Tips on keeping leg and chest hair untangled?

[dollydoodle]

Originally Posted by ShowGirlLola

Can you give more details? Lola knots a lot around the area where a collar would go and the hair between her face and neck.

Though Dolly's hair looks like it's all long the tricks I use as described in #8 make it thinner in some places so it's much easier to take care of.

For the top of her back/back of her neck I do a layered cut. Because her hair is pretty straight cutting that hair shorter will hardly be noticeable at all. (Think about a human haircut & how it can be layered-there are probably lots of videos available showing how to layer hair.) I take the entire amount of hair from the top of her back & hold it up to see how the rest of her hair will look without this big chunk being full length. Once I've decided how much hair isn't needed I start layering it a little at a time by holding it out to the side & cutting it at an angle. Now the harness won't mess it up so much. Good luck!!

[dollydoodle]

Originally Posted by ShowGirlLola

Can you give more details? Lola knots a lot around the area where a collar would go and the hair between her face and neck.

Though Dolly's hair looks like it's all long the tricks I use as described in #8 make it thinner in some places so it's much easier to take care of.

For the top of her back/back of her neck I do a layered cut. Because her hair is pretty straight cutting that hair shorter will hardly be noticeable at all. (Think about a human haircut & how it can be layered-there are probably lots of videos available showing how to layer hair.) I take the entire amount of hair from the top of her back & hold it up to see how the rest of her hair will look without this big chunk being full length. Once I've decided how much hair isn't needed I start layering it a little at a time by holding it out to the side & cutting it at an angle. Now the harness won't mess it up so much. Good luck!!

[Swellmomma]

I was wondering the same thing. Finn's underside and armpit areas get so matted so quickly. He hates being brushed, will grown and snap and then roll around on the floor getting messy again. I need to cut the mats out tonight when he is sleeping little by little and keep trying to get him used to grooming. Part of that is that I left it be in the winter months because when the breeder dog sat for us she shaved him so he had no fur to brush until recently. Now when he goes outside he gets so muddy he needs frequent baths (which he also hates) and got all matted up on his underside. His upper side is fine. I am going to have to look into the products mentioned to start using with him as I work on clipping these mats out and getting his underside as untangled as his upper side

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by Swellmomma

I was wondering the same thing. Finn's underside and armpit areas get so matted so quickly. He hates being brushed, will grown and snap and then roll around on the floor getting messy again. I need to cut the mats out tonight when he is sleeping little by little and keep trying to get him used to grooming. Part of that is that I left it be in the winter months because when the breeder dog sat for us she shaved him so he had no fur to brush until recently. Now when he goes outside he gets so muddy he needs frequent baths (which he also hates) and got all matted up on his underside. His upper side is fine. I am going to have to look into the products mentioned to start using with him as I work on clipping these mats out and getting his underside as untangled as his upper side

Their arm pits & underside needs to be shaved or cut off w/ blunt end scissors. That area is very sensitive & are prone to tangles. When you go to get your pup groomed, they call that sanitary trim. It includes arm pits, inner thighs/ underside & underbelly for boys, along w/poopie area trim & wee wee area. It gets very hot here, so I trim their underbelly all the way up to their chest. You can't see it & if they have longer hair, it gets covered.
I pay special attention to the areas where the harness rubs, my boys tend to tangle there, esp bc they pull on the harness during walks. It needs to be brushed out everyday, otherwise they become a tangled mass. If it's not worked out & they get bathed, the mat shrinks & tightens, gets harder to work out & ends up being to the skin.

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by Swellmomma

I was wondering the same thing. Finn's underside and armpit areas get so matted so quickly. He hates being brushed, will grown and snap and then roll around on the floor getting messy again. I need to cut the mats out tonight when he is sleeping little by little and keep trying to get him used to grooming. Part of that is that I left it be in the winter months because when the breeder dog sat for us she shaved him so he had no fur to brush until recently. Now when he goes outside he gets so muddy he needs frequent baths (which he also hates) and got all matted up on his underside. His upper side is fine. I am going to have to look into the products mentioned to start using with him as I work on clipping these mats out and getting his underside as untangled as his upper side

You may find it becomes easier to handle him if you comb him with a good metal grooming comb at least once or twice a day. Using a good spray conditioner will help keep the hair from tangeling so much. I always spray Gracie's ends when I comb her.
If you comb daily, if he needs it or not, you will eventually find he learns to accept the grooming. Always end with a nice treat and do the easiest part last. Doing the grooming when they don't need it keeps them from getting to that point that it is a struggle to work with them.
If he has more of a cotton coat you may need a stronger conditioner to use as a rinse with his bath and another as a spray when combing.