Long haired farm dogs - coat management?

[paintedpony]

I have great success using a high velocity blower on our long coat shepherd. She despises any form of brushing and you are hard pressed to get in more than a dozen swipes before she escapes. Loves and will stand freely for the blower (I believe the warming function greatly aids this compliance). Tip: cover ears before attempting.

Weekly/biweekly blowouts keep her coat manageable and greatly reduces compaction of hind fur. If she has any matting I cut several lengthwise slices into the spot prior to blowing. The matting then usually blows out or is reduced to level of finger management.

The dirt, hair and debris cloud produced is shocking. Definitely an outdoor task.

[Equibrit]

Wash rack and blower !

[alpine1]

Just be sure if you do use one that you do it correctly. The skin must be pulled taught if you’re combing in a loose-skin area, otherwise it will dig in and hurt, or ever cut the dog

[Mosey_2003]

I would definitely clip and try to keep slippery spray on in intervals with bathing.

My big fluffy farm dog hates brushing. As in bites. I started from a wee pup and he doesn’t care, he’ll take my arm off over it. I’m thinking come spring I might be clipping him all-over except he gets so much undercoat that it might not even make a difference on the main problem ~sigh~ So I totally commiserate with you.

[Weezer]

Before jumping for the clippers, try some cowboy magic. I run a bit of that through my Aussie’s fur, and burs, etc come out easily.

[Cat_Tap]

For the past 40 years I have had Bouviers on the farm, usually two at a time. I think I have used just about every suggestion already mentioned above. I ended up putting them on cross ties in the barn for clipping, brushing spraying etc. It was an endless job.

Currenrly dogless. The other day a friend visited and said; I can tell there is no dog, your house is so much cleaner.

[thatmoody]

Weighing in on coat management as a long-time poodle owner whose poo’s have always been convinced that they are farm dogs, darn it!

Definitely clip; you don’t have to stress about clipping a puppy coat. Many people mistake the normal coat changes that poodle-cross dogs get around the same time they often clip as “ruining” the coat when it’s just that the adult dog’s coat is harsher anyway.

Doodles undergo a special hell because of the mix of coat types. My poodles’ coats are curly as hell, and they MUST be brushed at least every other day, even if kept short (I keep mine pretty close-clipped even in winter; they wear a coat at the barn in cold weather). The straighter haired mix means you get a matty mess from the combined fine/straight/curl. Kind of like a fine, curly haired child. Plus most poodle owners know what they signed up for in the grooming department so they get them on the clipping/brushing/washing/blowing out bandwagon early. If your poodle doesn’t come as a puppy shaved, the breeder didn’t do the foundation work. It can still be rectified but it sure helps when the puppies have it just as a part of life.

Washing - I was my poo’s once a week or once every two weeks, followed by a high-powered blow out to straighten the hair. That helps them not mat between brushing. If you use a gentle shampoo and conditioner you shouldn’t notice dry skin or irritation (I like any of the Chris Christensen products; I use their brushes as well).

[TheJenners]

@SinMiedo

I clip my Aussie with a 7 blade. It doesn’t peel him, but it makes it so much easier to remove the burrs and such.
He grows a super wiry wool-like coat that’s impossible to maintain even with constant brushing and clipping has made both of our lives a lot more pleasant, lol

I’m having a hard time picturing what a 7 looks like, can you post a picture?

@endlessclimb

It’s either that or getting in a nasty pond or rolling in something rancid lol

Sigh. That is a string of pond scum. Talk about pictures you can smell. Blech.

[endlessclimb]

But he looks so PLEASED.

[S1969]

@TheJenners

I’m having a hard time picturing what a 7 looks like, can you post a picture?

This is my old dog after probably being clipped with a 5F (but it might have been a 7F). It will clip short but not so short as to be bristly. Probably total length is about 1/2".

For reference this was the before picture. Wish I could see that clipper blade close up (this was about 8 years ago so I just can’t remember! But because he was quite elderly I probably didn’t clip too close.)

If you’re unsure, start with the 5F. You can always go shorter.

[SinMiedo]

This is the blade I use

[TheJenners]

@S1969

re, start with the 5F. You can always go shorter.

Thanks. Too short for my boys, I would die. As much as I want life to be easier I did clip my Aussie/Kelpie once, and people thought he was a a. pitbull, and rapidly pulled their dog away at a park, and b. a Labrador. Um?

Grown back out

[luvmyhackney]

This is a 7f on my heeler/schnauzer mix.

I wouldn’t cut your boys this short, it’s really short. Maybe just use a guard and clean up the belly/legs area.

[Texarkana]

FWIW, I’m glad I didn’t clip yet. I think my mutt is the foundation of a new breed of working snow dog.

She is living her best life out here.

[Kyrabee]

Certainly easier for her to stay clean in that much snow (other than snowballs) .

[sophie]

Jealous of all that snow!!

[Texarkana]

@sophie

Jealous of all that snow!!

You can have it!

[sophie]

I wish I could!
Watching family pictures from 15-20 years ago, we used to have snowy winters like in your photo.
No more…

[Bicoastal]

After this snow melts, we are going to have SO. MUCH. MUD. For tools, I echo anything Chris Christensen (CC). For sprays, if you already have Show Sheen or Cowboy Magic in your tack box, use what you have. The Stuff, Crown Royale, Ice and Ice are all fine. Anything with silicone.

I would specifically recommend CC’s Big G Slicker, though I acknowledge you said she hates slickers. A basic oval pin brush and a rake are also necessary. I start with the pin brush, then rake (with rotating tines as has been mentioned), then slicker. That gradual increase in intensity seems to reduce the catching and snagging, as any big stuff has already been identified. For mats, cut into them vertically with thinning shears/chunkers.

But yeah. Whack her down. She’ll still be plenty warm if you leave a little. Then go wild with thinning shears behind ears, elbows, up the groin, around the poop chute, and other problematic spots.

[Bicoastal]

Just a warm up. The big melt (and mud!) is yet to come