Re: Moulting... You can't stop it, the old fur has to come out! But you can try the Furminator, which pulls out a lot of the dead undercoat and speeds up the process. Use with care though. It is also pricey, but for a dog like a Labrador with a thick undercoat, it works well.
Re: Moulting... A word of warning though about the furminator, as I think it depends on the thickness of the undercoat. Lilly is not a "fluffy" dog, and I think her coat would be too fine and sleek to use it. Someone gave me a tip too that if you brush your dog frequently they may be MORE likely to shed. Not sure its true, but worth repeating for interest.
Re: Moulting... I agree ! The more I brushed McQueen the more he shed ! So I have stopped doing it, it was becoming a nightmare. After a beach swim I hose him down with plain water and that's pretty much it...He, mind you has extremely thick fur and retains it to his 9th month. I wonder sometimes whether that will always be the case with him or if it's simply a puppy phase...
Re: Moulting... God I brush Dexter everyday......no one surprised there are you!? ;D.....only a really quick once over to keep him looking dapper He doesn't seem to be shedding loads though bearing in mind our climate....but Ive had no other dog to compare him too .
Re: Moulting... If I DO brush Lilly, its with this cheap-as-chips rubber glove thing from the factory shop - its brilliant! Same idea as the slightly more expensive zoom-groom I think made by Kong ;D I wouldn't buy anything else now - at the beginning I was recommended one of these wire pin brushes - Lilly just hated it! If she has loads of loose looking hair I will use it, but don't brush her otherwise.
Re: Moulting... I had one of those plastic wear glove thingies...the term HAD past tense considering McQueen turned into desert when he got a hold of it without my looking...
Re: Moulting... O lordy, I've never brushed Charlie! I bought a puppy brush, and the first time I tried he chewed it (of course, :). Then I just had too much other stuff to do (teeth cleaning - thanks to Angela's fantastic tips, we are getting there). He gets a rinse and a rub over with a big sponge when he comes back from the beach/muddy walk - most days. And a wipe over with a few antibacterial wipes before he gets on the furniture. I'm afraid that's it! Am I doing any harm? I don't have a big hair problem (yet). Probably because he is still a puppy? Do they absolutely need brushing?
Re: Moulting... Nope! Nor the washing bit ;D Unless your name is Lilly (or Lady?) and you love rolling in fox poo and stinky stuff ;D ;D
Re: Moulting... I think they do benefit from brushing when they are blowing a coat (that is, mass shedding of winter undercoat). I brush Obi every few weeks. I do it very gently and he seems to enjoy it I use one of the comb ones with metal pin type teeth. He would get a bath only a few times a year (or when he is dirty as he is now because yesterday he stuck his head inside our old barbecue that is waiting to be thrown out and now the top of his head is black and plain water won't shift it).
Re: Moulting... Ah - maybe I haven't experienced a shedding coat yet. Charlie was born at the end of last Feb and we got him in April. (It was a cold spring, and it was snowing when we went to see him in a lovely pretty village, in the Chew valley, on the edge of the mendip hills - sniff, fairy tale stuff finding my puppy...anyway...) Then his proper coat came through in May/June so was probably a summer one. No doubt I'll find out come Autumn... I rinse him off after the beach because I read that salt water can irritate the skin if not rinsed off. Is that right do you think?
Re: Moulting... Yes, I think that's a good idea. A rinse in plain water won't hurt at all. It's really only shampooing that you shouldn't do too much of. Make sure he gets the chance to get nice and dry after though - just a thorough towel-off is fine.
Re: Moulting... Thanks Rachael, I haven't shampooed him yet - he still smells like a puppy (or maybe I'm kidding myself, and he actually smells hugely labby, swampy and really pongs, but I just like it!).
Re: Moulting... I brush Fox Pooh - sorry, Lady about once or twice a week when she looks like she needs a good buffing. About every couple of weeks or so a lot of undercoat comes out. The other guide to needing a brush is drifts of black hair appearing on the carpet.
Re: Moulting... Julie, Amy seemed to loose loads at about 6 months. Don't know if it was her puppy fur shedding or the heat wave we had. So maybe Charlie will start loosing soon.
Re: Moulting... [quote author=David link=topic=2298.msg21668#msg21668 date=1376895213] I brush Fox Pooh - sorry, Lady about once or twice a week when she looks like she needs a good buffing. About every couple of weeks or so a lot of undercoat comes out. The other guide to needing a brush is drifts of black hair appearing on the carpet. [/quote] David, all you need to do to solve this problem is to get black carpet.
Re: Moulting... David needs to go to your carpet supplier Rachael,he had some fantastic Labrador appropriate shades didnt he!
Re: Moulting... Absolutely, Angela. Our carpet in 'Dirty Yellow Lab' has now been down a week and it's brilliant. Hides the fur like a dream!
