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Preventing Snow Balls?


LJCarey

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We got 12" of snow here in Maryland over the weekend, and the Cairn has turned his earthdog ways to snowdog ways. He loves bouncing through the deep snow, and going face first after invisible snow beings. Unfortunately after a being pretty much immersed in snow he comes out sporting balls of snow attached to his legs, his head and his stomach. He managed to get one today that was the size of a softball! It looked pretty uncomfortable too.

When riding horses we used to put crisco or pam in their hooves, to keep snowballs from forming. I'm thinking slathering crisco/pam on a Cairn is not going to work well, but does anyone know anything safe and clean that would do the same, or do you have any other recommendations?

Yesterday we had to take a hair dryer to his legs, which he did not enjoy and today he went right into a warm bath, which he also did not enjoy. He'd appreciate suggestions. ;-)

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Before I read the content of your post - I thought vaseline, but after reading it I thought maybe wetsuit. OK, I really got nothing for ya. :confused:

Sassy Jan 22, 2005

 

AM. CH. THARRBARR LITE MY FIRE ZOMERHOF

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I haven't figured out any way to prevent the snowballs and the little buggers are just about impossible to remove. If Buffy and Ziggy are covered in snowballs I make them go downstairs until the snowballs are melted, then dry them off with a towel. Ziggy will tolerate the hair dryer but Buffy wants nothing to do with it.

I agree that spraying a dog with Pam or slathering him in Crisco probably wouldn't work too well! :lol:

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Hmmm. That is an interesting question. Demps has little balls attach to him (never the size of a softball though) and it takes a while to drip dry when he comes in from his snow plowing - I never even gave it a thought that there might be a solution.

Elsie, Max, Meeko & Lori

 

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Kirby gets snowballs really bad and he hates when I try to pry off the ones in his armpits! Packy doesn't seem to get them as much and he actually rolls in the snow even more than Kirb. Packy has much coarses hair than Kirby though, so I wonder if that has something to do with it? Anyway, no suggestions here. We either hold their legs in our hands to warm them up and melt faster, or keep them confined in the hall until they melt. I keep threatening them with the hair dryer.

Jandy and my Cairns, Kirby & Phinney 
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I usually keep Zach in a crate with a bunch of towels until his snowballs go away, which usually doesn't take very long.

Kintra Cairns

Home of Multi-Group Winning Ch. Paragon's Stately Affair CD RN CGC "Zach"

And ZaZa, the Min Pin

Canine Chronicle article - "Through the Storm" about my first journey to Westminster


/>http://www.onlinedigitalpubs.com/publication/?i=31613&p=205

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I know of no way to prevent them. We used to put Max straight into the tub. Some snow formed them large and quickly, like the large wet stuff in Juneau, and some not at all, like the tiny dry flakes in Anchorage.

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I understand that there are some commercial products that will prevent the formation of snowballs on Cairns but I have never used it. It would appear the problem for most breeds is merely one of getting the darned things around the feet but my Cairns get them everywhere and very thickly as well, it must be something to do with the type of hair they have. I have never figured out why they form such perfect round balls either.

What we do is make them stay on throw rugs and their sheepskin throws and let them take care of the majority of the problem--they will clean themselves up and seem to prefer that to having us pull at their hair--although I can't always resist.

Our Sammi is a particular magnet for the things and our Idaho snow seems to be just right for the formation of the things.

I can't imagine spraying them with Pam--what a mess that would be on the carpet and furniture--worse than melted snow.

Here is Sammi cleaning herself up after a recent romp outside.

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Great video. I love how Sammi stays on the rug and works at the snowball. Mine prefer the round around the house like a crazed cairn method :twisted: then I go around with a towel.

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I loved the "snow beings"! Although we haven't had but a few inches at a time, some of it has drifted in the ditches and my Kirby has leaped in, and pounced around the yard like he was following the trail of a squirrel jumping. He has had a great time! The snow balls are clining to his soft under hair too! I just brush them off with him on a towel - he doesn't like that either but he isn't as fastidious as Sammi! In the snow, those aren't the balls I feel sorry for.

