American Alsatian... a lamb in wolf's clothing.™
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American Alsatian... a lamb in wolf's clothing.™

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 Grooming the Shepalute

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PostSubject: Grooming the Shepalute   Grooming the Shepalute Icon_minitime3/10/2010, 14:02

Originally posted by Akelasmom on April 13, 2007.

It is Spring, and our dogs are starting to shed. I would like to discuss grooming tools and other related topics. I would enjoy hearing from several owners about their experiences with grooming an AS.
My Akela is a second outcross from a Pyreneese/Anitolian grandfather. Her coat is Alsatian Shepalute, except for the back of her thighs, and tail. They are quite full; the thigh feathers are 8 inches long! And very wooley. A single round weed seed will start a matt, and I've had to cut out several already, as they are easier to cut than to detangle. I have detangled several, but it takes a long time, and Kela's skin gets tender after awhile.
I brush her daily with a wide slicker brush. I've tried a dematting comb with rotating tubes on the teeth. It works great on my shorter haired Elkhound, but not well on the longer coat of Kela.
I welcome any suggestions!
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PostSubject: Re: Grooming the Shepalute   Grooming the Shepalute Icon_minitime3/10/2010, 14:02

Originally posted by Shepaluteprez on April 19, 2007.

Hello AkelasMom-

I also use a slicker brush to get the hair out. I tried a comb before in the past and didn't get anywhere at all. The hair ran right through and didn't clump out. With this slicker brush most of it comes out and the joy of snowing fur surrounds us. I found this year that Odessa didn't shed all her hair at once and still has pesky clumps of fur around her neck and tail.

I'm also wondering why Citara has not shed at all. Her fur seems to be stuck tight to her skin and won't budge. Perhaps she's a late bloomer? Has anyone ever had that problem before?

I hear you about the matted fur. Boy, under the ears is my worst problem. I did try to detangle that mess and the next day it was matted again. I'm too lazy to work on it each day, so I guess I'll have to resort to cutting as you have. Smile

Have you ever had problems with matting on the underside of the feet? I haven't, but I always wondered about that. In the winter the snow gets in there and gives them trouble.

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PostSubject: Re: Grooming the Shepalute   Grooming the Shepalute Icon_minitime3/10/2010, 14:03

Originally posted by Akelasmom on Apr. 22, 2007.

Kela still has baby fur around her ears, and she's a left side sleeper. So, behind her left ear is always a tangle. She is learning to sit patiently with my brushing there, but I can practically see her gritting her teeth-it's a tender place behind her ears.
I was brushing out my horses and I use a detangler. I had an "Ah ha!" moment and used it on Kela. She had rolled on something dead in the pasture and I had to bathe her. After her bath, I used ShowSheen spray by Absorbine, using the narrow stream and parting the heavy hair on her thighs, hips and neck, I sprayed close to the skin. I massaged it into the fur then brushed. After a week, she has no new matts! I still couldn't work out the matt behind her ear, but no new matts have appeared.
The spray is non toxic, has very little scent, and won't weigh down the fur. It makes it silky soft. A word of caution though: where ever Kela sat on the linoleum, before she was dry, got and stayed slippery! She thought it was great fun to slide across the kitchen!
I've not had a problem with her feet, although she is well furnished with fur there. She'll get mud balls in her hind feet that I hose off. Sometimes I have to work my fingers there to get them released.
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PostSubject: Re: Grooming the Shepalute   Grooming the Shepalute Icon_minitime3/10/2010, 14:03

Originally posted by Shepaluteprez on Apr. 23, 2007.

LOL! That was hillarious! I can just picture her heavy bulk slipping across the floor. She is so funny! What a clown.

I would have never thought of ShowSheen! I'll have to try it, since these matts behind her ears are such a bother. And I never thought about her sleeping as affecting her matted ears. I bet that's it.

You know, Citara still hasn't shed her fur at all, but Odessa is completely blown now. hmmm...curious.

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PostSubject: Re: Grooming the Shepalute   Grooming the Shepalute Icon_minitime3/10/2010, 14:04

Originally posted by Akelasmom on May 13, 2007.

My son's girlfriend was watching me brush out Akela, and working on those long feathers on her back legs. She decided she could trim away a lot of those feathers without a chopped look. I said OK, but was instantly regretting it. Her feathers are now 3 inches long, and very thick; showing nearly every cut. They no longer "feather". I imagine as her hair sheds out, they will get that look again, but it'll be at least this fall before they'll look half way normal.
I was reading the (May edition) magazine "Perfect Horse" by John Lyons. They have an article about making a horses trimmed mane look natural. They use thinning shears, cutting and cutting until it is the right length and texture. It looks really natural.
I have nothing to lose, so will try it on Kela to get some feathering back. I'll write soon to let you know how it went.
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PostSubject: Re: Grooming the Shepalute   Grooming the Shepalute Icon_minitime3/10/2010, 14:04

Originally posted by Shepaluteprez on May 16, 2007.

OMG, poor thing. LOL! Actually, to tell you the truth, after Odessa had her first litter in Colorado, we were not sure about the discharge, so we cut off the soiled hair on her tail and it looked like a rat's tail all summer! I sympathize with you. I will be awfully curious to find out about the thinning shears technique. Smile I hope you get better soon. I hear your not feeling top notch. Rest up and we'll talk with you soon.

Shepaluteprez
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