Easy-care Coats

[dee lee]

I was thinking of making my dog into a DD after her roll in mud yesterday- I am sorely tempted to shave her fur off and turn her into a smooth coated Golden retriever!! :D

The dirt does fall off when dry, but its how loooooooooooong it takes to dry that is the problem- hours!!

I am very careful where I take her walking...

[poodlefan]

This would equally apply to any coated dog. If you want difficult try a purebred wheaten terrier that's soaked and covered in mud and see how long he takes to get dry. I'm betting your oodle would take less time.

Agree. I'm not trying to promote oodles but my MSx poodles coat is MUCH easier to care for than my pure MS's coat. She has knots if she isn't brushed every second day. I never need to brush him between grooms and he doesn't knot at all.

I don't agree with oodle breeders making claims about easy to care for coats, just as I don't agree with generalisations that oodle coats are somehow harder to manage than any long coat.

Talk to a few professional groomers Megan and you might find there's a basis in fact for the assertion. I know two local pro groomers who rate some oodle coats as the most challenging to groom. The lack of care given to coat by some owners between visits is no doubt a contributing factor. Combining double coat and curly or non-shedding coat = grooming nightmare.

No truer comment has been made...long coated dogs of the maltese, poodle genre is just the same as so far as management is concerned irrespective of whether it is purebred or crossbred.

See comment above. Furthermore, maintaining a Maltese coat and maintaining poodle coat is not "just the same". You dont generally clip Maltese in the same way for a start. 70% of crossbred poodles dont have true poodle coat.

Edited November 11, 2010 by poodlefan

[Parkeyre]

My medium coated Aussie girl has a Teflon coat :D The other day she went in a creek and had mud caked on her legs and belly... we didn't even rinse her, she was just magically clean again after an hour or so!

My Australian Shepherds are the same.

Promoting crossbreeds is against the forum rules just FYI.

Just as well she's not promoting them.

Did you read the entire OP or just the title?

[nickyp]

This would equally apply to any coated dog. If you want difficult try a purebred wheaten terrier that's soaked and covered in mud and see how long he takes to get dry. I'm betting your oodle would take less time.

Agree. I'm not trying to promote oodles but my MSx poodles coat is MUCH easier to care for than my pure MS's coat. She has knots if she isn't brushed every second day. I never need to brush him between grooms and he doesn't knot at all.

I don't agree with oodle breeders making claims about easy to care for coats, just as I don't agree with generalisations that oodle coats are somehow harder to manage than any long coat.

Talk to a few professional groomers Megan and you might find there's a basis in fact for the assertion. I know two local pro groomers who rate some oodle coats as the most challenging to groom. The lack of care given to coat by some owners between visits is no doubt a contributing factor. Combining double coat and curly or non-shedding coat = grooming nightmare.

No truer comment has been made...long coated dogs of the maltese, poodle genre is just the same as so far as management is concerned irrespective of whether it is purebred or crossbred.

See comment above. Furthermore, maintaining a Maltese coat and maintaining poodle coat is not "just the same". You dont generally clip Maltese in the same way for a start. 70% of crossbred poodles dont have true poodle coat.

I would second this. My sister has a labradoodle with a 'poodle' coat. She says her groomer absolutely hates doing her dog's coat because it's much thicker than an actual poodle coat and mats as soon as it has any length on it. The only thing that can be done with it is to clip the dog really, really short. My sister's other dog, a spoodle ( :D ), has a much easier to manage, silky coat which can be left with a bit of length on it and can be brushed out if it gets dirty or knotted.

I much prefer the coats on my two kelpie x's. Dirt doesn't stick to them, no mats and when they go to the groomers (because I am too lazy to brush the dead coat out in Spring) it doesn't cost me a fortune!

[MalteseLuna]

This would equally apply to any coated dog. If you want difficult try a purebred wheaten terrier that's soaked and covered in mud and see how long he takes to get dry. I'm betting your oodle would take less time.

