How to bust a mat in your doodle’s coat:                                              

1     Brush the mat to remove dirt, loosen the mat, and enable you to keep the maximum amount of hair intact.

2    Use the Dematting Rake starting at the base of the mat and gently pull it apart. Then brush as usual.

Caution*   The Dematting Rake is very sharp on the side that also has a thumb rest, so be careful to keep the sharp side away from your dog’s skin. Because of the sharp blades and the possibility of a slip, it is best to leave your dog’s underbelly to the groomer. HINT:  Keep the under belly short .

Want to see how it’s done? Check out this youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-Xj2wNlng

 Want your Doodle to have that stylin’ show coat and not spend a ton at the groomer?

Labradoodles are reputed to be “low maintenance”. It means they don’t shed at all or very little, they don’t leave behind oily residue on your hands when you pet them, and they don’t have doggie smell!  However, their coat does need maintenance; regular brushing is important for your doodle.  How often this happens depends on the type of coat your doodle has. For information on coat types, check out our website under FAQ.

Regular correct brushing will prevent mats. Keep in mind, the most expensive part of going to the groomer is the time they have to spend getting your doodle’s coat brushed out.

The most common mistake made when brushing a doodle is to brush over the top and not get to the base of the coat near the skin. A lot of owners are surprised and even disbelieving to hear their doodles are matted regardless of their daily brushing.

How to brush out your doodle’s coat!

The Slicker Brush  is a great tool to get down to skin level.  Start on a section of the fur and move systematically so that you cover every part of the coat. Be extra gentle on the legs, under the belly, and the arm pits. Lift the coat in the opposite direction it grows and hold it out of the way with one hand, so that you can see the under coat. Starting at the base of the coat near the skin, brush small sections of the hair back down until it’s brushed through. Follow up with a comb to check your work, if your comb won’t get through there is more work to do. Make sure to brush every square inch of your dogs body in this manner.  Note- Doodles go through a coat change between 10 and 14 months of age. Daily brushing is especially important during this time to remove the puppy coat and prevent matting as the adult coat grows in.

Next week’s blog – Mat busters!

A Guardian Home is the same as a dog Host Home. These terms often are used interchangeably.

This is a great opportunity for a person or family to enjoy a “pick of the litter” puppy/dog that is considered for breeding by the breeder. These dogs are usually the best of the best. A great dog at a great price (usually FREE). Often, there is a deposit to ensure commitment by the GH and then reimbursed over the time of the breeding career. The deposit also can be reimbursed at the end of the breeding career. That is at the breeders discretion. The puppy/dog remains the property of the breeder until the end of the breeding career and then become the Guardian Home’s dog forever after. Typically at the age of 6 years, the dog then becomes part of the forever home. (Age does vary depending on the gender and the dog).

It does take a commitment and the willingness to be flexible for the needs of the breeder, but I believe it is well worth it to receive what is typically a “cream of the crop” puppy or dog. Of course, there are requirement set forth in a contract that must be followed for obvious reasons. The value of one of these dogs can be up to $15,000. Hence, the need for the breeder to find just the right home.

So, next time you are looking for a great Labradoodle puppy/dog, consider the host home option.

Check out our website for Guardian Home opportunities.

]]> http://www.trailsendlabradoodles.com/what-is-a-dog-guardian-home/feed/ 0 http://www.trailsendlabradoodles.com/invisible-fence/ http://www.trailsendlabradoodles.com/invisible-fence/#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 03:40:49 +0000 Rogers Family http://www.trailsendlabradoodles.com/?p=704 Miley & Winston played outside today, with Rich throwing the ball. Miley chased the ball. Winston chased her! We installed Invisible Fence a couple months ago, and works like a dream! The river outside was always a bit of a concern, but not anymore! Yay!