Really need help on Felicity's Hair, I'm about to have it shaved off...
 

Okay...

So Felicity is only 8 months old. She matted very easily from the time I got her at 10 weeks. I've been working with grooming on her since then and she still fights me tooth and nail, though she is better about the bathing part now. She is supposed a silky coat, and i though that matted less. My other girl, Phoebe, has a modified silk in more black and tan (kind of steel colored)...she only mats if I have neglected her for a long long time, which doesn't usually happen, and the mats come right now. Felicity's mats even a couple days after I thoroughly groom her! I'm so frustrated. Her hair is beautiful when it's all dematted and clean. The other part of the story is I also have a 5 month old girl who plays alot with Felicity...I know this is aiding in matting her.

As far as products, I use Coathandler. and I leave in lots of conditioner.

So my question is whether I'm mislead that silkier hair mats less? I dread the thought of shaving her hair down, esp. right before winter. But I can't leave her all matted all the time either and it takes hours to get them out, esp. with her trying to get away or bite me. I have worked on disciplining her, but she is very head strong. I'm being really gently on the mats too, to not hurt her. She's so tiny, she will look scrawny in a puppy cut. I attached pictures. Note that I have had to cut some mats out from behind her ears and her chest, so her coat looks thinner than it probably really is.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Different products? Puppy cut till the two girls are older? What?

Thanks so very much!
deb

oops forgot the pics!
 

sorry

I know what you mean. Kayla very rarely gets a mat. Dudley will mat in a day if I don't watch. Just little tiny mats. I don't know the difference in the silky and cotton either just by looking. I use Paul Mitchell shampoo and conditioner on them both and its just strange how different they are. Dudley is sooooo little, I just usually take the scissors and cut out the little tiny piece of hair that is matted. Brushing every day just doesn't seem to do the trick on him. Maybe changing shampoo and conditioner might help. Have you tryed different ones. I have just used the puppy conditioner on them and seems like it helps better than any.

I haven't switched shampoos because every time I ask what show people use...it seems like it's Coat handler. So I don't know what to do.

I did try Minksheen...but I didn't like the way it dried out their hair.

I've heard alot about Plush Puppy....any thoughts on that?

thanks

When you have one that mats you don't have much choice other than brushing thoroughly every day. I suggest placing her up on a counter or table to groom her. The best brush I've found is Chris Christenson's wooden bristle brush. Literally the best money I've spent on a brush....mats come right out. I use the wooden pin brush, then a brass pin and finally a greyhound comb.

The other choice is to shave her down...it'll eliminate the puppy hair and put a sweater on her for the winter.

Thank you...I'll look up those grooming supplies. I might just shave her once then grow it back out. I hate torturing her!

I have three Yorkies with three different coat types. Azrael has extremely thick cotton coat. I had to spend no less than 40 minutes brushing twice a day and still, after a walk with her harness on I'd have to brush her again. It was just too much on her and I didn't like putting her thru so all that so I did cut it down really short on the body and kept the legs a little longer. Your baby has a beautiful coat, and one that I would never have thought would matt that easily. I keep the girls cut to almost the skin under their arms and groin which really helps. I use #1 All Systems shampoo & conditioner. When Azrael had her long hair, I even added vegetable glycerine and Panteen to the conditioner which helped immensely. See what all you can come up with before you cut her down. ;)

I know what you mean about her coat! I didn't think it would mat either. That's why I'm thinking it's mostly due to Cassidy chewing on her. They wrestle alot. If I cut her down now, then by the time it grows out , both she and Cassidy will be a little older, and maybe less rambuctious? hmmm....

What to do! Meanwhile, I have been slowly cutting out the mats. Her hair seems thin now, but at least it's not shaved. And I'm brushing her out each day...which seems to help alot.

thanks!
deb

When my baby plays with kids or even people that hold her and touch her the wrong way, it matts her hair.

brush her everyday, also what brush or comb are you using? I use a madan brush, comb with very wide teeh for matts and ice on ice detangler from chris christensen.