Am I using the slicker brush right?

Durbkat · 01-18-2008, 09:44 PM

I don't think I'm using the slicker brush right because hardly any hair comes out when I brush Snoopy. See,

Then when I went over him again with the comb I got triple the amount of hair out,

So do you all think I need to apply more pressure when brushing Snoopy with the slicker brush? When I was using the comb only it got all the hair out but he matted real quick, like within a day or a few hours. Then when I started using the slicker brush only there were no more mats but he was shedding more on people's clothes and on the floor.

briteday · 01-18-2008, 10:51 PM

I use a few different brushes on my dogs, 2 papillons and a pomeranian. I usually start out with the pin brush (I think what you were using before you bought the slicker) to gently ease them into the brushing session and loosen the hair, and then I move on with the slicker and a steel comb similar to yours (you might try to find one with dual teeth spacing, closer together at one end of the comb and farther apart at the other)

Also some of the slicker brushes I have contain two lengths of teeth, alternating rows of long and short. I find some of the best brushes for small breeds in the cat department.

I try to brush my dogs daily, as I think you are doing? With the paps I get about as much as you got between the slicker and comb and then a small bit from using the pin brush on their fluffy tails. With the pom I get a bit more on the pin brush to start, gobs on slicker from the under coat, and a handful from the final combing and pin brushing her bushy tail.

Just be sure you are parting the hair and working in sections, get in/under the crevices of the legs, under the ears, the back "pants" area, and I use a comb around the face.

You'll know if everything is right if Snoop's coat is not matted, is shiny and not broken, and when he "blows" coat (usually in the Spring) you'll really know as you start to get handfuls from him. Also since you have him professionally groomed once in a while I would ask the groomer to give you some tips if you are unsure. You can also check with the local library to see if they have any grooming books. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

Durbkat · 01-18-2008, 11:01 PM

Yea, I got alot of hair when I used the pin brush and comb but hardly any with the slicker. But when I used the pin and comb it broke his coat up, I guess that is how'd you describe it. It looked like this,

His coat looks great since he has been on canidae and I've been using the slicker brush but it just doesn't do the job of getting the hair out. I wanted to get him into the groomers by now to get a bath and a nail trim. I didn't want to get his hair cut as this groomer doesn't have a wide selection of blades or something because the smallest one she had cut him so short you could almost see his skin and his hair was super long before she cut it. Plus I didn't know how soon was to soon after his neuter.

briteday · 01-18-2008, 11:18 PM

I am by no means a pro at grooming, and maybe one will chime in here. But maybe going over him with the brush and then the slicker to smooth things out is the way to go. I finish up with the comb in easily matted places, just to be sure, and around the face since mine won't tolerate anything like a slicker there.

And I must say, you have one of the cutest dogs!

Durbkat · 01-18-2008, 11:35 PM

Thanks for the tip! That was an old pic, but Snoopy say's "Thanks!" in his new pic.

"I'm bringing sexy back!"

TeddieXRuxpin · 01-18-2008, 11:50 PM

I swear by the slicker brush and Teddie. I was using two different brushes before and they weren't getting down to the skin.

have you maybe though about the comb pulling hairs that aren't loose out? And also what slicker brush did you get?

Ted's brush is the only thing I'll use on him; not a comb, pin brush, or regular brush. I haven't had one mat in the last 3 1/2 months and that was when I got his slicker brush.

The only hair that comes out when I brush Teddie are the loose ones and that is all that should come out. If you look through his coat it should be nice seperate hairs all the way to the skin. I also brush back his hair so I can make sure I'm getting all the way through the hair.

I would stick with the slicker, depending on what you go because they're not all the same. Not that much hair comes out When I brush him and I do that 3-4 times a day, that could be another reason. How many times a day do you brush him out and how often do you bathe him?

That last picture of Snoopy is just way to cute! It's making me miss my Little Man Ted!!!

Durbkat · 01-18-2008, 11:58 PM

I brush him once daily and I bathe him every couple of months. He has had like 6 or 7 baths the whole time I've had him. Maybe it is only pulling the loose ones out but when the brush doesn't get it, it gets all over my clothes. I use a vista slicker brush, I had a coupon for it.

007Dogs · 01-19-2008, 01:24 AM

As I have said before, not all slicker brushes are created equal. Look at this brush, it is a small brush that measures 2 1/2" wide and 1" high, but look at the difference in the consentration of the pins in the brush. A higher quality brush will give you much better results. Also instead of just brushing throught the top coat, you must pull the hair back and go through it layer by layer. This is known a line brushing.

echo8287 · 01-19-2008, 02:29 AM

That second picture of the brushed Snoopster is pretty cute!!!Durb, where you at in KY? My oldest daughter lives in Louisville. David

Durbkat · 01-19-2008, 09:36 AM

Thanks for the line brushing tip 007. I know its hard to tell by pics but to me they look pretty similar.

echo, I prefer not to give specfics to where I live for saftey reason.

