Why do people get long haired breed if they don't want to take care of them?

ladyshadowhollyjc · 08-13-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kina_A

What I'm getting at is, this poor little thing (I petted it) is a complete matt!! And the thing is, this poor dog is still a pup!

Do they understand that her fur is matted? Do they know that leaving the fur matted will cause her to become very uncomfortable and in pain?

What I was meant earlier was that you should tell the instructor and he should take them aside after class and explain this to them. He should explain to them that the dog fur is matted and needs to be take care of.

What kind of dog is she?

Graco22 · 08-13-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroovyGroomer777

I understand what you are saying, Graco, but I have a hard time with it...

Is the thought process that hair on a dog is magical or what? Since when is it not common knowledge that -

Having hair = needs to be brushed

Don't people brush their own hair? Their children's hair?

I am with you Groovy..drives me crazy too..I can only guess that the concept of needing to brush a long coated dog just eludes them. The thought obviously never even occurs to them, nor does it occur to many that the dog will actually NEED to be groomed whether they like it "natural" or not..I think it can be a very foreign concept to people that aren't "in" the animal world, and see a cute little puppy. Again though, boils down to uneducated people getting a live being...the sellers, whoever they are, NEED to be the educators!

GroovyGroomer777 · 08-13-2009, 02:31 PM

Agreed!

When I was growing up my family adopted a dog....she was a cocker sp/lab mix (now a days I bet you would pay mucho bucks for this kind of dog....back then she was just a mutt, haha)

She had the hair of a lab, she looked just like a mini-lab, you could not tell she had cocker in her except for her size (or who even knows what she really was..)

My parents had never had a dog of their own yet they still knew enough to buy a comb. I would sit outside on our porch for probably 20 minutes 2-3 times a week, just combing out this short haired dog.... she certainly didn't need it (there was no chance of matting) but we really enjoyed the time together.

I can't help but say I think it is plain laziness. (sorry)

FlamingoFan · 08-13-2009, 02:43 PM

This is our Stella just before she had her first haircut:

Now she's more like this:

She's a rescue dog....she was given up by her first owner because according to the folks at the rescue....."they didn't realize they'd have to brush her so much."

Their loss....our gain. We believe she's a Schnoodle....and we just love her! I like the shaggy look for her and actually find brushing her relaxing.

KBLover · 08-13-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroovyGroomer777

I can't help but say I think it is plain laziness. (sorry)

I disagree.

I'm not lazy with my dog. I just didn't know that a) he came matted, and b) that he was matted. My only exposure to a Coton was on website pictures and they look fluffy and he looked fluffy and I guess I never fathomed that a Coton breeder would let a Coton, even one that no one bought or whatever, get their fur messed up like that.

I brushed him everyday. The groomer could even tell the parts I was brushing when she saw the matted hair underneath the part that was still loose enough to brush.

Kina_A · 08-13-2009, 04:35 PM

I'll speak to the trainer about this Shih Tzu Poodle mix this coming Sunday. Maybe he'll speak to her. Not to mention, this dog will only get worst is she doesn't do something about it. The poor thing will also develop sores underneath her mats.

I just can not understand how someone can not realize that their dog is matted or is becaming matted. DH and I are always petting our dogs, (we watch TV and they're on our laps), or we're always interacting with them. I have a brushes and combs in each of our coffee tables so when I see a matt starting to form, I get out of the comb and brush and brush them out.

DH never owned a long haired dog before. I remember him sitting with Sadie once and he just petting her around the ears and the first time he ever encountered his first mat, he thought that Sadie developed a "lump" around her ear. I took a look and told him it was a mat and proceeded to brush it out.

Foyerhawk · 08-13-2009, 04:39 PM

Yeah there is no excuse. It's not rocket science. I love brushing a feathered coat. I find it theraputic. If I could change one thing about my best boy, he'd have long hair!

(oh, and he'd live as long as I do).

ladyshadowhollyjc · 08-13-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kina_A

I'll speak to the trainer about this Shih Tzu Poodle mix this coming Sunday. Maybe he'll speak to her. Not to mention, this dog will only get worst is she doesn't do something about it. The poor thing will also develop sores underneath her mats.

Exactly... and that's abuse. Whether it's out of ignorance or not, it will cause the dog a lot of pain.

GroovyGroomer777 · 08-13-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KBLover

I disagree.

