Ridiculous question...
 

I wasn't sure where to put this, but this seemed like the most logical spot.

My girls are fetch maniacs. Every night we try to play fetch with them for at least 20 minutes. I like to think of it as their intense cardio since often on walks there is a lot of sniff and go. ;)

Here is my "issue." After we play ball, Lane's beard/neck hair/front paws/ears (floppy) are covered in what I think is her doggie saliva.

It is a nightmare to comb out. I really don't want to cut it off, and I love the long bearded look. I've tried banding on either side of nose and kind of folding it up and then doing another band under her chin, but it still gets super sticky (and looks quite ridiculous). I usually wait for her to cool off a little and then I use a rinse-free shampoo and leave-in conditioner, but this is literally a 20 minute affair to get it all out and then free of tangles. I wonder if it would be better to wait for it to dry completely. I've tried kind of wiping it with baby wipes before I start to comb it out too, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Is there any easier way to pin her hair back I'm not thinking of? I've also tried claw clips, but once she shakes her head they usually come flying out.

Rory just doesn't produce the same amout of drool, and she also doesn't end up with all the hair in her mouth. I feel like this is the oddest problem in the world...

I really should get a picture of her all banded up and how she looks like she dunked her face in a puddle of water after we play. :p

Lane says taking away her ball time is NOT an option.

Attachment 318941

Attachment 318942

No help here, sorry. But just wanted to say what adorable pics of Lane! I hope someone else will be able to suggest some things for you to try. :)

I hope you get some good suggestions. I have the same problem with Bogie.

Adorable pictures!

Skip the wash and try letting Lane's hair dry before you comb. If you don't already have one, I highly recommend the Chris Christiansen face and leg comb. Elle and BonBon talked me into it and the comb has made a dramatic difference in grooming my boys' faces.

If drying doesn't work, try a warm, wet washcloth. They work better than baby wipes for me.

Thanks for the tips! I have several combs, but I will look into that CC comb for face and legs. I think I may start letting it dry first since it kind of gets crusty and it almost comes out all at once. I was just worried about accidentally breaking off "good" hair in the process.

Someone also recommended Growl & Meow foaming face wash that I think I might give a try. :)

Love that picture! Adorable and good luck!

The CC face and leg comb is #6 butter comb. It's compact, lightweight, and so easy to work with.

I understand your concern about breaking off hair. Don't try to put a narrow tooth comb through wet hair, and never force the comb through the hair. If you don't already, always work with small sections of hair, and start at the ends of the hair shaft and comb down, repeat starting higher up toward the root.

The show people will tell you to never comb/brush dirty hair. I cheat with my pets. Max often has yogurt or sweet pea stickies in his mustache. My avatar is a funny picture of him before I had the CC #6 comb. I wait until the hair is dry and carefully comb it. We have never had hair break off, and I haven't seen any signs of rotting, yet. :p

The only time we have lost hair is when Max chewed part of his mustache while enjoying a Texas Toothpick. I had to trim the yucky hair. We now band his hair to keep it out of the way when he has chewies. The banding process has taught me deep respect for the show people who wrap.

It could be that saliva is harder on the hair. However, I would be concerned about washing the face/hair daily with anything other than water or a very gentle cleanser. We have used Spa Fresh facial cleanser and found it to be a little harsh/drying on Max and Teddy's hair. Not to mention, it's difficult to thoroughly rinse the face without getting a lot more of the dog wet.

It's tough being a beautiful dog, isn't it? :D Let me know what you think of the Growl and Meow face wash.

Thanks for the tips - I've always detangled that way...just like you do a human tangle starting at the bottom and working up. It feels so counterintuiative to let it dry, but I just let her dry overnight and then brushed it out this morning, and it was actually much easier!

I took these pictures last night for reference. They really make me laugh. She looks a little psychotic (and is nude to boot...I always strip them before we play indoors thinking it will keep her cooler and mean less panting), but she really does a number on herself! :p She is my puppymill rescue, so the fact that she enjoys fetch as much as her sister makes me so happy that it's worth all the trouble of the end result! :D

My girls yesterday morning looking normal...

Attachment 319004

Before the ball comes out...

Attachment 319005

30 minutes later...

Attachment 319006

ETA: The claw clips work pretty well for me when they eat (raw). I'm also kind of a weirdo and like when their beards smell a tiny bit like coconut oil. Claw clips just never worked for playtime because she is shaking her ball (to kill it, of course!), and they go flying through the air. Maybe that would work when Max has a chewie? It definitely takes less time to pull back!

GREAT pictures! Your girls are beautiful. I love that tongue shot!! AlaskaYorkie needs to do a tongue contest. Nothing better than seeing the doggies happy.

I'll have to dig out a shot of Max tied up with mini-scrunchies. He looks like a character out of a goofy horror movie. I never thought of trying claw clips -- thank you for the suggestion. That would be much faster and easier.

Thank goodness I don't have problems with Teddy's beard. His facial hair is magically impervious to everything.

Here's what works for us when my girls are in full coat. I cut an tube sock in 5 inch sections and stretch it out and slip it over their heads to hold all the longer hair back and they don't mind it at all. 2 of my three are diggers and it really helps to keep the dirt and sticky pollen off the beard.

Walkers sometime stop in front of the house an ask what's wrong...are they injured?

Good luck!!

Rory's beard is the same way. It will occasionally get a little sticky, but nothing like Lane's.

Great idea! I push my hair back with a headband when I wash my face in much the same fashion...I should have thought of something like that. Thanks!

LOL! Mardelin (Mary) once wrote that she was traveling with one of her show dogs in wraps and the security or gate agents asked if the dog was injured. :p

I recently learned about "snoods" -- same concept as your socks. Great idea.

I have no advice, but your before, ready, and after pictures are hilarious! LOL! Looks like she had a great time!

Just googled dog snoods, awesome! I always thought Snood was just a computer game I played in college. :p

Thanks! :)

Nevva heard about snoods - other than for ppl and that in the ancient ages lol

Just wondering whether socks or snoods, what happens with the moustaches, and chin hair? How do you keep jaw free? and yet moustaches protected?

Great pics loved them

Great pic's... I'll have to snap some photo's of the girls with sock head. Lola doesn't mind wearing the sock at all and will wear it higher on her head so I cut a slit in the sock to where her ears stick out. I started doing this when I brought them to my parents home whom have a yard full of pine trees. Yorkies and sap just don't mix well.

wow i can't believe she gets that worked up and wet from playing fetch. morgan never drools, just pants while playing. i have no suggestions but wanted to say the picture of her in bands is hilarious!

:sidesplt:

I learned about snoods on a recent thread in the health and diet section. Yorkiedaze said she had seen them on Afghans at the dog shows.

Had the same question as you about moustaches and chin hair. I concluded that a snood would help, but I would still need band Maxman's moustache.