In this section, you'll find some advises, tips, and some products tests about grooming. Sometimes, we will try to add some pictures to be as clear as possible in our explanations. In this #1, we just propose you the page we've had done on our first website, just because a lot of people said us it was very useful.

Here you are ! Now you have got your Coton de Tuléar! Now happy days game of companion ship, laughter and other pleasures of life will start. ...However you are beginning to "curse" the people who told you that the coton de Tulear would need none or almost no grooming. Well ! a white coated dog, with long fluffy hair like carded cotton, who needs no care, that's a miracle unless you are a gentle sorcerer or a fairy! So before going to the canine beauty parlour where they would only wish to cut or clip this heavy coat, here is some advice that I hope will be useful :



EQUIPMENT
WASHING
DRYING
EYES
FEET
EARS
TEETH




EQUIPMENT


You need : To avoid :
  • a metal bristles mounted in rubber
  • an open toothed comb
  • a fine toothed comb
  • a pair of scissors
  • a "carding brush"
  • a "triming comb"




From the first days, even if he doesn't need it, don't hesitate to brush and comb his fur. You have to make this daily routine a special moment which the puppy will soon associate soon with pleasure and not punishment. Don't hesitate to congratulate him about his good behaviour (even if at the beginning you have to be firm to make him be quiet). Give him a treat.

How to proceed ? Make yourself (both !) comfortable. Use the brush to untangle the top hair. With your open toothed comb you have to groom all the coat. It will be used to detect knots and to penetrate the fur as far as the skin. Don't pull ! Personally I put down the comb and I undo the knot with my fingers so as not to drag any hair away if possible. Use the fine toothed comb for the corner of the eyes and the whiskers. You can also comb the ears to eliminate the little balls of hair which can form another knot.


Take care ! Until 6 months old, grooming is "easy". Between 6 and 10 months old, your dog is getting his adult hair, the coat will thicken and there are often catastrophes ! You have spaced the grooming sessions and you realize there are a lot of knots, and it's impossible to use your comb. You are getting angry, Your dog like this moment anymore.... The canine beauty parlour isn't far ... ... No it's a joke because you have combed your dog every day .




WASHING

You must UNTANGLE your coton carefully before wetting his coat, or else it will be like you were washing your cashmere pullover in boiling water ... The shampoo has to be suitable and of good quality ; you have to dilute it more than recommended on the notice. Personally I avoid shampoos for white dogs which strip and drain the take too much oil out of and damages the hair. I prefer a conditioner, a "puppy shampoo" or one containing mink oil. Don't use human shampoos (even babies ones). The water must be warm. Don't rub too hard ! Give him a shower and massage from root to tip of the hair. Rinse a lot. You can use an after shampoo conditioner (always without rubbing !). You rinse afterwards.

Personal tip :When the dog is heavy coated, I take off the shower head. So that I have a controlled jet with the biggest rate of flow which allow me more easily to wet and rinse as far as the skin.




DRYING

Let your "treasure" shake himself , and connect your hairdryer. Be careful the air musn't be too hot ! It's the air volume which is drying the hair rather than its temperature.
Personal tip : I use a hairslide. I set the locks of hair upright to dry the root first, because on a long coat, the tips become "overcookeed" and ruined ... before the root has begun to dry.



EYES

You have to clean them regularly with a lotion. Don't ever cut the hair that falls over the eyes, but fasten it with a hairslide, hair elastics, bows, as long as you remove and replace them regularlyevery day.

Personal tip : If your coton's eyes weep, you have to dry the moist and red stains on the hair with boric acid or cornflour.



FEET
Cut the hair between the soft pads.Get your coton used to this operation, he doesn't like it much ! Use scissors with round ends. Also cut hair which is too long around the feet.


EARS

Ears must be regularly plucked. Don't use tweezers. You can extract the hair with your hand. Put a washing lotion into the ears and massage behind the base of the ear.

Personal tip : ??? Sorry .... Good luck !!!


TEETH

Some dogs may get tartar. No miraculous solution. Chewing bones isn't enough to avoid this problem. Only a daily brushing would avoid tartar (don't get the wrong toothpaste your coton likes a meaty taste!) Usually it's the vet who deals with any tartar

Cut the hair under the nose at the upper lip level, so it doesn't get dirty.


Personal tip : You can, if you do it regularly scape tartar off with a fingernail.




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