Hair and Coat

[Milopup]

Hi all,

Have a question about the state of my pup's coat and was hoping someone here would have a suggestion.

I have not had his coat stripped before, but he has been clipped and is combed as often as he allows . My question is when does his coat get fuller? He was last clipped in August, and we have been letting his coat grow out for the winter months. I do not see a very full coat growing in - there is definitely not the full coat that I see on some other, older cairns. Would this be because of his age? He is only 13 months, is that why his coat is not as full as other cairns?

Thanks everyone.

[bubba]

I had a similiar post typed out yesterday when I decided not to put it in afterall. Cooper has never had his hair cut...during the warm months I have used the Mars on him. His hair is completely in, but also not the real full look you see on others. I thought maybe it was because he is only 1 1/2 yrs? Then today at PetSmart I saw the cairn terrier calendar, and there on the cover is a dog that looks exactly like him, so I figure like humans, they are all different when it comes to the hair too. I have no clue......

pat.

[derecskey]

Yeah, Bella is 5 months, and sure SEEMS like she's reaching adulthood even though I know she's still a puppy... but she doesn't have that full, "Westie" coat yet either.

[MikeC]

Duffy is 11 months and he does not have the full coat yet either. Pat's point is well taken.

MikeC

[Eliz222]

Scout doesn't have a thick coat either. I used the MARS on her in July and I'm STILL waiting for her hair to grow back. I don't think I will strip her like this again. I like the "hairy" look myself.

Now, Finch is very hairy!!!!!!!!! Her coat is thick and full. They really are very different, aren't they?

[toomanypaws]

My youngest, Hannah is 6 mths and her coat hasn't come in yet. I've only used the Mars Coat King on her and trim her feet and ears myself. I noticed that her face is getting fuller. My 1 yr old Abbey has very fine hair and I doubt her coat will ever be full. My 3 yr old Kiara had a beautiful thick coat and I made the mistake of having her groomed only to see her come home looking like a schnauzer That changed my mind about groomers and I plan to keep mine groomed using the Mars Coat King.

Like Shoe, I too like that hairy look.

[Scully'sMom]

Neither of my Cairns have ever had that "full" look. The longest part was on the "skirt" area. Their backs were - and are - pretty tight to the back. The hair on the head grows pretty long.

toomanypaws, my husband hates when I get Scully groomed because he says exactly what you do, she looks like a Schnauzer.

[derecskey]

Hehe, no offense to Schnauzers, but I'd rather have the groomer mistakenly make a Cairn look like a Westie rather than a Schnauzer. By that, I'm referring to the "Lion's mane" head shape, or the "box cut".

[CarCarDawn]

Hi! Riley looks like a miniature "shaggy dog" if I don't have him groomed. We live in an area that has a lot of woods so for the sake of keeping him rather clean and looking great - - I have him groomed every 6-8 weeks. My groomer can do a Cairn cut - - also will have the hair pulled if I want it that way. He has the most beautiful coat - - - very thick. I also brush him several times a week - - he does not shed much at all. Wonder if it is the "natural food" that I feed him. . . . . .

[bradl]

Some dogs simply have better coats than others, too. Some have thick, harsh coats from puppyhood on. (Wouldn't I love to have one of those!) Some will have soft coats forever. Others seem to need to have their coats pulled out a few times and then a later coat comes in correct. A good coat is a thing of beauty, for sure.

I think food can have some effect. We had to use a prescription food once and for the month or so we fed it, it turned a decent harsh coat all limp and greasy. Ick. Back to regular food and the coat snapped back. Whew.

[derecskey]

Bradl, do you mind my asking what food you generally feed?

[bradl]

I don't mind your asking - if you don't mind that for the most part I prefer to stay out of feeding discussions.

We alternate through chicken, chicken with buffalo liver, chicken with buffalo heart, duck, turkey, guinea hen, rabbit, green tripe, with a vegetable mix every fourth meal (all ground). We get our adult foods from Columbia River Natural Pet Foods. Puppies get Steve's Real Food.

Disclaimer: None of the above constitutes a recommendation or endorsement.

[Guest posting as: Stacey]

The look of a thick coat is best achieved by keeping the harsh out of coat in multiple layers. The principle is the same as for human hair. If your hair is straight and all one length it will lay flat and close to your head. If you have your hair cut in layers they sit on top of each other and add "volume."

If you use the Coat King or hand strip the best advice is "little and often" if you want to keep it in layers and thick-looking.

Stacey

[Posey]

Our Cairn is 2years and 4 months old. By the end of his first year he looked like a picture of a swamp monster-hair dragging the floor. My husband took him and clipped him with sissors to a puppy clip. But let the hair around his face several inches long. He is hot natured and is kept in a puppy cut except in winter. Hair is thick and long. Glad when he gets puppy cut.

Posey

[Guest webstar]

Mollie's caoat was growing beautifully at 5 mo. It was parting down the middle of her back right on schedule. The vet spayed her at 5mo.and 1 week. she came home with no fur on her belly, her under coat fell out and never grew back. Then she started chewing off her outter coat. i had her tested for mites and etc. everything tested negative. In less then a month she was just about bare everywhere she could reach to chew. the poor baby nearly froze to death the winter of 2003. By the sping of 2004 her outter coat finaly grew in. 6 weeks ago she chewed big patches off her rump and backand hind legs. I changed vets. the new vet said she is highly allergic to fleas, she put her on prednisone and she stopped chewing till 2 days ago. She went for her follow up today and was put on an extra pill a day for the next 3 days. Her coat is growing in again but it seems to take forever especialy on her hind legs. She is always cold, i buy baby clothes for her to keep her warm. The minute she sees them she jumps right up on the chair for me to dress her. she is fussy about what she wears, she prefers clothes with sleeves and legs over a regular doggie coat blanket.

[kayharley]

All three of my Cairns are different.

Winnie is a fur-ball....always had a soft, heavy, wavy coat no matter how she was groomed. Whether I stripped her or she was clipped, it always grew back the same. She's older so I now keep the grooming to a minimum to avoid any unpleasantness.

Madison's coat is harsh. When she brushes against my leg it feels like bristles but she's only been clipped around her backside, legs and tail. I use the Mars on the rest of her. I does grow back slowly and I too love the full coat on a Cairn.

The puppy although he is still in pup fuzz, is not at all fluffy like his litter mate was. I think he's going to be red brindle and gorgeous.

[wheezie23]

Webstar, I'm sorry Mollie is having such trouble with allergies. BUT you simply HAVE to take some pictures of her in her baby clothes and share them with us!!

Thela

[Guest webstar]

Hi Thela, The next time my grandson is home i will ask him to send pitures of Molly. Thank you for asking. Webstar

[newcairn]

Digby is seven months now and has a nice wirey coat on his body and a fairly soft, nice feathered coat on his head. I have actually stripped him twice myself believe it or not. Once when I got him in August, and again this week for the holidays. I got a book on Cairns and it has a chapter dedicated to stripping them, with diagrams and great descriptive writing to help you with each area. I am quite good at it now, and this second strip has him looking like a show dog, no exaggeration at all. I wish I could post pictures here so you could see.

When I got him I looked around a bit and talked to people about grooming these dogs, and guess what. They either want waaaaaaaay to much money to strip them, or don't have a clue how to do it, and proceed to tell you a Cairn is groomed the same way as a Westie. That makes me laugh! So I bought the stripping tools at Petsmart, some nail clippers and a brush, and I do it all myself. The result, he, his coat and my wallet look fantastic, I couldn't be happier. I think he appreciates it to.

[bradl]

Well done!