When we commit to caring for a dog with long, curly or dreadlocks hair, we must implement in our routine the necessary measures to keep its coat in optimal conditions. It is indisputable that among these guidelines the hairstyle, the cut and the bath will have a fundamental role.
Because of this importance, in this article on our site we are going to review basic tips and tricks to answer the question that many groomers of dogs with this type of coat are made about how to comb a water dog
The hairstyle
It is essential to have the right material and the correct technique to groom our water dog. In this regard, we can resolve any questions that may arise by contacting our veterinarian or dog groomer. In specialized establishments we will be able to find products such as shampoos or moisturizers or utensils such as knot-cutters or combs and brushes
Water dogs can have a long coat in dreadlocks or cords or a shorter and curly one. It will be the caretaker who chooses the length of the coat based on his lifestyle and the amount and continuity of care that he can dedicate to its maintenance. The dreadlocks do not require brushing and give the dog a spectacular appearance but we must check that there are no knots, separating the cords by hand, fixing those that get too thick and even removing the "wool" (undercoat) that remains between them.
Thus, although the water dog has the advantage of hardly losing hair, for many caregivers it will be more comfortable to keep the hair short, going through the hairdresser once or twice a year. The cut can be even or uneven, trimming more problem areas and allowing more length on the rest of the body. In any case, the cut should not be excessive, since the hair fulfills a protective function that must be maintained so as not to harm the dog's he alth. The essential is the following:
- Check that no knots are formed, for which we can brush the most troublesome areas such as the beards, the legs or the abdomen. Despite the myths that circulate, it is possible to comb a water dog, as we will see, yes, when it does not have dreadlocks and always with a special comb that we can get in a specialized establishment.
- It is important to start implementing hair care as a puppy to establish a routine that the dog accepts. For this we can spend a few minutes every day, reviewing all areas of the body and increasing the time of care as the tolerance of the dog increases.
- Care of the hair should begin with the less delicate areas, such as the back and sides, to end in the parts where it is more common for tangles to form or for grass, seeds or mud to stick, such as the legs, the belly or under the tail.
Specific care for water dog hair
Contradictory information circulates about how to comb and, in general, how to care for the coat of the water dog. Here are some of the m ites to be aware of:
- You have to do the dreadlocks by hand: No, the dreadlocks will do themselves as the hair grows, as long as the hair has characteristics that favor it, since not all water dogs have the same hair.
- It is essential to shave his hair once or twice a year: No, we can choose to leave the coat intact although it requires the maintenance that we have exposed in the previous section.
- They cannot be brushed: False, except for those with dreadlocks, the rest can benefit from brushing to remove debris vegetables, mud or knots in the areas that rub and dirty the most. They can also brush before bathing and when the hair is damp.
- You don't have to bathe them: Also false, you can and should bathe your dog in water, using the appropriate products and drying the hair carefully to avoid the formation of knots, without using towels. Curl texturizers can also be applied afterwards to reshape it.
- Bathing should always be done with cold water: Absolutely not. As much as the undercoat is called "wool," it won't shrink when washed in hot water.
A problem: how to remove the knots
Within the information on how to comb our water dog, there is a section dedicated to knots. No matter how much care we give, at some point we may have to face a knot in our water dog's hair. To undo it we can follow the following steps:
- Use a moisturizing product to avoid damage when handling the hair, since it is very easy for it to flake and break.
- First, try to separate the hair with your hands, very carefully.
- If necessary, use a knot cutter. We can get one in specialized establishments.
- Sometimes the knot is so dense or so close to the skin that there is no other solution than to cut. Since the dog's skin, very fine, is going to be attached to the hair, we must be very careful not to hurt our dog. If we put a comb between the skin and the knot we will be able to avoid cutting the skin.
- If the knots are very numerous and it is impossible to undo them, we will have to consider a haircut. Let's consult our reference canine hairdresser.
- In any case, the most important thing is to take care of the coat regularly to prevent these undesirable formations.
