The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

I followed the advice I have been seeing on here - actually went back and read every grooming article that is in the archives... a few times. Now I just need a little advice.

For whitening a coat, someone stated to use the Coat Handler 15-1 clarifying shampoo at a stronger than usual dilution. What dilution strength would that be? 10-1? 13-1? 5-1? Opinions and clarification please.

I've been fighting her coat lately with matting issues. It is just so long and we go hiking everywhere and I didn't realize you weren't supposed to brush dry. I know, bad me, but that's part of the learning process. So we're spending a lot of time on the couch together picking tangles out. Now somebody said to use the Coat Handler 15-1 conditioner stronger than normal.... okay, again, how much stronger?

Also picked up the Coat Handler detangler when I placed the order. So, what would the suggestion be for picking out the mats? Shampoo, condition, then sit there on the couch with my damp and irritated puppy in my lap while I pick out each tangle one by one, or grab the detangling spray and just hit the highlights with the pup in my lap and start picking?

Ideas, opinions? She loves being brushed and we spend a lot of time on the couch being brushed all over... its her special time after supper. She just gets very willful when fully wet all over.

Hi. I use the recommended ratio. After I wash them and pat them dry, I spray the conditioner( it is a leave on conditioner as well) and make sure it is everywhere, let it stay on the coat for a few minutes and pat it dry again, then I use the dryer. I do not use the detangler. A while ago someone in the forum said to use cornstarch and carefully comb the tangles and it works, I do that before any time I notice tangles. That is what I do. Good luck.

You can dry brush and should brush between bathing IMO. I actually prefer brushing matts out dry. I do what an excellent groomer told me to do....brush right left right left...and out they come. I far prefer this over wet with a dryer.

Maybe a shorter cut would work best for your cocker baby?

Not ready to give up just yet. I'm way too hard headed for that. I will shave her down if I have to, but really rather not.

She's only got two that keep on coming back... unfortunately they're both right behind her front legs. For me to cut them off, means I would have to cut off her mini-skirt too, and I like it. :(

Current state... Yes, I know she needs a bath. She's getting it today.

She's so pretty and looks like my Koko. I gave up on the skirt because of the unnecessary suffering from detangling mats in that area. But it is a personal choice. I had posted those pictures before, but that is what my cockers look like without a shirt. Try again to comb the mats after saturating them with the cornstarch. Good luck.

Blu is just amazing. I just can't get over those eyes.

There's a few on here that she looks very similar to, including one male that looks like they could have been littermates. I just love all of her ticking and the spots on her muzzle look like freckles.

We're headed to the coast this weekend... gonna go on a mini vacation and visit a friend I haven't seen in a while, so she's getting a bath and a trim. Coat handler stuff is arriving today, so we shall see!

Unless you are showing your dog, I would do whatever works best for you and your schedule. I dry brush my dogs every night. I have two and I rotate who gets brushed. I sit down and brush during the evening news so it is easy and done regularly only takes a few minutes. I also comb the condition through the hair before I rinse to catch any little mats that need attention. I do blow dry my dogs in cooler weather but it is hot outside they "air dry".

She's short IMO now. I wouldn't take her down any further either. I'd be certain I was getting the matts completely out. If not they will return.

She is a very cute cocker.

In answer to your original question regarding concentration ratio. I have two full coated cockers who love to be in the car which requires a harness and do agility so matting is sometimes an issue especially behind the front legs or arm pits. I brush only once a week when bathing. I use the shampoo at about a 10:1 ratio and shampoo twice if really dirty. The conditioner I use alot stronger almost half and half but the real key to almost no matting is to soak the dog in it, don't just spray it on. The dogs feel almost slimy when soaked but don't worry it never makes the coat greasy or heavy feeling like other conditioners I've tried. It does take a little longer to dry when they are soaked in conditioner but the results are well worth the extra time. Looking at the cut of your dog I would start with a 10:1 ratio and adjust from there. Really soak those arm pit areas and the mats should brush out while drying with little to no trouble. If you have a really bad mat, cornstarch does work well. Sprinkle the cornstarch on the mat and work in I leave it for a few minutes and then comb out, I do this right before a bath but for me the mat must be really bad or else I just soak as I stated above and work out while drying. By soaking the dogs I've noticed that they don't mat up as much in the coming week as if I go lighter on the conditioner.

I do what BeckyH says...altho I dont alter the dilution. I use 15:1 but I completely soak the fur and leave it in I dont rinse it out. This has helped amazingly with mats (current and future). And not dry brushing has helped ALOT...I used to do it all the time but it breaks the fur which causes unevenness which then causes more mats. If you do brush in between baths you should use a spray to moisten the fur. (Made all the difference in the world on Jewelz's fur which is who I've brushed for 10 years.) Now I dont brush unless I go too long without bathing. In full coat, once a week baths are a must at my house or they will mat like crazy.