I'm not lazy with my dog. I just didn't know that a) he came matted, and b) that he was matted. My only exposure to a Coton was on website pictures and they look fluffy and he looked fluffy and I guess I never fathomed that a Coton breeder would let a Coton, even one that no one bought or whatever, get their fur messed up like that.

I brushed him everyday. The groomer could even tell the parts I was brushing when she saw the matted hair underneath the part that was still loose enough to brush.

I can understand that. I don't mean because your dog had SOME matting in tricky parts, that you are lazy. You said yourself you brush him every day. So, you are not lazy.

I mean dogs that go without ever seeing a brush. You would be surprised how often I see it. Dogs that are matted all over. Long coated dogs that go without grooming for 6 months.

FilleBelle · 08-13-2009, 05:32 PM

I would also disagree about laziness. A person can brush their dog every day and still end up with a matted animal because they're brushing wrong. I would imagine that it is mostly not laziness, but a lack of knowledge or education. I think, too, that many people may know what a mat is, but not that it can be painful/harmful to a dog.

Now, having said that...I would agree that a person should educate themselves on their prospective dog before purchasing and this education should include having knowledge about specific grooming practices.

Inga · 08-13-2009, 05:52 PM

Once during my rescue project on the reservation we (my animal control friend and I ) were driving past this house and a dog tied to a tree in the woods caught my eye. It looked like a Golden Retriever size dog. I just had a gut feeling something was amiss. The fact that this dog was tied to a tree in the woods at least 100 yards from the house maybe. Anyway, upon closer inspection of this poor puppy we realized it was a toy poodle. It was so matted with what appeared to be 7-8 years of hair, fleas, burrs, fecal material that got stuck and food particles. The smell from this pup was something I could not begin to describe. Needless to say, the dog was liberated and groomed. It had such a bad skin infection that it took a month + of antibiotics to heal him up. They eyes were damaged from the mats as well.
I am not a huge fan of large quantities of grooming myself but let me just say.... If you get a long hair breed then groom it as needed. Anyone who does not is cruel. IMO

Thracian · 08-13-2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

However, some people do not understand that a long coat can look 'brushed' on top, but still be matted to the skin underneath.

I'll be honest. This was me. I've had Cupid since November, and it wasn't until his last grooming session (late last month) that I understood exactly how he needed to be brushed. I've been brushing and combing his hair five days a week. The top part of his hair was fine. Underneath, not so much.

But I honestly hadn't realized it.

I know better now, and I'm forever grateful to this groomer for being willing to show me the problem and explain to me how to fix it. I asked her about mats, and she spent 15 minutes educating me. Cupid's hair is pretty short now, but I'm staying on top of it. Now I know what to look for. It's not just about whether you can run a brush over the top.

I dote on my dogs and would do just about anything for them. So it wouldn't surprise me if other owners are simply uneducated about mats and grooming.

spugs · 08-14-2009, 04:13 AM

When I got Alfie I was brushing him with a puppy brush! Then I realised he was getting matted all around his back end. The only way to keep him mat free is with a metal comb. My pap is the same I was told to use a pin brush which I have been and it goes through her hair lovely. I tried to use Alfies comb on her yesterday and it turns out Ive not been doing it properly/its not the right brush and shes starting to matt as well so Im going to start using a comb on her too. I brush my dogs everyday so its not that I neglect them its just as other people say not having the experiance of long haired dogs to do it right.
However it doesnt sound like this lady has even tried to brush her dog and shes been given advice by a groomer. I dont think thats expectable, id get the instructor to have words.

megbot · 08-14-2009, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tunisianswife

when I got my shih tzu, I don't think the poor thing had ever seen a brush or a groomer. Hair grown over his eyes, matts so bad that he couldn't extend his arms or legs. the next day he was a completely different fella.

It's definitely something you have to stay on top of.(we did ours this morning). I keep their hair short in the summer, and longer in the winter. only have to do the face complete w/ponytail and tail in the summer.

"Tini" and "Peanut"

They are so cute! The look on one on the right (Peanut?) is to die for.

When I was scouting out a new companion last month, short hair very, very high on my list. I'm lazy with my hair, I didn't want to have to budget for regular grooming, and just knew short hair was the way for me. I wanted a doggie that was active that I could take on trails and get dirty, then easily bathe and give a quick brushing. I wound up with a hound/pointer mix (we and our vet think bloodhound/vizsla mix). Super cute, easy to keep clean. He's happy, I'm happy.

