Has any one out there got any tips on how to get badly knotted fur off the legs and chests.  No sooner you get one lot out, theres another lot appeared.  If I start cutting I'll have bald dogs!!  

  May seem a dumb question but have you tried regular grooming?  You could bath and use lots of conditioner or alternatively use a detangling spray which may help rid your dogs of some of the knots already there but obviously if they are too bad they will need to be cut out.

The only way to prevent knots is appropriate coat care - I have a breed which would be prone to knots in the front feathering, trousers, behind ears and underside but don't get them because I groom regularly and more thoroughly if they've been running through long grasses, gorse, swimming etc.  Never had to cut a knot out yet ;)

Regards, Teri

Hi I have American Cockers which are every bit as much grooming work as English Cockers if not more. My routine is weekly baths loads of conditioner rinsed leaving just a trace in the coat to help with slicker brushing the knots out. It's a painstaking process that takes a couple of hours. I also use a leave in spray conditioner too. The hair is much stronger when it's wet, so I never dry brush, I'd lose too much coat if I did.

This is not something that can be left for several weeks, you have to keep on top of it otherwise like you say, you'll end up having no choice but to cut the knots out. All of us with long coated dogs are simply slaves to the hair.

Good luck, I think you're going to be busy this Bank Holiday weekend.

Dawn R.

Yes they are groomed most days.  It's when you come back from a romp up the fields and you find allsorts in them tangled up. 

Hi again,

Try wetting them down with even just a water spray *every time* they come back from their expeditions.  As Dawn suggested leaving conditioner in the coat (not done in my breed) should make it easier for you.  Trouble is if they come back with "all sorts" in them the only thing you can do is groom them daily - twice  if necessary.  There is no simple or quick fix way of maintaining long coated breeds - but it needn't be hard work ;)  If done routinely after they've been somewhere likely to catch and *invade* the feathering etc then knots don't get a chance to develop.   Why not settle down each evening in front of the TV with them one at a time on your lap (don't know how many you have so may need OH to help :P ) and groom the most troublesome areas while you're watching your favourite programmes?

Teri :)

Have you tried a Mikki Matt Splitter?

You slide these through the knot and the splitter breaks the knots down into much smaller bits which can then be eased undone with a brush, comb or fingers.  It saves having to cut out huge knots leaving bald/shorn patches.  I have a long haired breed and I groom everyday but still find knots in the coat.  The Mikki works everytime.

Hi Suzieque,  Just 5 minutes ago went out and bought one, it looks lethal, we will give ago tonight, it's going to be bath night for all.

Did you get the one that looks like a mouse with a tail?  If so, when you slide the 'tail' along the dog's skin it protects it from the blade which can then only cut the knots.  It is quite safe.  

Good luck.

I think it is important once you have brushed the dog through to give it a veyr good comb also and get all the areas prone to knotting.

I trim a few westies and the ones that come in a bathed white are the worse for knots as the owners are brushing over the dog and not underneath where the knots build. They also bath and don't brush and comb through properly leaving any knots in..

Conditioner is great on the furnishings for loosening off. 

Hi there

Try Plush Puppy quick fix conditioner spray - it's great when you are faced with a coat that matts up - I have a spayed elderly bitch whose coat is a nightmare - in fact I now tend to cut off her breeches and the very long straggly hair round her tummy as she hated the daily battle with her coat so much.

Yvonne

Thanks for all your suggestions.  It was bath & trim night last night, know Danny has no trousers!!! he was that tangled one side it was easier to cut it out, so I had to even up the other side.  Suzieque: the device I bought was the eight blade hook like detangler.

No wonder you thought it looked scary!!  I have a beardie and his undercoat gets very knotted and matted.  The splitter just slides through no problem and he doesn't mind me using it.  This was very important when I started grooming him as he was a rescue dog and was in a bad state.  I couldn't touch his feet at all, not even to dry them, so all grooming had to be done softly, softly.  Now he just lies back and takes it, splitter and all!!