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About ElizaBeth CRONK
Expertise
Professional Dog Groomer-How to groom dogs- all breeds but specialize in the Art of the Hand Plucked Terrier, Bichon and Portugese Water Dog. Scissoring, clippering, and most known for hand plucked terrier skills. I am well known for my private business in Manhattan. I train owners and professionals looking to upgrade their skills Trained at NY School of Dog Grooming and apprenticed with several Internationally known expert breeders, handlers, and judges, assisted many years Westminster and Montgomery Kennel club shows.

Experience
20 years private residential dog grooming service- I have groomed over 30,000 dogs

Publications
terrierific.net

Education/Credentials
New York School of Dog Grooming/ worked with many professional handlers, assisted many dog shows bred my own dogs

Past/Present Clients
private listing over 250
video now available on website

 
   

You are here:  Experts > Animals/Pets > Dogs > Dog Grooming > golden retreiver, thick under coat

Dog Grooming - golden retreiver, thick under coat


Expert: ElizaBeth CRONK - 7/16/2009

Question
hi, i have just got a golden retreiver. he spends alot of the time in the sea, loves his beach walks.
but his coat is very bad, his under coat is very thick and started to get matted.
i use a furminator, dog rake on him alot, but the under coat is not get any better and not much coming out now. do i clip him now, with a #15 blade and 1" attachment, or would that leave him to short.would i then go with the coat or against it?
dont want his coat to short, just the under coat less.
what do you think i can do ?
hope you can help, many thanks.

Answer
I gasped when I read this! A 15 bade is for scalping? Bald! Total skin exposure- so NO, do not shave your dog with a 15 blade. Not to mention the hazards of never having done this before- tearing the skin, the trauma the dog will be in from having his body naked and exposed.
What I think you should do is bite the bullet and have a professional work on your dog and get it in shape for you. Mean time you should do some research on the breed and not buy into the marketing of the furminator. In skilled hands it is but a simple tool and not a magic solution for the undercoat problem- Natures protection. Furminator is not going to get done what you need to do. The dog needs to be groomed on a monthly basis and brushed and combed in between. Comb being a metal one that gets down to the skin. Universal slicker for routine maintenance. High Velocity blow dryer to push out the dead undercoat while drying it. A Mars Coat King for shedding a blown coat in the spring and fall- some pro appointments when the seasons change.

If you absolutely must do this yourself- use a #7 skip tooth and be really careful not to burn your dog regardless of what blade you use they get very hot.

try looking for a video about grooming your dog on line.
good luck

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