My friend has a Maltese, I feel so bad for that little guy. She does ok keeping his hair short, but does let it go. After he gets cut, there's always hot spots on him. She loves him, but she should have gotten a lower maintenance pooch.

I completely agree that long hair isn't for everyone.

I was thinking of making a website actually, that takes your answers to select questions (such as, are you prepared to dedicate an hour or two a week to brushing?) then calculates out the ideal breed, then puts that breed and your zip code into petfinder. Might start working on it next week. Does that sound like a good idea or a waste of time?

Kina_A · 08-14-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spugs

However it doesnt sound like this lady has even tried to brush her dog and shes been given advice by a groomer. I dont think thats expectable, id get the instructor to have words.

I don't think she has even attempted to brush her dog either.

She isn't doing much with her dog either.

One of the first thing we learnt in class was the sit and down command. Last week the trainer was coming around seeing how our pups were doing, this pup is so skittish. She admits that she doesn't socialize it. The pup was scared of the trainer, didn't know any of the commands we have learnt and she even said so herself that she doesn't practice her commands with her dog. A very sad situation with this one. We've been going to class now for 6 weeks (this is an 8 week course).

I really don't understand why this lady has even enrolled in this class.

I don't want to make it look like I have the perfect dog, I have socialized the heck out of Kina, I take her everywhere, now Kina thinks that everyone is her friend and every dog is friendly!! And that isn't always a good thing!!

GatsbysMom · 08-14-2009, 05:24 PM

Considering the grooming of a dog is like taking into consideration the gas mileage of a car before you buy it: the common sense thing to do. I know that I am terribly, terribly lazy about grooming. I may take my dog on a 10 mile walk/run, but I will not take the time to brush it everyday.

So I got a dog that has hair that requires no grooming. I can't imagine getting, say, a chow. My poor chow, were I to have one, would pretty much be shaved bald.

Michiyo-Fir · 08-14-2009, 10:19 PM

I'm also one of those people that think long haired dogs needs to be kept long. For example, if I had a Sheltie, Golden, Maltese, or Yorkie, I would definitely keep it in full coat. No puppy cut or trim unless it's just the feet, privates or eyes/mouth area.

I'm not sure why but I always think it looks strange when a long haired dog like a Golden or a Great Pyrenees gets shaved. Our family Cavalier used to be kept in great condition in full coat when I lived with her. But now that I've moved and she lives with my aunt's family (it's their dog) she needs to be trimmed every 3-4 weeks because they don't brush her enough and her feathering, ears, etc. are always dirty, smelly and matted. It makes me kind of sad really.

But I guess the exception is if it's too hot for some dogs, then they get shaved, that makes sense. I guess some people like puppy cuts or schnauzer cuts on Maltese or Yorkies and I can understand that. But I like to keep even pet dogs in show condition coats and the breed standard (AKC) coat.

PappyMom · 08-14-2009, 10:50 PM

I think this is why I love Papillons...Longer fur, but are still wash and go dogs...Very minimal brushing needed.. Although, I have no problems with brushing..actually I quite adore everything to do with grooming.

Michiyo-Fir · 08-14-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PappyMom

I think this is why I love Papillons...Longer fur, but are still wash and go dogs...Very minimal brushing needed.. Although, I have no problems with brushing..actually I quite adore everything to do with grooming.

You said it! Their coat hardly ever mats and cleans very easily with stuck leaves or dirt. Bathing is a bit of a hassle but that's the only part that's a little difficult in grooming! I hate the blow-drying. It takes so long and my poor dog looks like she's freezing to death even wrapped in 2 towels.

Laurelin · 08-15-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PappyMom

I think this is why I love Papillons...Longer fur, but are still wash and go dogs...Very minimal brushing needed.. Although, I have no problems with brushing..actually I quite adore everything to do with grooming.

I was just thinking that! I've had shelties and a golden mix and it is so much work to keep a double coated longhaired dog. I love that papillons have the longhaired look that I love, but it's probably one of the easiest coats to keep. They just don't mat up easily like other longhaired dogs. If they get in the mud, give them an hour and it's gone. I think it's been 2 weeks since I last brushed them and their coat is as nice as ever.

Beau looked like this the other day but he was back to normal in no time with zero work from me.

All I have to do is really trim up their feet once a month.

The best thing though is I ALWAYS get compliments on grooming and always get asked how much time I spend grooming. No one believes me when I say I really don't groom them much.