Agree. I'm not trying to promote oodles but my MSx poodles coat is MUCH easier to care for than my pure MS's coat. She has knots if she isn't brushed every second day. I never need to brush him between grooms and he doesn't knot at all.

I don't agree with oodle breeders making claims about easy to care for coats, just as I don't agree with generalisations that oodle coats are somehow harder to manage than any long coat.

No truer comment has been made...long coated dogs of the maltese, poodle genre is just the same as so far as management is concerned irrespective of whether it is purebred or crossbred.

This is completely un-true.

A true silky Maltese coat is quite easy to look after - even in a longer cut I only have to brush every 2-3 days and then it's generally just where the harness rubs that gets knotted. In a short cut ... I haven't brushed Luna since Saturday (though I have re-done her top knot every 2 days) and she has no knots or mats. Of course cottony coats are common in Maltese as well and can be harder to maintain. A show coat is also equally difficult given the length of hair and wanting to prevent hair breakage.

Poodles and Maltese have very different coats - crosses have unpredictable coat types - generally not being similar to either a Maltese or Poodle.

Additionally Poodles and Maltese require different brushes, combs, methods of brushing etc etc. A curly coat isn't the same as a straight (and silky) coat - neither is maintenance.

I also find that Luna might get sandy, muddy, wet but generally once she is dry (I don't ever brush her when wet) the sand/mud drops off and I am left with a white dog again (of course not a pristine dog). Note if she literally rubbed herself in a mud patch she would need a bath - but so would a short haired dog :D

Edited November 11, 2010 by MalteseLuna

[Andisa]

This would equally apply to any coated dog. If you want difficult try a purebred wheaten terrier that's soaked and covered in mud and see how long he takes to get dry. I'm betting your oodle would take less time.

Agree. I'm not trying to promote oodles but my MSx poodles coat is MUCH easier to care for than my pure MS's coat. She has knots if she isn't brushed every second day. I never need to brush him between grooms and he doesn't knot at all.

I don't agree with oodle breeders making claims about easy to care for coats, just as I don't agree with generalisations that oodle coats are somehow harder to manage than any long coat.

This pic is of an "oodle" - their Malt x Shih Tzu is never in the state that this one gets in but it does get matted. It took about 3 hours to finish this dog, the matting was close to the skin all over as you can see. It was literally mm/cm at a time over her whole body making sure I didn't cut her. - but getting started was the hardest part of all.

Poodles x Goldens / Labs / Cockers..... can have thick coats and they are very hard on the clippers and blades making them blunt much faster than doing other coats. No idea how many pairs of scissors that have been ruined by cutting through matted thick coats - not cheapies either..

eta: another photo.

Edited November 11, 2010 by Andisa

[Natsu chan]

It's not the length of the coat that dictates the amount of care it needs so much as the type of coat it has. I have Collies (roughs that is), and like Aussies and Borders they're quite easy care really. Dirt and muck just brush out, and they don't need a huge amount of grooming provided it's done properly. There in lies the rub though as a lot of people tend to brush their dogs thinking they're doing the right thing without actually penetrating the coat down to the skin, and then of course if it's a double coat the under coat will felt together.

Non shedding types of coat are another kettle of fish all together as are the long silky coats you see on Maltese. But the real fun comes when you get a dog who has a combination of coat types.

Andisa that poor dog! She must have been so relieved to be free of all that.

Edited November 11, 2010 by Natsu chan

[MalteseLuna]

This pic is of an "oodle" - their Malt x Shih Tzu is never in the state that this one gets in but it does get matted. It took about 3 hours to finish this dog, the matting was close to the skin all over as you can see. It was literally mm/cm at a time over her whole body making sure I didn't cut her. - but getting started was the hardest part of all.

Poodles x Goldens / Labs / Cockers..... can have thick coats and they are very hard on the clippers and blades making them blunt much faster than doing other coats. No idea how many pairs of scissors that have been ruined by cutting through matted thick coats - not cheapies either..

eta: another photo.

