long hair battle
 

I just finished the weekly grooming fight. I am getting so tired of this little bugger fighting me during the blow dry. If I had a holder for the blowdryer so I could use both hands to brush him, I think it would be better. I have taken suggestions and tried drying him on the bathroom counter instead of chasing him around the bed, but he acts like he is ready to jump off and he would surely break a leg or worse, so we went back to drying on the bed. I am close to getting his hair cut. Short of actually buying a grooming table-which I am seriously considering-any suggestions on how to get him to stand still? He doesn't realize all his wallowing around trying to get away from the brush is what causes his hair to tangle and causes worse pulling. His hair is very silky and really doesn't knot or tangle badly and I condition him well, but there are always a few tangles, obviously. I really like the way he looks and I have never cut him short in 4 years, but either he is getting worse or my patience is getting less (or both).
These were immediately after his bath today...and he still looks a little ratty since I can't seem to get him completely dry anymore due to the battle.

I have one in full coat as well, but I don't use the dryer on her very often. I like her to air dry, then I just brush her out.
Make sure you have a really quiet dryer.

He is a cutie pie, and his coat is very pretty. I know what you mean about the hair looking a little fuzzy until it is completely dry. Some of the drying process has to take place naturally, after the dryer. The hair needs a little time to settle.


Relative to standing still for the drying process, try letting him run around for a few minutes and enjoy some post-bath zoomies. Then put him wherever you want to dry him. I don't brush while using the hair dryer because I don't have a stand. Brushing/combing for me requires 2 hands, 1 to hold the hair to prevent pulling and the other to hold the brush and comb.

When I dry, I use my fingers to move the hair and then shut the dryer off to do a little real combing in between.

Keep working with him and he will get the hang of staying in one place. I put my boys on the counter and body block them and always have one hand ready to keep them from jumping.

Hide the scissors, so you don't have a weak moment...and buy yourself a grooming table!!! He's gorgeous!!!

I love a long coat :)

I have always tried to brush and dry at the same time, which is why it has a tendency to pull. I am worried that if I dry without brushing, the knots will be worse and he will end up curly. The whole curly thing is why I can't let him air dry, either. I am still considering a grooming table, but I will try alternating drying and brushing next time.

Thanks! I love his coat long, too. I don't think I would recognize him if he was cut short!

Try combing out as many knots as possible before bathing because water tightens knots and tangles. Some tangles I leave, like on Max, if they are caused by dirt that will make detangling really damaging. Max's tangles tend to just wash out with the conditioner. Teddy, I comb out completely before his bath. Depends on the coat. Mats must be taken care of before the bath.

My guys are prone to damage if I try to comb or brush too much when their hair is wet -- and it pulls like crazy. The only thing that works for us is to use the plastic comb on our Madan rat tail comb from toplinepet.com

I have to use one hand to hold the hair section, otherwise it would definitely pull skin and make my guys run!

You can dry partially using your fingers and then do some combing and then dry some more for a finished look.

Dont cut his hair its beautiful !!

I may just have a solution: Amazon.com: hands free hair dryer holder

He has a beautiful coat! I stopped using the table top grooming on the bathroom counter because they were worse on it. I know dry them on my bed and it works well for Pixie and Roxie but Cali is a challenge to keep still. Pixie who has the nice silky coat loves to be brushed. Roxie use to hate it but I started brushing her gently everyday with a tangle teaser brush. It is more like a massage and now she will come over like Pixie when I get the brush out. Cali runs for the hills. I did cut Cali shorter and it was actually harder to maintain so I am growing her back out.
I tried the hands free dryer and it was hard to use because it's stationary and you need to keep moving it.

Ok, I'm weak...:D. I followed the link for the dryer stand which I almost got but then. I saw a pet dryer that had a little stand with it, and while looking at that saw a cute little tabletop grooming table, so went ahead and got that, too. Guess I'm gonna have to listen to hubby fuss when the UPS/Fedex folks start showing up again. If they would just come while he is at work....but NO, they always wait until he is home and I am BUSTED! :eek:
I'll see how those work out with next weeks bath.

Huey is a beautiful pup. I'm kind of hoping that Princess Sophie ends up with the really silky hair. I'll be happy with what ever hair type she ends up with but I can't help hoping...

Princess Sophie doesn't really like the dryer yet either but she's only had two baths so far. LOL I haven't actually gotten to the short scissors yet. Guess I should get busy. Haha!

Huey is checking out his new grooming supplies. Little does he know, he's really gonna be getting a closeup tomorrow.

As for hubby catching me shopping again, he just rubbed Huey's belly and told him "for a free dog, you sure are expensive!" :D

OMYGosh, just beautiful he is! Can't wait for Bella's hair to grow to that length...she is only 10 months, so I am assuming it just takes time.

That table top grooming table is on my wish list. Hope to buy it next week.

I like Huey's new grooming supplies and the picture of him surveying them.

Your husband's humor sounds like my dad's. :)

Thanm you! Here is Huey at 10 months. Just starting to get some length. In the one with the lobster, he is 1 day short of 1 year old. Once he started growing, it grew (and grows) fast!