Grooming

[njdevil]

While looking for a stripping knife and other grooming tools for my new Cairn puppy, I came upon the Mars Coat-King and the less expensive Mat King. From what I've gathered, It seems that many owners like using these tools for stripping their dogs instead of or in addition to using a stripping knife. My questions to those who use either of these tools are:

1. What size blade do you suggest and why? I've seen some people suggest the #8 - course and others #16 - fine.

2. What other grooming tools do you use in addition to the Mars Coat-King or Mat King.

Any replies would be helpful. Thanks

[Guest Puffpiece]

I just recently ordered the #20 Coat King based on a recommendation from Murphy's breeder/groomer. It works wonderfully well & I had enough hair to stuff a pillow. Just go in the direction that the hair is growing & it's hard to go wrong. I even used it very carefully around her head. I still need to trim her tummy, rear, legs & feet tho. I have her hand stripped 2x/year in addition to my weekly Coat King grooming & she looks lovely.

[kayharley]

I use the Mars Coat King, #16. But I only use it every 4 months or so. I like the shaggy look of the Cairn and don't want to overdo her "look".

For the ears I bought a stripping knife (don't know the blade size) but I carefully strip the hairs from the top part only.

As far as the other parts... I clip the hair between the pads on the paws, also clip around the tail part because my girls express discomfort being stripped in that area (wouldn't you??? )

My dogs are not show dogs but they are Cairns and I never want to see them again like I saw my older Cairn when she emerged from a groomer looking like a Schnauzer!

[Eliz222]

I bought the Mars Coat King a few weeks ago and stripped my dog. I, also, took a ton of hair off! It didn't strip the tummy or legs so I trimmed with scissors. I like the shaggy look too, so I can't see using this more than twice a year. How long does it take for the hair to grow back?

Here is a picture of Scout right after I "stripped" her.

Scout

[chubbypup]

Well i have just bought #16 and will be having a try at this grooming game..lol. Having never used one of these coat kings, i take it it is used in the same way as a brush or comb just with less pressure???

[kayharley]

That's how I use it. I ran it over my arm first to see how it felt (okay, so one of my arms is bald )

My older Cairn loves it, the younger one fights me tooth and nail.

[bradl]

We mostly use it like a 'brush' as well, most of the time -- lightly and just enough to get the wild stray hairs and keep the general shape and outline. It seems to rake a little undercoat, cut some of the thick stuff, and pull just enough coat to keep some new coat growing underneath. We might pluck of few of the stragglers by hand.

If we have a big mammoth dead coat and we're too lazy to pull it all by hand (and it's not a dog who will be in the ring -- we don't touch a show dog with the coat-king) we'll use the coat king to essentially remove the coat and start over, just like the picture of Scout above. Scout will be growing out a new coat in no time.

The coat king doesn't seem to be a precision tool so when pulling down to 'pajamas' we always find there is some finger work to get the straggly stuff the coat king can't quite get hold of, and also to do some of the 'delicate' spots, and around the face, etc.

[chubbypup]

Well we finally recieved our Mars Coat king in the mail today and had our first major grooming session this evening, boy he needed it, it has been so humid. Anyway what an amazing tool. I could not believe how much hair came off him and yet he wasnt bald. Although he struggled and wriggled i think he appreciates it now.

[Milopup]

Groomers I have consulted have said if I am not showing my pup, no stripping is needed. Is the final consensus here at the forum that show or no show, stripping is a must? How often do we need to strip the coat if we are not showing?

Thanks.

[toomanypaws]

Question about this Mars Coat King, is it not like pulling hair and hurting them? Mine are just pets and I'm totally disappointed w/ what the groomer did, (made one of mine look like a schnauzer). I've been brushing daily w/ an undercoat brush and my girls are looking much better. Is this Mars Coat King more effective and where do you buy one? What I really need now for my oldest one is some cairn mousse to make her hair stand back up.

[CallisMom]

Milopup - If the coats aren't stripped - the dead hair won't get pulled out and the follicles can become infected. If you plan not to have your Cairn stripped - I would definitely use the Mars Coat King to get the dead hair out. If you use it like a brush once a week it should help to pull the dead hair out and always have some new hair coming in - like Brad posted.

toomanypaws - it doesn't hurt them at all. It is actually like a rake with VERY dull blades. It is amazing to me how it works.

[Milopup]

For maintenance (not showing), which # Mars is the right one? Also where is a reasonably priced site for the Mars?

Thanks.

[chubbypup]

I am not showing and have a #16. It does not hurt them and it is truly amazing how it all works. Could anyone advise on how to trim facial hair and the long bits on the back of the legs as i wouldnt like to use the coat king in the facial area?

Metz' temperment has improved since last night, , and i think it is because he has just been so hot with all that extra hair.

[CallisMom]

Milopup - there are two places that I personally like:

Col. Potter Cairn Rescue Network - Grooming Equipment & Supplies for Cairns

This is my personal favorite as some proceeds go to rescued Cairns

I also like:

The Groomers Mall

[Milopup]

I have my pup groomed once a month (bath, nails clipped, hair clipped, anal glands expressed, ears cleaned) - should I be using the Mars in addition to this, or will the groomer (with the usual brush and cut) be getting rid of the dead hair?

Thank you.

