My Bouvier is shedding!!

[Betsey]

My Bouv is 6 1/2 months old, he started shedding 2 months ago. I put olive oil in his food, apply mane and tail mixture every other day, I brush him with slicker brush and poodle comb every day. Does anyone know why he's shedding and what I can do about it?

[Mike]

Hi Betsey, welcome to the forum. I can't answer your question about the shedding but maybe Sue can and I'll let her know you have a question. She's getting ready to make a trip so has been busy getting ready.

Again, welcome.

Mike

[Betsey]

Thanks, Mike. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Sue]

Originally Posted by Betsey

My Bouv is 6 1/2 months old, he started shedding 2 months ago. I put olive oil in his food, apply mane and tail mixture every other day, I brush him with slicker brush and poodle comb every day. Does anyone know why he's shedding and what I can do about it?

Betsy, this is probably just a sign that his adult coat is starting to come in. Bouviers have a double coat... a harsh outer coat, and then the undercoat. Some lines have more undercoat than others. As the adult coat comes in, you need to keep stripping out the old puppy coat. Hair growth is a never ending cycle... and so is grooming.

You definitely want to keep using a slicker to keep the undercoat under control, otherwise you'll have a matted mess on your hands. There are some other tools that help pull out undercoat too.... Some that I use:
http://www.amazon.com/Dematting-Long...ds=mat+breaker
A number of companies make these

http://www.amazon.com/NEWSTYLE-Stain...ds=mat+breaker

Mars Coat King - Coarse, wide
http://www.amazon.com/Mars-Double-St...at+king+double

There are a lot of knock offs that are less expensive.

If you're on Facebook, i have a group set up there to help people with grooming too.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2317...311/?ref=br_tf

In FILES there is a document with pictures and descriptions of grooming tools I like best.

Have you contacted your breeder to help you learn to groom?

Sorry I did not get to this sooner. Usually I get a notification when someone posts to the FORUM, but apparently did not see it. Mike did mention it to me, but then as he said, I was up to my eyeballs trying to work out details for a trip that's coming up way too soon!


Cheers,
Sue

[Betsey]

Thanks Susan!!
I've been told he's blowing his puppy coat, so your info and advice reaffirm what I'm dealing with. I've been brushing, brushing with all the combs you suggested, so I am on the right track. Thank you for getting back to me your advice was very helpful!!!!

[Sue]

Be sure that you are combing clear down to the skin. So many times people use a slicker brush and think they are on top of the coat care, but then end up with all the undercoat matted up. Then the only reasonable thing to do is shave the dog down and start over. It's just really hard on a dog, especially a puppy, to pick out all the matted mess once it gets out of control.

Holler if you need more help.