To trim or not to trim that is the question

To trim or not to trim that is the question?

I wrote this article some time ago and still get asked for copies of it from various people around the world. Maybe it will give you some food for thought regarding the coats of your lovely cotons.

Photograph 1© Cotonkiss

“I have written this post in a ‘groomer’s mode’ rather than a ‘coton owners mode’ – maybe it will give you some food for thought especially those of you who own a Coton for companionship rather that for showing.”

It seems that it can be a somewhat daunting task for some of you to find a groomer that has enough experience and skill to trim our lovely Cotons into a pretty puppy cut.

The first thing I would suggest is that you approach the owners of the really nicely trimmed dogs that you see being walked in your area, especially the longer coated more popular breeds i.e. Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apsos and ask the name of the groomer that has trimmed them. Probably the same name will keep cropping up over a period of time. The groomer you decide to use does not necessarily have to be a Coton owner/specialist but more importantly someone that understands coated breeds.

All of us Coton owners/breeders know and understand that a Coton coat is not an easy coat to maintain and look after – we all know and have probably encountered first hand the coat of a junior – say 9 months – 18/20 months of age – DIFFICULT – leave it for a day or two during this coat changing period and WOW PROBLEMS!!!!!!! They can knot up overnight – how? I haven’t worked that one out yet!!!!! and don’t suppose I ever will.

Those of you that do not show, nor intend to shouldn’t punish yourselves unconditionally but should rationally take this situation in hand and consider a couple of factors:

What is your lifestyle – where do you go, what do you do?
If for instance your Coton walks a lot in open countryside/woods/in the rain, goes to beaches, swims in the sea……then seriously do you really think that keeping your Coton in a full coat is a good decision?
Do you have a hectic lifestyle or do you have all the time in the world?

Maintaining a Cotons coat is something that has to be done regularly and started at an early age – do you have the time/do you find it too difficult/do you have a badly behaved dog when he sees the brush approaching?

Of course grooming your Coton will build a greater bond between yourself and your dog but we can all realise that it is difficult for some and impossible for others especially when the coat is left to get ‘out of control’.

Many factors can contribute to your final decision to find a ‘groomer’.

But remember ‘groomers’ are only human and contrary to popular belief do not possess any magical powers – if the dog is in a very matted condition and it is impossible for you to tackle, then it is not going to be an easy job for the groomer……….believe meJ

I tell people that I am only a humble canine beautician and not a magician!!!! Although I will always give it my best – it is not easy to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear!!!!

If you decide that you are going to require the help of a groomer – this doesn’t necessarily mean that you do have to have your Coton trimmed into a puppy cut – perhaps you would consider maintaining your Coton in an almost full coat – this is definitely possible but you will have to visit your groomer every 1 – 2 weeks and between times work a little with the brush too! a big commitment but nevertheless an important one for the groomer, if the dog is going to look at its best.

The best age to introduce your Coton to your groomer is as young as possible, obviously any puppy needs to be fully inoculated before entering these type of premises – but generally the younger they are, the easier it is for them to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings. In my salon the puppy’s first visit is very short and made to be very pleasurable for him/her – a quick bath, nails tipped, pads trimmed, a few hairs plucked from the ears and of course a big cuddle. As the puppy grows in size and the volume of hair increases then it stands to reason that the dog will have to stay for longer appointments.

It is your job as an owner to get to a groomer and ask for help before any mats and tangles get so bad that they need to be clipped off – I don’t know any groomer that likes to have to do this – AND you are the one that has to watch your shaved dog (not pretty) for ……. weeks/months until it has grown out and looking fluffy and pretty again.

If the coat is left to get out of control – and combined with the situation where the young dog is left with a stranger to deal with a matted coat, I think you would agree is very unfair on the dog and can lead the dog to the dog becoming traumatised and suffering a lot of stress…….sometimes leading to a problems that can take many months for the dog to overcome.

One of the favourite sayings of customers is ‘what do you do to my dog, he doesn’t want to come in’ – and quite rightly the dog is standing, breaks on, not wanting to come in the door. Of course it would be more appropriate for them to say ‘my dogs hates coming in to have his hair done because I leave him to get so matted before coming back to you’. Both statements are quite right but whose fault is it that this dog does not like to be groomed???????

People are always curious about brushes………if used correctly there is no right or wrong brush, just that some are more suitable on different coats and coat lengths. I would only use a pin brush and a bristle/nylon (Mason Pearson) if I was grooming a show dog that I was religiously keeping in good coat. A slicker brush is not a bad brush and will not ruin a dog’s coat if used properly – yes it will remove a little more coat but when you consider that you can probably groom your dog in much less time it could be a good option for some. It is much the preferred option for professional groomers and contrary to popular belief does not ruin a coat if used properly.

Photograph 1 Cartoonlands Twiggy in a puppy cut with fringe.
Photograph 2 Streaptease in a puppy cut with topknot.
Photograph 3 Streaptease one year later and finishing 2004 as top female!

Photographs and article copyright Hazel Gill, Cotonkiss Coton de Tulear