MAJOR grooming help needed!!! MANY questions!

[goldcupmom]

Ok all you experts.... I NEED HELP!!!!!

1. How do you keep cotton in their ears when you bathe in order to keep water out? I've tried everything I can think of short of duck tape and it just doesn't stay in.

2. What is the ear powder - does that help keep ears dry or is it just for friction when you pull out the hair? What brand/type is best. I don't want her to have another ear problem.

3. TANGLES!!!! Despite trying to comb 10 - 30 min a day Mia's tummy is a mess of teeny dreadlocks. Should I snip them and start over? seems to be her puppy fur. Same on the back portion of her back, haunches and legs - especially the back legs. Her head, chest front legs and the front 2/3 of her back (seems to be where she is changing color) is becoming silky and easy to maintain. Is this normal? Her back 1/3 is now almost like a different kind of fur than her front 2/3.

I just spent almost 2 hours bathing, drying, combing and tried every treat I could think of. She still wanted to tear me apart. I know the tangles hurt and she is quite the drama queen, but I don't want her to develop a fear/hatred of being combed or she'll have to be the Kojak (oops, did I just date myself??) of Yorkie Land. She also HATES the hair dryer even though I use a diffuser dryer and keep it far away.

4. Teeth - I haven't ventured into tooth brushing yet. What kind/brand of brush/paste do you use?

5. It seems the minute I get her combed, she looks like a ragamuffin again. Not that it isn't cute, but..... Any suggestions????

6. Toenails don't seem to be a problem - clipped those w/o a wriggle. She does seem to have 2 'dew' claws, though. Should they be removed?

7. Color - Does their hair change color, or does it just grow in the new color and you eventually trim the old color off?

Thanks for ALL your help! Not sure what I'd do if I hadn't found you! I'm sure I'll have more questions!

TIA

Julie

[browniesmom622]

what shampoo do you use? you need to use a conditioner if you dont i dont use dog shampoo on my 2 only if there skin is dry i use oatmeal otherwise i use herbel essences or infuseum COLOR the color does change my brownie back is starting to turn silver how often do you bathe her ?

[browniesmom622]

also shell get use to the dryer my brownie hated he use to run away now he just sits there

[bld2751]

No answers from me, my baby is just over 3 months. But I wanted to thank you for posting all the questions, because it's stuff I wonder about too!! Especially on how to keep the cotton in their ear while bathing.

Brandi

[Dolce's Mom]

Julie-Thank you for asking all those questions....I too have a little Cujo on my hands when it comes to bath time. She wriggles and squiggles all over the place when i am washing her and i wind up being wetter than her. When I take her out, i wrap her in her towel for a few minutes and hold her. Then its on to the blowdryer. I spray her with detangler i bought from the pet store to help with the tangles because its seems she gets sooo matted and i hate combing her tangles out. Her stomach is soooo matted too and trying to get there to comb it seems almost impossible. Her coat definitely seems to be changing too....it seems more cottony lately. She absolutely DESPISES the blowdryer and the whole drying process she is "trying to tear me apart" too. I feel like we are describing the same yorkie. I hope some knowledgable yorkie owners can help us out. I basically 'gave up' and am taking her to the groomer on Saturday. We'll see how that goes....

[browniesmom622]

im telling you get infuseum it really works

[Dolce's Mom]

Lenora, the Infusium that we would buy for ourselves in the drug store? I'm paranoid to use anything other than for a dog. But it really works???

[browniesmom622]

yes ive used it on all my dogs you can you the leave in by them too. my silky that passed away had hair like hay and i can show you pics its amazing and after its improved you can you the herbal essence and i use the purple fruit one it leaves him smelling like fruit all week its great and his hair is so shiny

[Babbie]

1 - Make sure it is properly put in the ear, it cannot be too deep in the ear canal or they won;t stop until they get it out. You can use a little mineral oil so it doesn't absorb water. I change the cotton in Mojo ears like 2 or 3 times.

2 - Ear powder also keeps it dry, it is always good to use a good ear cleaner and powder after a bath. I use the one made by biogroom...

3 - I use a silicone detangler on Mojo, it works good. First work the mats with ur finger then the brush and for last the comb

4 - cannot remember...something "dent" i think...hahaha

5 - Maybe is because of her type of coat...the right products can help u with that. To find out the type of her coat, ask somebody with experience with this breed.

6 - I donnou but don;t think that they HAVE to....Mojo still has his...i just cut them once in a while.

7 - They start growing in a different color, some yorkies take up to 4 years to get to their final color.

That's my experience...hope it helped

[TatumsMom]

Only have time to respond real quick and put my two cents in about the tangle issue. We use the Chris Systems shampoo and conditioner and I think it's pretty good but the thing that really does the trick is the INFUSIUM leave-in conditioner stuff. I have tried using other doggie spray conditioners but nothing works like the Infusium. After Tatum's bath, I towel dry a little and then pour the Infusium in my hands and work it all over her. It takes a few cupped handfuls. Then I use a metal comb - that's the other really important thing for us - to comb her out. Then after blowdrying, I spray the ice-on-ice (Chris Systems) spray on conditioner just a little and brush with a pin brush (no slicker brush - that hurt her and she was a little demon trying to get away). The ice on ice has silicone in it that repels water and stuff from the grass and keeps her nice and tangle-free. In between baths when we brush, I spray a little ice on ice on her and brush. For us, the Infusium is the key!

[browniesmom622]

same here

[browniesmom622]

where do you get the ice on ice sounds good pLEAse let me know

[TatumsMom]

Originally Posted by browniesmom622

where do you get the ice on ice sounds good pLEAse let me know

It's also a Chris Systems product. I do love it but I tried using it in place of when I used the Infusium and it just didn't work as well. Now, I just use it as a "finishing product" and for in-between bath brushings. Here's the link if you're not familiar with their products: http://www.chrissystems.com/
Be forewarned though - as many other posters have found, when you spray it, be sure you are on carpet or a rug or something because if you get this stuff on a tile, linoleum or wood floor, the floor gets slick as s**t (excuse the language)! But seriously, you can get hurt if you hit that spot wearing socks. It's the silicone in it, I suppose, that makes it work so well.

[browniesmom622]

i dont after you said that if i would use it lol im scared id touch my dog and break a finger lol byt the infusium really works you should also try for the smell herbel essesence the purple fruit one its blackberry it leaves brownie really shiny and he smell go for a week

[mybirdys2003]

Can't believe he is okay with toe nail clipping! Wow! Mine is like Cujo also. As to tooth brushing---I thought I would never get mine to comply. But she does now. First, I put her on counter nest to sink. I use Petrodex tooth paste. At first just let her lick it and praise her. Then another day, just lift the side cheek and give a swish or so. Gradually increase areas of brushing. Now she will sit by the counter each morning and whine until I clean out eyes, brush teeth, comb etc. Then NICE TREAT!
As to drying with hair dryer---I put it in an old coffee can, that way both my hands are free. She usually buries her head in my arem, but that's okay.
Hope this helps! Pat