Shedding!!!

Subject: Shedding!!! Wed May 21, 2008 3:49 am

Anyone else have mounds of fur piling up? You would think with all the dog fur over the past two weeks...that I live with a house full of collies or something. It's insane. I've brushed and brushed and used the furbilator....I know summer is here now, but jeez. I filled up a whole grocery bag full of dog fur...mostly Gunner fur. He has such a thick coat...he must be part husky. LOL.

I emailed my brother about getting a Roomba...he has one but said the collection container is small and it wouldn't work very well for pets. I said..heck no it won't. I fill up my Dyson container pretty much daily. Just wondered how you all are coping with shedding season.

Subject: Re: Shedding!!! Wed May 21, 2008 4:08 am

Vaccum every day, sweap and yes, by morning there is MORE fur.. GAH... It stalks us in the night, in the day and it's out to get our vaccum filters.. RUN !!! LOL .. It was worse last month, not so bad now, but I'm sure it will come back to be the same way soon lol. I think if you keep up with that "furmilator", we have one and it works so well... We've seen better results with that, then with a plain slicker. HAve you tried any of thoughs shampoo's for shedding ? maybe the treats ? I know we're thinking about trying them, but have to be careful due to allergies.
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Subject: Re: Shedding!!! Wed May 21, 2008 4:27 am

Yah..I know what you mean. My hubs vaccumed yesterday around 8pm and today by 4 there were mounds of fur. It looked like we hadn't cleaned in weeks. I haven't tried the shampoos or anything. I don't know if that would help right now. Maybe like during normal shedding that would help a bit. I hate brushing Guns. He constantly wants to lay down on one side and I have a hard time getting the other side. Clay and Bell will just sit there so nice. But Guns always wants to lay his big ole body down. LOL. Stalking. That's hilarious.

My Home Away From Home Joined : 29 Jan 2008 Posts : 164

OMG! Sounds like you are all having fun! I can understand the fur. When we had our GSD and Labs, through Guide Dogs that stuff was everywhere. Pretty much nothing you can do except wait for winter to come. Our dogs got use to us vacumming them. We would try to catch it before it falls. Smile

I have to say, with Rustee our Redbone, he hasn't showed any signs of shedding. I don't think it will be a problem and I am very thankful for that.

Good Luck!

Subject: Re: Shedding!!! Thu May 22, 2008 1:50 am

The Furminator is about as good a tool as you will find for a Lab. I use the old fashioned rubber horse curry on my hounds and it works pretty well for them but harriers do not carry the coat that labradors do. Warm baths (as hot as your dog will stand for it without burning their skin) does seem to loosen
the dead undercoat really well. I know a lot of the dogshow people use the forced air dryers to blow the dead coat out of some of the really wooly breeds. My hounds hate them though.
Forced air dryers are noisey and the sensation takes some getting used to at first; the darn things are SUPER expensive for what they are too ... sort of a reverse vacuum cleaner, IMHO.
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Subject: Re: Shedding!!! Thu May 22, 2008 7:39 am

The warm water would be awesome if I could get an 80lb dog in the bath tub. Smile

I have resorted to water hose outside. Gunner has never been fond of baths and Bella was ok as a puppy with some whining. Now even she's too big for me to get into the tub. She LOVES the vaccum tho. In fact, it has gotten a bit annoying b/c when I take the attachment to clean off things she goes nuts wagging her tail and getting in my way. LOL. I'll have to get some video of that one day. I like the furminator...I just wish it had like some kind of attachement to collect the fur so I don't end up with mounds of fur all over the yard or patio.

Subject: Re: Shedding!!! Thu May 22, 2008 8:10 am

We have a booster bath and it works well when using the furmilator. The fur stays in the Booster bath, well most of it lol. The good thing about that, is you can buy a ramp so the dogs can walk in. Cloths stay mostly dry when giving a bath and there's no lifting (if you get the ramp) It's a good investment.
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Subject: Re: Shedding!!! Thu May 22, 2008 6:59 pm

Yah that does sound like a good idea. How do you coax a dog up the ramp to head to a place he normally takes a bath? Smile

Gunner is a smart cookie. He knows when I grab tissues that I am about to clean his ears and he cowers under the kitchen table. When I grab towels he knows I am getting ready to give them a bath and he heads the opposite way. LOL. I have even tried bribing him with food and treats to get his ears cleaned and he doesn't budge. He's the craziest dog. I could just see me trying to drag him up the ramp. Though he may do it for a frosty paws. He'd do most anything for those I think.

Subject: Re: Shedding!!! Thu May 22, 2008 8:44 pm

leash him up, and possibly use something really yummy and smelly.. something he never gets ! Give him a little taste, if he likes, take him for a "walk" to the bath and lure him into the bath... It's probably easier said then done though lol !?
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Subject: Re: Shedding!!! Fri May 23, 2008 12:34 am

Yah...Gunner would be pulling away I know it. He's a nut and wants to be smelly.

Subject: Re: Shedding!!! Fri May 23, 2008 1:26 am

Hahaha, sounds like Daisy and Kula ! They fights getting a bath too.... *sigh* what are we to do lol.
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Subject: Re: Shedding!!! Fri May 23, 2008 5:16 am

i don't know. I though Labbies loved water. I guess it's the water plus shampoo that they can't stand. I'm glad to know that I am not alone in the struggle to wash pups. Smile

I looked into a mobile dog washing service the other day. It was like $65 a dog and they had a weight limit of 75lbs. That won't cover Gunner. LOL. Since the baby is on the way...I though heck that would make life a littler easier on me. But won't work if they can't wash my fatty.