[kayharley]

I really don't think a regular brushing will remove alot of the dead hair although it will make them look a little neater. Cutting will only shorten the hair, not remove it where it needs to be removed. The only cutting I do is around the front of the paws and the fur between the pads. Also clip the areas that my girls find sensitive. I use a small stripping knife on their ears and some face hair and find myself "pulling" fur whenever she sits down next to me. It's almost like she's waiting for it... a little petting, a little pulling

[CallisMom]

I have my pup groomed once a month (bath, nails clipped, hair clipped, anal glands expressed, ears cleaned) - should I be using the Mars in addition to this, or will the groomer (with the usual brush and cut) be getting rid of the dead hair?

Kayharley is correct. Cairns have a different coat that many groomers may not be familiar with. They have the double coat - the undercoat and the wiry overcoat. The ONLY way to get the dead hair out is to actually pull it out - hence the stripping. There are many groomers out there that believe stripping to just mean shaving the dog (you do NOT want this because again - the dead hair isn't removed - it is just really shortened). You want a groomer who is familiar with Cairns or border terriers, etc. and the stripping process. Cutting the hair on the body also makes it more difficult to pull the dead hair out and differentiate it from the new hair coming in.

Also - if your pup isn't having any reactons to the bath then maybe it isn't a problem. There are some Cairns on this board who do get a frequent bath without any problems at all. Usually with Cairns - you try not to bathe them more than maybe twice a year - due to the sensitivity of their skin. (Calli has had more baths due to poison ivy and a kennel stay). But often - if they are just dirty - either a good brushing or even a non-shampoo bath will remove the dirt. Sometimes at the farm Calli will go for a nice swim in the pond (which makes her stink!) - so I will either stick her in the mudroom tub with water or bring her down to the creek and have her swim around in there for a while. The farm is full of red clay that she loves to dig in - both when it is wet and dry out. Again - a good wash without shampoo in the mudroom tub and she is good to go. Their undercoat is a great insulater and you may find that often times the surface muck (even the red clay) is usually on the feet, face and overcoat - but hasn't necessarily infiltrated the undercoat at all making it easy to remove.

Anyway - to your original question - based on what you are doing now I would definitely add a Coat King to your weekly routine.

[Milopup]

My pup's coat is now pretty soft. Will it become rough and wiry with use of the Mars?

So a 1x a month bath and cut is not recommended?

[kayharley]

I made the mistake with my 11 year old of having her groomed/clipped and occassionaly shaved several times a year. This was before I learned what a Cairns coat is all about.

Now I use the coat king and I can see a remarkable difference in her coat and appearance. Granted, she doesn't have the coat of my 1 year old who has never been clipped or shaved but the amount of dead fur that I can remove is remarkable.

I would love to bath my Cairns nightly I'd love to soak my girls in a tub of perfumed suds and have them come out smelling like a garden but it's not good for them. I only bath them when absolutely necessary. If it's something that needs attention, I'll use the doggie wipes (similar to baby wipes) to make them presentable.

[Milopup]

So do most people do the nails and express the pups' anal glands themselves? I am just scared to clip the nails, and the express of glands just squicks me.

[Eliz222]

We cut our 2 yr old's nails, but the puppy's is cut by the vet. She wiggles too much!

I had to have the vet express Scout's (the 2 yr old) glands a few times, but it's been over a year since I have had to take her in. The vet does this too. Our 4 month old puppy has not had to have hers expressed yet, and hopefully never will!

[CallisMom]

Milopup - I do the nails only because they grow so darn fast and I am too cheap to take her in to have them done every week It turned out not to be as scary as I had originally thought.

As for the anal glands - Calli has not had a problem and hasn't needed them expressed at all. I am taking it your baby is having anal gland issues? Have you talked with your vet about it? My cousin's cocker spaniel had a chronic issue and the vet ended up removing them. (Sounds drastic for me but I guess Daisy was going to have to have them expressed once a month as her mom certainly wasn't going to do it . . . and in between she was in a great amount of discomfort.)

[Milopup]

My pup scoots quite a bit, and has his anal glands expressed every time he is groomed (and sometimes when he goes to the vet). The vet says we should just wait and see, and that he just might be a pup that needs them expressed very often.

[kayharley]

My 11 year old had an absess a couple years ago in her anal glands. She came in from doing her business and her entire back side was covered in blood! I totally panicked not knowing what was going on. The vet had to shave her completely in that area and she was on antibiotics for quite awhile. He told me that an increase in fiber would help the glands express themselves when defecating.

The only comical thing about the whole terrifing ordeal was that Winnie was so self-conscience being "exposed" in her private area with no fur to cover her.

Even when someone came to the door, she shyly checked it out instead of her usual jumping/barking. I went and bought some size 2 little girl underpants, cut out a small area for her tail and she loved wearing them until some fur grew back.

Haven't had any problems since and none with Madison.

[Eliz222]

How long does it take for their hair to grow back? I used the Mars on Scout and she has very short hair!

I'm also wondering how you use the Mars Coat King every week? Maybe I used mine too much, but her hair is very, very, short! I also trimmed the hair around her neck and legs. I prefer my Cairns to have some hair, I don't care for the very shaggy look, but I don't like this stripped look at all!

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/shoeforyo...0&.dnm=1776.jpg

Here is how she looked July 19th.