To cut a long story short, I work in a place where people have care needs.  A resident who had a Sheltie type cross died recently and another resident took her as the man's family didn't want her.

She is shedding coat/dandruff and the current owner doesn't know what to do/has no money for grooming etc.  I have arranged to take her to my groomer on Friday so they can decide what needs doing to get her skin and coat sorted out but my groomer won't hand strip an older dog if they have never been done before.  To my knowledge the poor dog has never been to a groomer before and I don't think her previous owner did much more than give her the odd brush.  A couple of us at work are going to pay for her to have a full groom but this may only extend to a thorough brush out if the coat can't be hand stripped. 

I don't have double coated dogs myself so have no idea what is the best way for the coat to be maintained in future on a limited budget? 

Many thanks

Andrea

I wouldn't have the dog hand stripped with a coat like a sheltie.

I'm sure sheltie people could correct me with I'm wrong but a good brush using an undercoat rake would be a good idea.  This will take out all the dead hair.

Also sounds like a bath may be needed.  Give a wash and make sure all shampoo is rinsed out :)

The brush regulary with a pin brush.

A slicker brush will also be a good brush.

The 3 types of brush can be seen on this page http://akitanetwork.com/care/grooming.htm

Hi Shelties aren't handstripped.  Their coats can look terrible but you'd be amazed how much can come out just by using your hands :d  A good brushing and combing should rectify the problem and a good strong brush is needed that goes right through the coat not one of these that only touches the top :d

Hi,

As said before, there should be no hand-stripping on a Sheltie type coat.

You will probably be amazed at the difference a groomer can make with a bath, a 'blaster' and the right brush.  Hopefully this will get all the dead coat out.  Feet and back legs up to hock joint should be 'tidied', but apart from that no scissors allowed for show purposes - but don't discount this for pet purposes either if it is a true Sheltie type coat as trimming or even worse clipping just makes the coat matt more.

From then on in, the trick really is to keep on top of it, little and often.  Particular attention should be paid to spots behind ears and elbows, round neck where collar sits and on inner thighs on mine when they've been tramping through the forests.

M.

Thank you everyone.  I knew she shouldn't be clipped/cut so assumed the dead coat would have to be stripped.  Hopefully a good brush out and groom will sort her out but where we go from here isn't as clear cut.  While I would like to help on a permanent basis my grooming bill is significant enough with my two Bichons so I daren't commit to paying for her myself otherwise I may be looking for a new husband!  It's also a 54 mile trip to collect her, take her, pick her up and return her as work and the groomers are in opposite directions.  I feel so sorry for her though losing her owner though .

Thank you all for your advice

Andrea

The best way to get undercoat out of a sheltie is a shedding comb, no blades but teeth of two different sizes , for some reason these are very efficient at getting the undercoat out.  It does take time and patience tho.

What area do you live in?  I'd be more than happy to help if you were local although I live in South Manchester :d

Ditto if you're near Ascot.

M.

Thank you Perrodeagua and Brihow (and also Anndee who pm'd me) for your kind offers.

I live in the North East so I won't be able to take you up on it but I will let you know what my groomer says on Friday and I will buy the brushes you have recommended and try and show the current owner what she has to do.

Many thanks

Andrea

To be honest once the coat is free of knots and dead coat there should be no need for a proffesional groomer, assuming the new ownr has enough mobility in their hands to trim the feet and hocks with scisors from time to tiem and can handle a long toothed comb and a pin or slicker brush.

Thanks Brainless

A brush should be OK but scissors probably not but I could do that occasionally.  She isn't in the right place really but not a lot I can do about that.

Many thanks

Andrea