007Dogs · 01-19-2008, 10:28 AM

I use to think the same thing about slicker brushes, until I used one of these. They are quite spendy, so it took me two years to justify buying one. But my friend who grooms dogs professionally fulltime, and raises Kerry Blues, let me dry one of her dogs for the show. She was amazed at the difference the brush could make in the finished look of the dog. I was exposed to useing this brand of brush when I also worked for the Professional dog handler. Until you have tried one, you will never know the difference. And I bought this thing, and it is not the type brush I use on my own breed of dog. But when I do groom for other people, it is a big time saver.

TeddieXRuxpin · 01-19-2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durbkat

I brush him once daily and I bathe him every couple of months. He has had like 6 or 7 baths the whole time I've had him. Maybe it is only pulling the loose ones out but when the brush doesn't get it, it gets all over my clothes. I use a vista slicker brush, I had a coupon for it.

Wow every other month..Teddie gets a bath once a week or at the most every other week. I couldn't imagine his coat if it weren't. If you use a good shampoo that wont dry out the skin I would bath him more often.

I can't stand it if his hair isn't fluffy and after rolling around on the floor, walking/running outside, and playing with toys and other dogs a week is enough time to get dirty. I've found it's worse on smaller dogs if not bathed more frequent. You don't have to do it as much as say Teddy, but even my big dogs get a bath once a month. Also if you're using flea meds they should be washed at least every month. So they're clean for the application.

I personally like the Finishing Touche Slicker brush. Off sale it was only $7 and for such a good brush that's pretty great. As I said I wont use anything else.

Durbkat · 01-19-2008, 05:59 PM

Well Snoopy doesn't get dirty, he goes outside to go potty and for a walk and thats it, so he doesn't get dirty. I use an anti itch shampoo as he gets itchy occasionly. He never gets smelly either so I never saw a reason to give him a bath unless he got dirty or smelly.

The vet or the box the flea meds are in never said anything about having to be washed out monthly.

Dieselsmama · 01-19-2008, 07:47 PM

Durb, the slicker brush I see you posted is like a universal slicker and a little harsh for snoopys coat. Next time you go to the pet store check out the cat section for an "ever gentle" slicker brush, shorter pins but denser. You're less likely to scratch his skin and more likely to remove any dead undercoat. You shouldn't get a ton of hair out when you're brushing him, but a bit more than your photo shows.

Durbkat · 01-19-2008, 07:54 PM

Thanks for the tip! Well when I applied more pressure I got more hair out,

TeddieXRuxpin · 01-19-2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durbkat

Well Snoopy doesn't get dirty, he goes outside to go potty and for a walk and thats it, so he doesn't get dirty. I use an anti itch shampoo as he gets itchy occasionly. He never gets smelly either so I never saw a reason to give him a bath unless he got dirty or smelly.

The vet or the box the flea meds are in never said anything about having to be washed out monthly.

One reason I bath Ted so much is because of his itchies. He has some allergy problems and even just around the house stuff can land on the coat/skin and it can make them itch, itch, itch! So I wash him and also ccondition him so even though he's bathed every week to every other week he has silky skin with no flakes and his fur looks wonderful. It also helps keep the coat clean and free of anything to make the fur matt or tangle. He chews about 70% less too. But if you wash more you have to use conditioner because shampoo alone will dry out the skin and coat.

sheltiemom · 01-20-2008, 04:21 PM

I'm no expert, but I thought slicker brushes were for short coats? I use an undercoat rake and pin brush on mine. I have tried a slicker, and while it made the coat look fluffy, it just smoothed over the top layer basically and didn't get down to the undercoat, which is what mats in the first place. Besides the bristles being too close together on a slicker, they're too short to do any good on shelties. Then again I don't know anything about shih tzu coats, that's just what I thought.

Dieselsmama · 01-21-2008, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheltiemom

I'm no expert, but I thought slicker brushes were for short coats? I use an undercoat rake and pin brush on mine. I have tried a slicker, and while it made the coat look fluffy, it just smoothed over the top layer basically and didn't get down to the undercoat, which is what mats in the first place. Besides the bristles being too close together on a slicker, they're too short to do any good on shelties. Then again I don't know anything about shih tzu coats, that's just what I thought.

I always use a slicker when brushing out shelties in for grooming, if you're just brushing over the top of the coat, no it won't reach down to and through the undercoat. This is where line brushing comes in lifting the hair up and brushing, skin out, in rows.