Help with rescue maltese

[maltese2]

I rescued a 7yr old female spayed maltese from a breeder. My problem is her legs and tail are so matted!!! I can't even get a mat comb into them. I am thinking of shaving her legs/tail and body but leaving the hair on her head. Does any one have some pictures of something simialar that I am talking about? Her hair on her nose under her eyes is matteted to. What should I do with it?

[menvin]

Umm WOW! maybe the best is shaving her right down and starting from a clean healthy coat, if its matted that bad I wouldn't put her through the stress of a comb-out. A short coat is easier to look after and you can ease her into your grooming routine.

[Morkie4]

Umm WOW! maybe the best is shaving her right down and starting from a clean healthy coat, if its matted that bad I wouldn't put her through the stress of a comb-out. A short coat is easier to look after and you can ease her into your grooming routine.

HI,
I do agree with Menvin. I don't know how well your new baby will do with the brushing/comb out with the mat situation but I use cowboy magic on really bad mats, let it saturate the mat and sometimes with patience and tolerance on the part of the dog, the mats can be removed. If they won't tolerate the grooming, then to me, it is in the best interest to just cut the mats out. There are several on the site that have had to shave their dogs down because of the matting. I would go ahead and shave her down and start with a fresh coat and with good care it should come back in nicely. Also this way you can get her use to the routine of grooming.

OH, and CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW FLUFFBABY!!!! What have you named her???

[maltese2]

Her name is Mitzie. I am planning on shaving her back and legs but would like to keep the head hair. I just not sure how it would look. That is why I asked for some pictures if anyone has any.:)

[Morkie4]

Her name is Mitzie. I am planning on shaving her back and legs but would like to keep the head hair. I just not sure how it would look. That is why I asked for some pictures if anyone has any.:)

Well I did not shave Kallie down but did trim a good 10 inches off of her and left her head long....I really did not like the look but I didn't have the guts to cut the head hair. Thank goodness the hair is growing back out. I cut it because it is so hot in Florida but with the cooler weather (70s), I felt I could grow her back out. So here is a picture of her with the long hair on the head and short body!

BEFORE:
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r309/Morkie4/cropkalliel4m.jpg

AFTER:
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r309/Morkie4/100_1000.jpg

[MaxJack'sMom]

Well I did not shave Kallie down but did trim a good 10 inches off of her and left her head long....I really did not like the look but I didn't have the guts to cut the head hair. Thank goodness the hair is growing back out. I cut it because it is so hot in Florida but with the cooler weather (70s), I felt I could grow her back out. So here is a picture of her with the long hair on the head and short body!

BEFORE:
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r309/Morkie4/cropkalliel4m.jpg

AFTER:
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r309/Morkie4/100_1000.jpg

Carol, Kallie is such a beautiful little lady. I love the first picture of her with the full coat. I would never have the patience to do that, but I do love looking at other people's pet like that.
Could you just imagine Jack with a full coat and all the mischief he gets into?
I shudder at the image:lol2:

[menvin]

Kallie is adorable in her haircut.

The thing that concerns me is you said Mitzie matted under her eyes, that would be very painful to comb out. You can do a Google search for Maltese haircut pictures.

http://images.google.ca/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enCA260CA260&q=maltese+haircut&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

[Morkie4]

Kallie is adorable in her haircut.

The thing that concerns me is you said Mitzie matted under her eyes, that would be very painful to comb out. You can do a Google search for Maltese haircut pictures.

http://images.google.ca/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enCA260CA260&q=maltese+haircut&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

I know what you mean as that area is very very sensitive and if they are not use to grooming, it would be a chore and more of an aggrevation to work out the mats! But Brandy came to us with mats in places I did not know mats could be :eek: :eek: :eek:.............Her ears were two inches long from the top of the head to the tip of the ear hair. Well by the time I had all the mats on the ears worked out......they were four inches long. It took me a solid week to get all the mats out of her, keeping the sessions short and enjoyable. It was a real challenge and if you aren't up to the challenge, then I say cut cut cut the mats out!:wink5:

PS: And I did need help doing around her face/muzzle with getting those mats out. She was a real trooper!

