want to get a Madan brush from Jenny, though.

Holding the hair isn't possible at this point because it's so tight against his skin. Some of the knots are about 1/4" away, so just enough room to get the scissors in there.

That can be tough. Careful with scissors. It is very easy to cut skin that close.

I would buy a can of plain corn starch. Baby powder has stuff in it that you don't want your pup inhaling.

[MyDearSam]

Oh, it's not traditional baby powder! What I have is just corn starch with a very slight lavendar scent.

[chachi]

Originally Posted by MyDearSam

Thanks, chachi. I think I'm just going to order both sizes and see which works for me. Hopefully that, along with some of the other tips given, will help us not have to deal with this any more!

Another thing I do is have my comb out and after i use the dematting comb I will slide my comb through that area to make sure I got all of the matt. If not Ill take the dematting comb through it again

[Adamsfly]

Oakley doesn't like to get brushed and I have tried everything. Sometimes I let him nibble my fingers but since I was trying to train him not to bite, I decided to try something else. Every evening about 6:45 it's brush time. I fill his little Kong toy with peanut butter and let me just say this, I can brush, comb or do anything I want as long as he's got peanut butter to lick. It's funny because after he's all nice and brushed, I'm having to wipe his mouth because he's got peanut butter on him, lol.

[MandiesMom]

Originally Posted by MandiesMom

Oh, I'll have to check both of your sites out. I thought Jenny quit carrying Pet Silk.

Just wanted to correct my own self here. I have a terrible memory. It was the top knot gel that she quit carrying. Just got done browsing both of your sites and between you two and some sewing gals, I have a feeling my paycheck tomorrow is already gone lol

[rubynrosie]

Terri I just got done reading your post about your talk with Mandie! Oh how I would love to be a fly at your house!!!! Im still laughing!!!!

[mimimomo]

If the mats are to the skin on over 50% of his body, I would shave his hair off & start fresh. Puppy hair is a nightmare to keep tangle free anyway...this way, you can train him to like grooming time, instead of ouch time. If it's something you can trim off w/out him looking like he has mange loll, trim it w/blunt nosed scissors. It's better than trying to work out a mat that's to the skin or using a dematting tool which basically rips out the hair. You can brush out mats w/the small Madan brush too if he lets you. Just spray a conditioning spray directly on the mat & line brush. Lift up the section of hair & brush downwards in layers. Brushing this way ensures that all the hair is smoothed out. If he's a wiggle worm, place him on your lap, hold him against your stomach & gently brush the other side. BTW, I don't have Pet Silk serums, all sold out & I am not going to carry PS anymore.