Sheltie coat

F

Flower

Forums Regular
Hello,

Chai is 1 yr old as of the 8th of Dec. His back legs (little pants) were pretty bushy, but now it seems it is thinning out and looks long and sparse. His tail is bushy and his neck main looks great. I'm wondering if that's normal.

I brush him every day, but I don't get him wet first... it's winter time. -1 today. I read that brushing a sheltie without wetting the coat first could pull out the under coat... Can somebody explain that to me. Is it okay to just brush him without getting him wet?
 
You shouldn't brush without misting the coat...it can break the hair, especially in dry seasons or in winter when indoor heat dries hair out. You don't have to get him wet, just keep a spray bottle with water in it and mist him lightly before brushing.

I doubt though that you're pulling his hair out just by brushing dry. Between one and two years of age, Shelties enter what I call the Coyote Stage :wideyed: when they lose most of their coat and begin to grow in their adult coat. This may take a while..some lines don't really have their adult coat until between two and three years old. So don't despair, your boy is just going through normal growth. Regular brushing, as you're doing, will help the process along. (y)
 
I agree with Ann, Chai is probably blowing his coat. Most Shelties don't have their full adult coat until they're 3 years old. Fortunately for Piper he didn't blow his coat (although I was kinda hoping he would lol).
 
Ann said:
You shouldn't brush without misting the coat...it can break the hair, especially in dry seasons or in winter when indoor heat dries hair out. You don't have to get him wet, just keep a spray bottle with water in it and mist him lightly before brushing.

I doubt though that you're pulling his hair out just by brushing dry. Between one and two years of age, Shelties enter what I call the Coyote Stage :wideyed: when they lose most of their coat and begin to grow in their adult coat. This may take a while..some lines don't really have their adult coat until between two and three years old. So don't despair, your boy is just going through normal growth. Regular brushing, as you're doing, will help the process along. (y)
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Thank you so much. I will mist him from now on to prevent breaking the hair. I have been adding some olive oil to his food to help with dry skin, he seems itchy and he doesn't have fleas ( I treat him every month with flea prevention). I was hoping he was going through a stage when his back pants got thin but wasn't sure, I feel so much better now that I read your responce. This is my first Sheltie, I just love him so much and I just want to take care of him right.
 
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Flower said:
Thank you so much. I will mist him from now on to prevent breaking the hair. I have been adding some olive oil to his food to help with dry skin, he seems itchy and he doesn't have fleas ( I treat him every month with flea prevention). I was hoping he was going through a stage when his back pants got thin but wasn't sure, I feel so much better now that I read your responce. This is my first Sheltie, I just love him so much and I just want to take care of him right.
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You might consider using coconut oil for Chai instead of olive oil if he's itchy. It's great for many things, including dry skin and helps give them a wonderful coat, but it has other properties too that are great for dogs. You can buy it now in most supermarkets...just get the pure coconut oil. It's not liquid unless it's hot but most dogs love it and will lick it right off the spoon. Work up to a teaspoon a day and you'll see a difference in his skin and coat.
 
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