[maltese2]

I have been combing/brushing Mitzie all day. I have gotten all the mats out except for the back legs. They are so solid that I can't even get a comb in them. I am planning on shaving her back legs. I don't know how to make it look good except for shaving her body and leaving her tail/head and front legs. I am thinking of doing a sort of modified lion clip. I guess I'll see how she looks after shaving the legs.

Edit: I used cowboy magic on the mats and let it soak in before trying to comb out. I also bathed her and left conditioner on. I'm planning on bathing her again after I am done.

[Morkie4]

I have been combing/brushing Mitzie all day. I have gotten all the mats out except for the back legs. They are so solid that I can't even get a comb in them. I am planning on shaving her back legs. I don't know how to make it look good except for shaving her body and leaving her tail/head and front legs. I am thinking of doing a sort of modified lion clip. I guess I'll see how she looks after shaving the legs.

Edit: I used cowboy magic on the mats and let it soak in before trying to comb out. I also bathed her and left conditioner on. I'm planning on bathing her again after I am done.

Well, all you can do is do your best and it sounds like most of the mats came out so that's great. Just remember, hair always grows!!!!!! and it will be a lot healthier hair as it grows out! Brandy looked a bit choppy the first month as the rescue organization had already cut some of the mats out.........and I worked the rest of them out and so she looked a bit weird but her hair is growing and she looks fine now after four months. So sometimes mats CAN NOT be removed...........Do condition condition conditon!!!!!

[maltese2]

Thanks for all of the advise! I took dog grooming classes at the vo-tech but don't have all the equipment that I should have. I use shampoo and conditioner that I got from a maltese site. It is for the maltese breed specificaly.

[menvin]

The best stuff I have ever used for matts is Best Shot shampoo and conditioner, its pretty inexpensive. If all else fails and you do shave her down, think of all the pretty clothes she can wear while she is growing coat. I would love to see pictures of her.

[maltese2]

I will post pictures as soon as I get my film developed. I am not sure that she is full blood maltese although the breeder said she is his original dog that he started with. He also said she was AKC registered and has many champions in her pedigree and her sister was a champion. I am questioning Mitzie being full because she holds her ears up like a yorkie. Well, her ears and the way the hair flows from them reminds me of a skye terrier. She is a cutie!!! I am having problems with her "marking". She is raising her leg and pee'ing on things in the house. She really likes to get into the clean laundry and do it. :confused: Any one else ever have this problem with a female?

[Morkie4]

I will post pictures as soon as I get my film developed. I am not sure that she is full blood maltese although the breeder said she is his original dog that he started with. He also said she was AKC registered and has many champions in her pedigree and her sister was a champion. I am questioning Mitzie being full because she holds her ears up like a yorkie. Well, her ears and the way the hair flows from them reminds me of a skye terrier. She is a cutie!!! I am having problems with her "marking". She is raising her leg and pee'ing on things in the house. She really likes to get into the clean laundry and do it. :confused: Any one else ever have this problem with a female?

Brandy our 2 yr old female rescue did marking for about the first week but then she stopped with correction. Simply telling her when I caught her in the act that she was a bad girl and to go potty outside and immediately took her out and said go potty outside. And of course cleaning up the "spot" is important as well so they do not return to that spot again. I am sure you can get that behavior under control.........................can't wait to see pictures!!!

[Miss Melanie]

God bless you and I wanted to wish you good luck with your new doggie.

For matts I use Silk Spirits, you can work the matts out with your fingers after applying it.

enJOY!
Melanie

[omega]

I had to shave Jolie down a little while ago. I have to say, I don't regret it at all. I even lopped off her top knot. I love her in the short look and yes, she does get to wear some clothing now. She looks so cute in them.:)

Her skin is SO sensitive that even the most teeny tiny matt is bad for her.