Ok I am totally lost here. You should brush them when they are wet? I am still kinda new at this and have so much to learn. Simon needs groomed but so far I have found one groomer - that I don't really care for - one that doesn't do Cockers and one who has never done one but is willing to try. Simon gets stressed out so easily at home let alone at a groomers so we haven't attempted this yet. I have a pair of clippers and I have turned them on to see how he reacted. He wasn't afraid so that was a plus lol. He gets matts on his back legs and every time I try to work on those he sits down - not really helpful is he lol. I don't want to scare him with the clippers but I really have no idea where to start. Guess I better send for that video asap.

You can get great info off youtube for cocker grooming as well as the dvd. You can google cocker grooming and find lots of info.

You can brush dry...I use a slicker to get out matts, and a pin brush other wise. Brushing between baths I do with a pin brush. I find getting all matts out before a bath works best for me. If you aren't experienced I would recommend brush all matts out prior to bathing.

I know this has been resurrected but I'll weigh in. Brushing dry and dirty or wet and clean all depends on how you want your dogs hair to look.

No matter what anyone says or does, brushing dry dirty hair breaks it. That's a fact. Broken hair tends to want to stick to other broken hair. That creates more mats. IF you brush every day or every other day you will probably keep those mats at bay. However, you WILL have broken thinner hair. no way around that. It will not look full and plush. It may look OK, but it won't truly be healthy unbroken hair.

Personally I can see the difference a mile away (if I have my glasses on ) if a dog is brushed dirty or not, especially if they are in full coat.

I'm on the only brush when wet, clean and conditioned team. That also means at least a once a week commitment to bathing and blow drying, and completely getting out those mats. If you are really committed teach your dog to lay down while being brushed. It shouldn't take any longer than an hour each week.

Just wanted to add two things. 1) if the tangles keep coming back in the very same spots perhaps you are not getting them completely out 2) I let my dogs run in the woods when they are walked so I feel I must brush often to ensure there are no burrs/twigs/etc in their hair that can also cause tangles. My dogs are longer than yours so I don't think length has anything to do with the tangles/mats.

My dogs have a dog door to the woods and still I only do them once a week. Yes, I'll pull out big twigs they bring in, and anything that comes out easily, but otherwise it stays in until the conditioner goes on. I have had at least one dog in full coat running in this yard. Toph being the current one, and she still only needs brushing once every two weeks or so with her bath.

Deborah is right on the sticker thing, with the exception of friction mats in the area of the armpits, every single tangle I run across has some sort of yard debris in it. however, with conditioner on it, they slide right out.

Bottom line is do what works for you. If what you're doing isn't working, try something else.

My favorite detangler is Cowboy Magic. Just put a LITTLE on the mat and brush it out.

Colleen Keough

sounds like what I need for my girls.

Hi Barb!

My best suggestion is to start reading and googling and learn how to do your own grooming. One of my chores when I was in my early teens was to groom my mom's poodles, but a poodle cut and a cocker cut is completely different. Start reading and don't be afraid to try. Hair will grow back. It doesn't matter how bad of a job you do, they will survive.

I will say, I am completely pleased with the Coat Handler. After using it a few months, I have to say, NO MATS!!! I am still brushing her in my lap at night while we relax and watch tv, but even the mats under her armpits have gone away and haven't come back! Now, her coat is still relatively short, but we shall see. So far, I haven't had a lick of trouble.

I will say, however, I have changed how I groom her. She used to be allowed to air dry. Now she gets blow dried and brushed the entire time. She's not particularly pleased with the prospect, but she'll learn to like it. I don't know how much has to do with the Coat Handler products and how much has to do with the fact that she's getting blow dried while brushing, but its helped immensely.

Here's the difference between what coat handler does. You saw the before pic.

Here's the After.

She is stunning. Glad the coat handler worked for her and that it seems to agree with her coat.

Hello,

Another thing u could try for matting and allows for easy brushing between baths is the following:

Bath thoroughly with Coat Handler 15:1 shampoo and rinse well. Take a 500ml to 1 litre warm water and depending on how long the coat is emulsify 2 - 3 squirts of Pantene Smooth and Silk Conditioner. Mix well and work into coat well and leave in and dry as normal.

What I like about this is that it is enough conditioner to Condition the coat without irritating sskin.

After every 5 or so washes I use Pantene Clarifying Shampoo to get rid og build up.

Let me know how this works for u...

Good luck

Thank you! Still working on growing it out again, but I couldn't be happier with the results.

Which reminds me.. I need to get more CH. I'm out of the conditioner.

Just a suggestion, not sure you can get her properly brushed if she is on your lap. I would put her on a table, the floor, or a counter to ensure you are thorough in your brushing.

I absolutely love Coat Handler! I have used it exclusively for 15 years. Their detangler product is magic! if you use it right, the mats just dissolve!. I spray it on the area that needs detangling, completely soak it, kind of rub it in with your fingers. Here is the catch - you have to wait about 10 minutes for it to do the trick. Then comb through, working your way through. I also use a mat breaker - they look like letter openers, but are made for dogs' fur. I had a dog that used to mat up badly and this stuff was a miracle worker! Sometimes I had to re-spray. Bad mats take time to work out.

Your puppy looks gorgeous! great job!