The state of that dog is appalling - seriously. My parents dog doesn't get anywhere close to that bad and I rant at them about it :D

She must have been sooo happy to be rid of all that hair/matted filth.

[Sheridan]

This pic is of an "oodle" - their Malt x Shih Tzu is never in the state that this one gets in but it does get matted. It took about 3 hours to finish this dog, the matting was close to the skin all over as you can see. It was literally mm/cm at a time over her whole body making sure I didn't cut her. - but getting started was the hardest part of all.

Poodles x Goldens / Labs / Cockers..... can have thick coats and they are very hard on the clippers and blades making them blunt much faster than doing other coats. No idea how many pairs of scissors that have been ruined by cutting through matted thick coats - not cheapies either..

eta: another photo.

Well, I'll give you your matted oodle and raise you one matted wheaten terrier in the same state:

Matted wheaten terrier

Matted is matted. Doesn't matter whether the dog is an oodle or a purebred.

Edited November 11, 2010 by Sheridan

[poodlefan]

This pic is of an "oodle" - their Malt x Shih Tzu is never in the state that this one gets in but it does get matted. It took about 3 hours to finish this dog, the matting was close to the skin all over as you can see. It was literally mm/cm at a time over her whole body making sure I didn't cut her. - but getting started was the hardest part of all.

Poodles x Goldens / Labs / Cockers..... can have thick coats and they are very hard on the clippers and blades making them blunt much faster than doing other coats. No idea how many pairs of scissors that have been ruined by cutting through matted thick coats - not cheapies either..

eta: another photo.

Well, I'll give you your matted oodle and raise you one matted wheaten terrier in the same state:

Matted wheaten terrier

Matted is matted. Doesn't matter whether the dog is an oodle or a purebred.

Of course how quickly they reach that state and how challenging it is to remove the matts DOES matter.

[Sheridan]

This pic is of an "oodle" - their Malt x Shih Tzu is never in the state that this one gets in but it does get matted. It took about 3 hours to finish this dog, the matting was close to the skin all over as you can see. It was literally mm/cm at a time over her whole body making sure I didn't cut her. - but getting started was the hardest part of all.

Poodles x Goldens / Labs / Cockers..... can have thick coats and they are very hard on the clippers and blades making them blunt much faster than doing other coats. No idea how many pairs of scissors that have been ruined by cutting through matted thick coats - not cheapies either..

eta: another photo.

Well, I'll give you your matted oodle and raise you one matted wheaten terrier in the same state:

Matted wheaten terrier

Matted is matted. Doesn't matter whether the dog is an oodle or a purebred.

Of course how quickly they reach that state and how challenging it is to remove the matts DOES matter.

One more thing that is not limited to one side of the oodle/purebred divide. :D

[W Sibs]

OMG... I love Emmy's fur. Seriously, no maintence on it at all. She rolls in the mud, I make her shake, dry her off and she is white again... fricken awesome.

Charlie's coat on the other hand... everything sticks to him and once it sticks on, it's hard to get off. I have to shave his chest, legs and butt once every fortnight or else he looks like a stray scruffy dog. I trim his tail once a week (who says the tail is the longest to grow back.. I laugh at you!!)... I try to avoid giving him a bath the most because it takes him FOREVER to dry. He is a Cav x Shih Tzu.

[poodlefan]

OMG... I love Emmy's fur. Seriously, no maintence on it at all. She rolls in the mud, I make her shake, dry her off and she is white again... fricken awesome.

Charlie's coat on the other hand... everything sticks to him and once it sticks on, it's hard to get off. I have to shave his chest, legs and butt once every fortnight or else he looks like a stray scruffy dog. I trim his tail once a week (who says the tail is the longest to grow back.. I laugh at you!!)... I try to avoid giving him a bath the most because it takes him FOREVER to dry. He is a Cav x Shih Tzu.

Sounds like you need to invest in a decent dryer CW!

