How can I make my boy fluffier?

[ortegah]

Trax realllly is gorgeous, you know that!? What a sweet, soft face!
Toffee is 2 and I keep hoping he gets more fluff.. but I am afraid it's as good as it is going to get, lol

Thanks! He's almost 5 years old so this is definitely his permanent coat Maybe you'll be luckier than I was with it. Actually I think Trax's hair has gotten thinner over time. He's eating good food and wild salmon oil so I don't think it's diet related.

 

[BarbV]

I use Thick and Thicker as well. It's great, but not for every day because it's not cheap.

Also between full bathes, I use CC Show Off Dry Shampoo and Ice on Ice leave in conditioner to help fluff things up.

You don't want to use too much, too often, because they will "build up" over time and start having the reverse effect on the coat. (Just like too much hair product in your own hair).

Some dogs just fluff up more than others. Indy's coat is perpetually fluffed, while Bacca's tends to drape more.

Whatever you do, don't compare your pup to pictures of show dogs. While we all agree this is the ideal look, most of this is achieved through chalk and special brushing techniques (very time consuming).

Sometimes you just need to go with what God gave your pup!

 

[Smudge]

It takes so long and Trax chews at it until he has scabs

Smudge chewed at his, too. He was also itching and scratching from the dryness caused from the mange dips. Hes's always been so skinny that when they shaved it his chicken legs looked even worse.

 

[ortegah]

I use Thick and Thicker as well. It's great, but not for every day because it's not cheap.

Also between full bathes, I use CC Show Off Dry Shampoo and Ice on Ice leave in conditioner to help fluff things up.

You don't want to use too much, too often, because they will "build up" over time and start having the reverse effect on the coat. (Just like too much hair product in your own hair).

Some dogs just fluff up more than others. Indy's coat is perpetually fluffed, while Bacca's tends to drape more.

Whatever you do, don't compare your pup to pictures of show dogs. While we all agree this is the ideal look, most of this is achieved through chalk and special brushing techniques (very time consuming).

Sometimes you just need to go with what God gave your pup!

Oh I would never compare Trax to a show dog as he's no where even remotely close. I'd just like him to look somewhat kept. He always looks like I never groom him because his hair is just so flat and stringy.

Smudge chewed at his, too. He was also itching and scratching from the dryness caused from the mange dips. Hes's always been so skinny that when they shaved it his chicken legs looked even worse.

Awh, it's hard to watch them irritated like that. I did notice the other day that his skin is definitely dry and flaky so I'm sure that's not helping.

 

[AUTiger83]

The frugal alternative . . .

for those of us who are cheap, try Suave "Volumizing Shampoo" in their Professional series of products. You can find it at Walmart. It's in a lavendar bottle and is a knock-off a more expensive Matrix product.

It definitely made a difference in Maggie's appearance who had average thickness hair.

 

[BarbV]

A few other options....

I use CC's Coat Dressing...it really fluffs up the ruff.

Also learning the techniques for proper brushing - see the Ultimate Guide to Sheltie Grooming by Barb Ross. It will demonstrate how to line brush for the maximum puff.

Also - many folk on the forum swear by supplements. Many use Vibrant Pets, but I also came across another. I can't give a testimonial....I ordered it but was really bad about using it regularly. I need to order more as I had to throw it out - it does have an expiry date on it.

The product is Inflight and is distributed by Dury Voe Shelties. Naked Care is another product which is a spray in. I still use it - alternating between CC Ice on Ice, CC Coat Dressing and Naked Care.

http://pages.prodigy.net/judykelsey/duryvoeshelties/Inflight.html

 

[ortegah]

A few other options....

I use CC's Coat Dressing...it really fluffs up the ruff.

Also learning the techniques for proper brushing - see the Ultimate Guide to Sheltie Grooming by Barb Ross. It will demonstrate how to line brush for the maximum puff.

Also - many folk on the forum swear by supplements. Many use Vibrant Pets, but I also came across another. I can't give a testimonial....I ordered it but was really bad about using it regularly. I need to order more as I had to throw it out - it does have an expiry date on it.

The product is Inflight and is distributed by Dury Voe Shelties. Naked Care is another product which is a spray in. I still use it - alternating between CC Ice on Ice, CC Coat Dressing and Naked Care.

http://pages.prodigy.net/judykelsey/duryvoeshelties/Inflight.html

I actually started using Vibrant Pets a while ago and I like it a lot. It helps his itchy skin as well. I'm still looking at the topical options. Thanks for the info!

 

[SheltieChe]

this Inflight Coat Formula has same ingredients as Vibrant pets minus probiotics and enzymes.
I like ingredients on Naked Care. I have use CC ice on ice and love it but would love to try something new. There is no option to order it on line, right?

 

[BarbV]

this Inflight Coat Formula has same ingredients as Vibrant pets minus probiotics and enzymes.
I like ingredients on Naked Care. I have use CC ice on ice and love it but would love to try something new. There is no option to order it on line, right?

"Naked Care for the Dog with No Hair" - what a slogan!

I ordered both the Naked Care and the Inflight online. Dury Voe is the Canadian distributor. I've attached links to the actual manufacturers websites so that you can find the one closest to you.


http://www.nakedcare.com/order.html

http://inflightcoatformula.com/dealers.html

 

[KarenCurtis]

I think he is a very handsome dog. Sandstorm is also 18 inches, and his fur is rather drapey also, but he is getting more of it now and has big pants again (love those pants). His chest fur is driving me crazy- it is slowly, very slowly, coming in again. This summer he looked like he lost so much fur! Sandstorm is not quite 18 months old, and both his parents look extremely fluffy in their show pictures. I suppose you could get products to fluff him, but that would take alot of time. I am thinking of my own hair, (thin) and how much product I use (if I lit a match it would probably go up in flames, I use a big can of hair spray a week).
If you did that to your dog, you would have to rinse it out almost daily, wouldn't you? Like I said, I think you have a really pretty dog.
Karen