The Brittany Forum

steve · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:09 pm Post subject: help and advice please

I hope i explain this ok iam completly new to any type of grooming my old lab had a swim and a brush and she was fine now i have brittannys i need to learn how to keep them trimmed correctly i wont be showing stacy and tilly but i want to be responsible and keep them clean and tidy looking i dont want people to see them and think they are uncared for do most dog groomers know what to do with brits i dont mind if i have to trave.l at somepoint i would like to learn how and when to do it myself i think lacy could do with a trim now ? here is a pic

Click to see full size image

doganjo · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:18 pm Post subject:

There's nothing special needed, Steve. Even for showing all we do is thin out and trim the ears so they are reasonably tidy and thin out the hair round their bums so it doesn't get messy. You might want to thin their leg feathering a bit to avoid too many snow balls accumulating when the white stuff arrives, as no doubt it will.

I remember Stan Smith saying (he brought the breed into the UK) when we asked him about the pup we got from him "Wipe his face, wipe his bum, and get in the ring! They should look natural!! And if he gets muddy out working send him for a water retrieve!"
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Annie

Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away

steve · Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 8:46 am Post subject:

Thanks annie

Victoria · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:57 am Post subject:

Steve, I have always used the Slicker brushes, these have stainless steel pins...and I have found the 45mm is excellent for brushing their 'feathers' rather than the full size one...the Mars Coat King thinning combs are invaluable for removing tired, dry hair or slow to moult hair...they are worth every cent...mine cost a fortune even fifteen years ago (its something you note in your will)!!!! Do not be tempted to buy the lava stripping stone...they are much too harsh on the Breton coat...alright on dairy goats and moulting horses...!!! I brush mine regularly with just a normal boar's bristle human hairbrush unless we are going to a show, then I use the slicker, then 'finish' the dog with the normal brush just prior to going into the ring...I find in the winter/shooting season you must watch the growth of hair between the Breton's toes...mud can cake up on the hairs and form a bolus which can really irritate the poor dog Embarassed

...so you need to trim that regularly...it pays to have someone help you with this one...they hold the Breton while you lift the hair up beyond the level of the adjacent toes and trim back to a line just above the toe level...that usually works!!
You will find that they can get knots behind their ears with that gorgeous silky hair there so a stainless steel comb is invaluable for this or just regular brushing with the bristle brush...I collect this hair...I know, sounds crazy but I use it for dubbing on my nymphs...my Breton nymphs have brought me success in the local river...the rainbow trout probably think what the blazes???!!!!
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"...amitie, respect mutuel et amour..."

steve · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject:

Thanks victoria some good tips for me there i will keep my on there feet as at the moment there is a lot of mud around at the moment. hey your into fly fishing i fly fished and tied my own flys and nymphs we will have to have a chat ( pm) about the one that got away Laughing

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a dog a day helps you work rest and play

steve tilly and lacy

Victoria · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:26 pm Post subject:

The one that got away...immmm!!!! Don't remind me... Laughing

Still that is fishing...

this is the Mangaone (mun gah oh knee) Stream, great fishing, mostly rainbow...this is a favourite play place for the dogs too...I was spinning one day (copper or silver tobys work really well in our local rivers) and caught one...it clearly illustrates that catch and release teaches trout alot...I had a really nice rainbow (I figured about 3lbs) on the line, which when he reached the rapids went slack, there in the water I could see the fish raking the line back and forth over a boulder...it worked, the hook was released!!!! Out of respect for such an ingenious sod of a fish, I gave up for the day and went home and had sardines on toast for tea, and the dogs got the oil out of the can...there is something about dog grooming in there afterall!!! Laughing

Back to grooming Smile

at least with your orange and white girls their toe nails are alot easier to trim cos you can actually see the vein in the nail...the livers (and I imagine the black and whites, black and liver tri's are the same) with their dark nails are hard to see...but I have now figured it out if you cut about what I call the 'hawks nose' on the nail...it has an indentation like that on a raptor's beak...you are about right!!! And I am convinced that dogs have ticklish feet just as most human's do!
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"...amitie, respect mutuel et amour..."

Waldo · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 6:46 am Post subject:

Victoria, what a beautifull looking stream, trout fishing in New Zealand one of the many things on my list of "things to do". Mmmm so little time, so many hobbies.
Cheers,
Waldo

Victoria · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 11:15 am Post subject:

Well, Waldo, if you ever get to 'cross the ditch' as they say, let me know and I can point you in the right direction for a nice trout!! Very Happy

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"...amitie, respect mutuel et amour..."

steve · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 7:58 pm Post subject:

yes i agree victoria i take a sneaky look at there nails and feet when they are asleep Laughing

in engalnd there are not that many rivers with rainbows but we have some with grayling and brown trout in and the wild ones gave a great fight for there size we have a lot of commercial fisheries over with stocked ponds when i was learning to cast on a fishery the biggest fish i had was 13ib and it was so dissapointing it had no fight in it a 2ib wild one is so much better i used to fish with gazza the footballer up to about 5yrs ago

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a dog a day helps you work rest and play

steve tilly and lacy