Constantly brushing

[KShep]

I'm constantly brushing Ripley and I'm constantly pulling out tons of undercoat with the slicker brush. This has been going on for about three months. I'm guessing it was the heat? We live in Texas. She was shedding quite a bit recently.....Quite a bit for a Cairn that is. Nothing like other dogs! We finally had a nice cold front and I'm hoping it will ease up.

Question, can I over do it with the slicker brush? I would hate to ruin her coat....should I be using something more gentle like a pin brush? She doesn't have a full coat like some of these Cairns I've seen on here, and I'm wondering if I'm the cause. I don't mean to be overzealous, but the coat starts to look stringy after a couple of days....and like I said, the shedding.

[kjwarnold]

Packy has a really thick undercoat but I only really work to thin it out a couple of times a year. That undercoat provides him with great insulation, both summer and winter. He lazes summer days away on the dock and chooses to lay in the sunshine, then plays in the snow in the winter and can stay out longer than I can in the cold. Kirby, on the other hand, has very little undercoat and gets hot in the summer and can't take as much cold in the winter.

I think I'd lay off the slicker brush for a while and see how Ripley does. Daily brushing with a pin brush is great and won't hurt the coat. There are a lot more experienced Cairn groomers here than me and you'll get some good info, but constant removal of the undercoat doesn't seem right to me. Good luck and hopefully you'll get some better weather soon!

[KShep]

anyone try the zoom groom?

[janis]

What is a zoom groom?

[KShep]

It's a rubber kong brush. it got really good reviews. the dog is supposed to like it or tolerate it well.