Grooming The Fluffters
I am often asked when we are out walking with The Fluffters "How do you keep those dogs so clean?" It's not as hard as you might think really.
Please remember on reading this item that I am not suggesting this is the way it should be done at all, this is just MY WAY. However I do feel I owe it to such beautiful creatures to keep them looking as beautiful, as I can!
After every walk
1. As where we walk The Fluffters everyday is very muddy, we towel them off, as soon as we get home. This dries their coats and removes much of the mud, we do this in our garage before we go indoors.
2. Once indoors - and when the coats are completely dry - I gently brush off any dry mud still left on the coat and that's it.( Most of the muds dries and just falls off) This is where the daily bit comes in!
General Grooming
My tools are simple a double coat rake, a comb and a paddle brush I groom The Fluffters for a short time most days to keep on top of their coats and to keep my house hair free. I groom in my Lounge on the floor, as I do not have a Grooming table and The Fluffters are used to this anyway.
The Fluffters Grooming time a very relaxing time and enjoy it very much, most of the time they just sleep and respond to my commands such as roll over, up you get and stay.....Kirby is still learning but very good so far where as Nova LOVES to be groomed...So we do sometimes get a bit of a bundle while we decide who goes first!
I keep a close eye on The condition of Fluffters skin and also always on the look out for any sign of Fleas or Ticks we have never had fleas but have had MANY Ticks which we remove with a tool from our Vets which is below.
Nail Care
I never used to trim Coney Angel & Kaylie's claws, as they were kept down naturally from walking on pavements. However now we have moved and rarely walk on pavements they need to be cut.
The Fluffters have a regular pedicure I check paws for any damage trim and file the claws including the dew claws which I keep as short as I can to avoid them being caught and torn and remove any fur that needs to be trimmed I use the claw clippers and file below....
Bathing
I only bath Coney Angel Kaylie & Alfie 2 to 3 times a year - that's it! As we do not show or compete, I just do not feel the need for any more than that, as the regular grooming keeps them clean enough. Kirby needs more regular baths as he is prone to roll in Poop! But his coat in general is quite easy to keep clean and dirt is easily brushed out once dried just as with The Samoyeds coats.
1. I run a few inches of warm water into the bottom of our bath so the dirty little feet stay soaking while I get on with the rest, I also use a non slip mat.
2. Add a Fluffter..... Once I coax them into the Bathroom!
3. I wet the coat and use a white coat shampoo on The Big Fluffters while Kirby & Nova have a Baby Shampoo.
4. I rinse the coat well and shampoo once again.
5. I thoroughly rinse the coat.
6. I then allow a few moments for a drip dry and then I hold up a towel to protect myself and the Bathroom and let them shake! yes it is messy, very messy but it gets rid of so much water.
7. A real good towel down.
8.Then dry the coats with a Turbo Blaster drier which was new to us in Aug 2006 before that it was mine and Loren's hair dryers together.
9. That's it -
Kirby & Nova's Coats
Kirby and Nova have nice coats well at least we all think so.... They are kinda wavy not fitting the Breed Standard but that's ok with us they are our Pets and not expected to win Crufts..LOL
I clip and trim Kirby and Nova's about every 4 Weeks coats using electric clippers and both normal and thinning scissors.
I let their coats grow longer and thicker in the Winter to help keep them warmer when out on walks.
Merli's Coat
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This was Merli the day she arrived with us and as you can see her coat needed a bit of a tidy up her ears were very heavy and so long that she tripped up on them.
I clip her coat leaving feathers on her belly legs and tail. I trim her inner and outer ear to shape and also lighten the ear weight with clippers.
I clip her as and when I think she needs it.
Kiki's Coat
Kiki's coat I would say is the hardest of all my dogs to maintain believe it or not as it needs very regular washing grooming and trimming to keep it looking it's best and it also matts very easily and quickly.
Kiki love's to roll in poop (sadly for me) especially cats and fox..yuk !Here she is before and during her bath
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Her coat also picks up bit and pieces while we are walking over the woods
so we call her our little velcro dog.
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Rio's Coat
Rio's coat is the easy coat to maintain, just regular brushing and bathing.
cocker spaniel westie samoyed kaylie alfie kirby nova spitz merliborder collie rio
