How often do you line comb?

[Emmasmom]

When I started to line brush, the dogs were laid on the floor and one leg went over them. If they started to move. the hand went down on them. Also treats work great for getting them to lie still. Mine lie across my lap now to get down and cuddled up in my arms to get the feet and toes trimmed. They may not be happy but they know I mean business and the stiller they lie, the quicker they can get away.

 

[Ann]

Thanks for all your answers! It really helps me get some clarity when I know what others (who are much more experienced than me) are doing. But I am amazed that you can finish line brushing within 30-40 minutes! Maybe it's because my dog fidgets around so much and I spend 1/3 the time chasing him down and pulling him back!

I know not everyone can do this, but the best thing I ever did was to invest in a grooming table. No one gets away; they can lie on their sides once they're used to it and best of all, it's a huge back-saver for me! You can find them on eBay for less than $100.

 

[tesslynn]

I know not everyone can do this, but the best thing I ever did was to invest in a grooming table. No one gets away; they can lie on their sides once they're used to it and best of all, it's a huge back-saver for me! You can find them on eBay for less than $100.

I put my lil monsters on the kitchen island-right height for me, and they wouldn't think of moving-until I lift them off. They lay flat on a padded surface of towels, and we zip through it...cookies follow if they don't fidget

 

[Calliesmom]

I know not everyone can do this, but the best thing I ever did was to invest in a grooming table. No one gets away; they can lie on their sides once they're used to it and best of all, it's a huge back-saver for me! You can find them on eBay for less than $100.

got mine from Petedge on sale so close to $100.
we start on the couch and if they don't cooperate there- up on the table......

 

[jumba]

Mine is still a puppy so it might not have been fair for me to say 30-40 minutes lol. She has a lot of guard hair on her back, but still has the puppy fluff rough, and pants. The easiest to go through is the hair directly along her spine, and on her tummy. In those places, it seems to be mostly guard hair, but when I brush it is clear that there is undercoat. On her sides, pants and rough, it is thick, dense puppy coat without, or very little guard hair. It goes quickest the more I brush her during the week. I take my time around the sensitive areas like her neck and ears.

We started her out as a little, little puppy letting her lay down on the couch, being fed treat after treat (we made her work at the treat to keep her mind occupied) while I brushed. It worked fairly well, though the only tricky parts are her pants and tail and I still need DH to hold her head for me because she doesn't want those areas touched. It will be better once I get my grooming arm and the tethers (incorrect term?) That go with it.

I am sure that it will take more time once all of her adult coat comes in.

 

[Shelby's mom]

I first started brushing Shelby by holding her on my lap and offering treats. Eventually worked up to her laying on her side on the floor.

She still likes to figidt but I just put my arm down on her and she stops. We still use treats if she behaves. She usually tries to roll over so I have to brush her belly.

I also use a pin brush and back brush her fur 1st then line brush in the direction her fur grows. I usually do this once a week unless she is shedding then I do it more often. Usually takes about 30-40 minutes. This also allows me to keep an eye on her skin. Since both her fur and skin is black it is very hard to examine her.

 

[Daisy1015]

I line brush weekly and it takes me 15 to 20 minutes if done weekly. Half an hour more or less if every two weeks. If i have to do an in between for some reason i just do a quick brush and fluff but not line brush. I always spritz with water as a previous person mentioned. My dog has a pretty heavy coat too. I have been doing this since I was 13 and i am 42 now... So lots of practice. I use a pin brush with no caps or balls on the end, just straight pins. I had to order it. I dont even own a rake and i only use a comb to. Do Things like short leg hair or if a dog had a tangle or getting a real heavy shedding patch. My personal sheltie has had one pea size tangle his whole life.

Now a heavy shed may take longer and once a month i bathe and do all my trimming. That brushing takes longer.

They have you tube videos you could gooGle line brushing.

 

[windy]

It's difficult for me to stand for very long, but I do a full groom with Blithe standing on my bathroom vanity between the two sinks. Oh yes, first I have to catch him! I stand him on an old rubber-backed bath mat so he will feel secure. Not the best for doing feet, but at least I don't feel bad when I trim the bath mat along with the feet! (When I used to take my Polish Lowland Sheepdog to the groomer regularly I gave them a bath mat to use on their grooming table as Max always wanted to sit down and the mat made him feel more secure standing on that slippery table in his old age.)

Now that he's blowing coat I find that we share our together time (i.e., my time on the toilet in the morning) with pin brushing him and he seems to really enjoy that. At least I don't have to catch him first. What Sheltie does not want to be at mom's feet while she's on the toilet!

Neither time do I worry about how much hair I'm able to get out; it's just what he and I can tolerate at the time. The rest I just vacuum out of the carpet.

 

[tesslynn]

amazing tool

A sweet friend gifted me with a furminator for my bday (she has keeshonds, and couldn't understand why I would have shelties and not have this tool). Wow, this brush is great- I'm impressed. Kaleigh is still producing fur overnight, But this thing is getting her thinned. I never owned one before and now I wonder WHY Kaleigh tolerates brushing, but with this she actually didn't seem to mind. Anything that makes life easier with the fur babies is worth sharing.