Tangling

2650 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by 2poos4me, Aug 30, 2008

MissMac

Discussion Starter · Jun 23, 2008 (Edited)

Ok, please help. I have no idea what we are doing wrong. Our girl is almost a year old and we've done the grooming (clipping) ourselves so far. We haven't had a problem with that part of her grooming but we can't seem to keep her hair from tangling! We use a conditioner in the tub and we have a detangler that we use (Vet.'s Best something or other), we brush her regularly...we've used a slicker brush, a pin brush and a comb...and we just can't seem to keep her from tangling. Then it's just torture for the poor thing when we have to sit there and get the tangles out. We typically bathe her about once a week. Do we need to bathe her more often so she has that conditioner applied more than once a week?

Oh, and she has fairly short to short hair. We actually nearly completely shaved her once because of the tangles and it's just now finally starting to grow out a bit. The only part of her that is the slightest bit poofy is her head and tail.

Any suggestions? What is your (any of you) typical grooming schedule? How often do you brush/bath/etc. your poodes?

Thanks!
Laura

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Jako

· #2 · Jun 23, 2008

If she is almost a year old, she is probably right in the middle of her coat change, when the adult hair starts to grow in. During this time the puppy mats(tangles) very easily, and will probably need to be brushed daily. Remember to part the hair and brush in sections, so the brush gets down to the root of the hair, and not just the top. Also make sure there are no tangles before you bathe her. Giving a matted dog a bath just makes the tangles worse.

I hope this helps. I think your biggest problem is probably the coat change, which should be over soon. Have fun with your girl!

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Purple Poodle

· #3 · Jun 23, 2008

Tangles are unavoidable with Poodles

What helps the most is fluff drying with an air force dryer. It keeps the hair straighter longer and the less curl they have the less it will tangle. I have the most issues with Tuesdays armpits and her sides where her legs rub. Her coat is about 4 to 5 inches long once blown out and unless I brush her out everyday she gets tangles.

So just keep on top of it and get out any knots you feel before they get too big.

Edit: Coat changes last until they are about two years old and an adult.

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T o d d

· #4 · Jun 24, 2008

Air drying instead of natural drying on it's own really helps I've found.

For us we keep it short so no worry about tangling! He sure gets hot when we let it grow ~1". 1/8" is what it gets cut to all over. I guess we are not your standard standard poodle owners

Moose is also a little over 1 year and his new cote is coming in, and you can tell.

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MissMac

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 24, 2008

Well, good to know that I'm not alone. I'm not sure we'd be able to air dry her coat (I'm assuming this means as in...blow dryer??). We've never done that and when I blow dry my own she's afraid of it. We can give it a shot next time after her bath though.

Thanks for the replies. It really does help to know that it's not just us or that we're not necessarily doing something wrong.

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T o d d

· #6 · Jun 24, 2008

MissMac said:
Well, good to know that I'm not alone. I'm not sure we'd be able to air dry her coat (I'm assuming this means as in...blow dryer??). We've never done that and when I blow dry my own she's afraid of it. We can give it a shot next time after her bath though.

Thanks for the replies. It really does help to know that it's not just us or that we're not necessarily doing something wrong.

Blow dryer, shop vac, anything that blows air

Try a blow dryer on low speed, and no/low heat.

Moose is afraid of the hose but when I start on his back and spray him he LOVES it and stands still and lets me hose him down completely. If I start spraying and go towards him he freaks out. Maybe you can do the same kind of thing with the blow dryer

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2poos4me

· #7 · Aug 30, 2008

Oh yes...the dreaded poodle coat change. They seem to mat up overnight. I'm going through that right now with mine. It is alot of work to keep him mat free. Although, you don't want to soften the coat (because poodles are suppose to have a crisp coat, I still condition mine alot to help. Be sure, when you are brushing your poodle that you're not brushing a dry coat, that will only break the ends and make tangles/mats worse. Use a grooming spay to mist the coat.

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