Sophie and Bean are Malitpoos, a cross between Maltese and Poodle. They grow hair like Rapunsel. Grows and grows until someone cuts it off. Usually me. Because a groomer takes one look at them and puts the clippers on ‘scalp’. Just wack it off down to the skin. Poor babies look like rotisserie chickens for a couple of weeks, until a little growth comes in.
But the groomers don’t really have a choice. My best beloved puppies tend to get a wee bit matted. Think steel wool…and that’s Bean’s hair. Curly steel wool. Sophie’s coat is deceptively soft and wavy. But it’s just as rowdy as her brother’s.
Both of them are like velcro. And since we live in the forest and they’re low to the ground…ah, keeping them groomed would be a full time job. They attract every twig, every burr, every pine needle on the trail. The ones that don’t come off on the furniture are like pearls, working their way deep into the coat, twisting the hair around until another dreadlock is formed.
By this time of year the coats are pretty long. Not a bad thing if it was winter. But winter hasn’t happened this year. So Sophie got a hair cut. It was only logical. She was sitting on my lap, the scissors were handy. Fate. Whatever. Sophie has a new ‘doo, except for her face. And one or two of her legs. Face has to wait until I can find the blunt edge scissors. Legs have to wait until we’re both in the mood.
This is what I got off her. Oh? Just dog hair. What’s the big deal?
Got enough hair to make another dog! That’s the big deal.
Really, look at that! But it won’t play!
Next comes the face. Someday.
Bean knows he’s next. Not now, but soon. He’ll keep his distance for a little while.
You described that grooming process perfectly — look at Bean – scared now lol
And Velcro is Watson’s middle name — hahaha.
I can only imagine the pile you’ll get from Watson when he reaches his full size…As artsits I keep thinking there’s something we could DO with this stuff. Mixed media dog hair sculpture, hmmmm……..
Ah I don’t mean to be gruesome, but save it and stuff a small pillow. Commemorate the pillow cover to whomever the hair belongs to. Someday you will be glad you saved the hair. Just a thought.
But I do understand the hair thing. The ones I have now (Boxer, Brussels Griffon and a Cairn Terrier) don’t get the matted hair. But we had a Shih Tzu and a Yorkie when we were first married. This was when we lived in NY state and the winters were not pleasant. We lived in an apartment building which means we had to cross the parking lot to get to the grass area, except the grass area was knee deep in snow and the parking lot was covered in dirty melted snow, sand and small loose gravel. Can you imagine the mess those dogs came back inside with? Not a pretty picture. And the worse part was the little snowballs stuck to their legs and underbelly. Haircut indeed!
Ah yes, snowball legs and feet. Deal with that every winter, except this winter-that-isn’t.
I saved Elkhound hair for years, the undercoat. Always thought I’d stuff something with it. Eventually threw it away.