Hi There, I have a spitz breed called an Akita. This is a big dog and I need to do something about her coat. How often should I be grooming her? She is hard to bathe, being so big and we live on a farm so she always seems such a mess. I didn’t think she would need so much work. Is there an easy way to do this? She is often really doggie smelling too,

Patricia

ANSWER:

Akitas like all Spitz breeds have a thick double coat that is supposed to be easy to maintain but often is the exact opposite.

The first thing that jumps out at me, Patricia is your last sentence “she is often really doggie smelling too”. Although the Spitz breeds have a thick coat, they are known for their lack of doggy smell as their skin does not tend to release as much oil as a shorter or thinner haired dog. If she has a strong doggie odor, there may be some underlying condition that needs to be addressed such as food allergies that is causing her to produce more oil then is normal for her breed. Have a look between her toes and around her pads as well as in her ears. If they seem hot, red, itchy or have a discharge, I would take her to the vet and have them go over her. A thick coat can hide many conditions that are evident on other breeds.

As for grooming her, I would plan on taking her to a groomer every six months for a thorough bath and blow dry. Her double coat is not only difficult to clean, but also to rinse thoroughly which groomers are used to handling. Grooming shops also have forced cool air dryers that blow the dead coat out and dry her thoroughly without damaging the fur or drying out their delicate skin.

Once she is a clean slate, a daily brushing should keep her in good shape until her next grooming session. Invest in a comb or brush that is comfortable for you to use for an extended period and use treats as a way of making it enjoyable for her. Soon you will find she is an easier dog to live with and that you both enjoy the grooming session!

I would just love to have to have an Afghan, but I know there is special grooming needed for longhaired dogs. Maybe I should know what I’m getting into before I buy one. What can you tell me?

Alice

ANSWER:

Wow, Alice, are you ever a sucker for punishment! Afghans are beautiful but they are a lot of work to keep in coat and looking their best.

A few things you would need to buy – a snood, a pumice stone, coat conditioner, scissors, thinning shears…get the picture yet?

If you really want an Afghan and the work that goes into keeping the coat in fair condition does not scare you right off the bat, then by all means, get one. My best advice is to contact some Afghan breeders and ask to visit their kennel. Spend some time with the dogs themselves as well as some time watching the breeder groom their dogs. The breeders of individual breeds are the best people to ask about such things as grooming tips and will be able to give you far more information and preferably, hands on training that I am not able to give online. Most breeders are happy to share their knowledge with potential puppy homes and welcome people that are interested in their breed.

Keep in mind that for any breed of dog that has a unique coat type or grooming needs that just because they are groomed a certain way for the show ring does not mean that they need to have the same look as a pet. Most people that own Poodles, Old English Sheepdogs, Shih Tzu, Cocker Spaniels ect keep their dogs in a much shorter pet cut that is easier to maintain so never say no to a breed for that reason alone.

There’s a valid reason for my vet clinic to sell these. It only removes the old dead hair that has detached from the dog’s skin and leaves the new ones. The manufacturer says you shouldn’t use the Furminator to get out tangles and burrs, but I’ve used it successfully for that.

It resembles the blade on an electric clipper, but you use it like a brush. A friend tried the large size for her Bernese Mountain Dog, thinking nothing would work well, and came inside 3 minutes later with a humongous ball of hair she’d brushed out from one little section of her dog.

It also excels for brushing cats and reducing hairballs; it makes a huge difference on my long-haired cat. It comes in small, medium, large, cat, and equine sizes. All sizes have the same edge, it’s just a matter of width, like a lawn mower. The blade can be sharpened.

Using the Furminator a couple of times a week for 10 to 20 minutes makes a world of difference.

Be careful not to push down too hard or you’ll irritate the dog’s skin.

Sure, you can buy cheaper brushes, but why? This one is far more effective and will last for years as long as you leave the protective plastic cap on when you’re not using it.

Click here to see the best prices on the Furminator