[GomezAkita]

Akita's or other double coat dogs tend to be relatively easy most water and dirt does not penetrate to the skin, just sticks to the fur and brushes out.

The down side is when they are blowing coat :D

[W Sibs]

OMG... I love Emmy's fur. Seriously, no maintence on it at all. She rolls in the mud, I make her shake, dry her off and she is white again... fricken awesome.

Charlie's coat on the other hand... everything sticks to him and once it sticks on, it's hard to get off. I have to shave his chest, legs and butt once every fortnight or else he looks like a stray scruffy dog. I trim his tail once a week (who says the tail is the longest to grow back.. I laugh at you!!)... I try to avoid giving him a bath the most because it takes him FOREVER to dry. He is a Cav x Shih Tzu.

Sounds like you need to invest in a decent dryer CW!

Yeah. I've been looking for one.

Not sure which one to get though.

[MalteseLuna]

Akita's or other double coat dogs tend to be relatively easy most water and dirt does not penetrate to the skin, just sticks to the fur and brushes out.

The down side is when they are blowing coat :D

hehe - it looks like it's snowing?

I 'love' going to my parents house - if wearing anything dark I always come back wearing something light coloured... Pugs do that!

[poodlefan]

OMG... I love Emmy's fur. Seriously, no maintence on it at all. She rolls in the mud, I make her shake, dry her off and she is white again... fricken awesome.

Charlie's coat on the other hand... everything sticks to him and once it sticks on, it's hard to get off. I have to shave his chest, legs and butt once every fortnight or else he looks like a stray scruffy dog. I trim his tail once a week (who says the tail is the longest to grow back.. I laugh at you!!)... I try to avoid giving him a bath the most because it takes him FOREVER to dry. He is a Cav x Shih Tzu.

Sounds like you need to invest in a decent dryer CW!

Yeah. I've been looking for one.

Not sure which one to get though.

Unless you need to be hands free for brushing coat, a small force dryer would probably be the go.

[W Sibs]

OMG... I love Emmy's fur. Seriously, no maintence on it at all. She rolls in the mud, I make her shake, dry her off and she is white again... fricken awesome.

Charlie's coat on the other hand... everything sticks to him and once it sticks on, it's hard to get off. I have to shave his chest, legs and butt once every fortnight or else he looks like a stray scruffy dog. I trim his tail once a week (who says the tail is the longest to grow back.. I laugh at you!!)... I try to avoid giving him a bath the most because it takes him FOREVER to dry. He is a Cav x Shih Tzu.

Sounds like you need to invest in a decent dryer CW!

Yeah. I've been looking for one.

Not sure which one to get though.

Unless you need to be hands free for brushing coat, a small force dryer would probably be the go.

I'm googling now... :D

thanks!!!

[poodlefan]

OMG... I love Emmy's fur. Seriously, no maintence on it at all. She rolls in the mud, I make her shake, dry her off and she is white again... fricken awesome.

Charlie's coat on the other hand... everything sticks to him and once it sticks on, it's hard to get off. I have to shave his chest, legs and butt once every fortnight or else he looks like a stray scruffy dog. I trim his tail once a week (who says the tail is the longest to grow back.. I laugh at you!!)... I try to avoid giving him a bath the most because it takes him FOREVER to dry. He is a Cav x Shih Tzu.

Sounds like you need to invest in a decent dryer CW!

Yeah. I've been looking for one.

Not sure which one to get though.

Unless you need to be hands free for brushing coat, a small force dryer would probably be the go.

I'm googling now... :D

thanks!!!

If you search on thread titles here for "dryer" you'll find plenty of recommendation threads.

[Quickasyoucan]

My stafford x is my first short coated breed (we had welsh springers as a family) and I love the fact that is he lies in mud it doesn't matter. That said, the mud did used to fall off our welsh springers once it had dried.

I take my hat off to anyone with a 'non-shedding' breed who keeps it in good condition as you see an awful lot of dogs in pounds and on the streets with mats, gooby eyes etc.