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What a sensible girl Sammi is and to stay on the mat whilst removing the snow balls....well that's a very good girl! I couldn't take my eyes off the video, it was unbelievable..bless her.

www.cairnterriertalk.co.uk

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I thought the video was good too - I think Sammi demonstrates great care in how she removes her snowballs - on the mat! Clever girl!

www.cairnterriertalk.co.uk

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Musher's Secret works the way Crisco would but it lasts longer and won't leave a permanent stain. I have found it to work well on the feet where I use it to prevent salt burn. When you put enough on to coat the paws, it will leave a somewhat slippery residue on tile floors and it temporarily leaves a spot on wooden floors that goes away quickly. If this is objectionable you can apply it (I just rotate the plastic jar around each paw) just inside or just outside the door and wipe what's left off with a damp rag when the dog comes back inside. Good stuff. Cheapest price is at www.entirelypets.com

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That Sammi is precious - so human like. Looks just like Dempsy looks - wish Demps would pick them off like Sammi. Very sweet video. But we are like the rest of them - either Demps stays in the entry till they melt off or he needs to go the the crate with towels. I will go to that site and just see what Musher's Secret is like. Fun topic.

Elsie, Max, Meeko & Lori

 

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both of my dogs have a softer coat so their snow balls get really big. but scotty eats them off. I will very gently try pulling them off.

This is from last February snow

Scotty and the killer snowballs

scottysnowballs2.png

scottysnowballs1.png

scottysnowballs.png

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Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really." - Carlotta Monterey O'Neill

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I quickly went to this topic as I thought there might be some great ideas - advice. Layla too manages to get these dratted things attached to her fur. My only solution so far has been to keep her towel next to the wood burning fire place and when she comes in - we play toro! I chase her around with the towel trying to scoop her up and then sit her on my lap and try to melt those dasterdly snow balls. She doesn't mind when I pick off the balls attached to her chest and front legs but the minute I attempt the back end - she snarls and tries to attack the towel :confused:

Love the video of Sammi expertly attacking each snow ball and spitting them on the mat. :thumbsup:

Husband and dog missing ...25 cents reward for dog

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both of my dogs have a softer coat so their snow balls get really big. but scotty eats them off. I will very gently try pulling them off.

This is from last February snow

Scotty and the killer snowballs

scottysnowballs2.png

scottysnowballs1.png

scottysnowballs.png

Looks like Scotty broke into the medicine cabinet and got a hold of some cotton balls.

Sassy Jan 22, 2005

 

AM. CH. THARRBARR LITE MY FIRE ZOMERHOF

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No input on how to prevent them, but I take care of them by wetting a rag with warm water and wrapping it around the paw while the snow balls melt. It would be much simpler to just put a few inches of water in the bathtub, but the bathtub freaks him out, so...we compromise and do it this way.

Becky & Tanner
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the bathtub freaks him out...

This happened with my first cairn. I went to put him into the tub and he reacted with such fear, I never tried it again. I thought he was the only one who was like this, but if this is not so uncommon, I wonder why it's never mentioned.

FEAR THE CAIRN!

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I might have to try the Musher's Secret. We haven't gotten too much snow but they keep threatening us with it. I love all the video and pictures. My Bear doesn't seem to mind the snow balls enough to remove them and he definitely wouldn't do as good a job as Sammi! He does like to drip them around the house if he doesn't get barricaded in the utility room though.

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Bailey & Radar played out in the fresh snow yesterday and came in full of snowballs so I started to towel dry them. Now when Radar comes back in each time with snowballs he goes for the towel and streaks through the house with it. We have a new game - catch me if you can! Then I have to use the towel to wipe the floors - yet another game. He's so happy mommy found a new game. :D

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Stumbled over something: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13540

* All-natural "de-icer" for dogs keeps pads comfortable in freezing conditions

* Spray on legs and underbelly to prevent snow from balling

Non-toxic spray repels water, ice, and snow AND protects against salt burns. Prevents water from freezing between pads, and snow from clumping on fur. Spray on pads before going outside. Safe even if licked. 4 oz. bottle.

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