Shaving?

[Michael Romanos]

Motown - you certainly lead an interesting life. Would love to know more. Shetland sheep - must be pretty specialised. What do you do with their wool.
We have a growing population of Alpacas in NZ -around 16,000 ar present - they make wonderful pets, have marvellous coats of varying colours, and are very clean field/farm animals. One person not far from where I live, owns 160 and knows all their names. Their wool is valuable and in demand and they are not killed for meat in NZ but live out their lives producing a major shearing of wool every year. They eat relatively little and nothing special in a green grassy country such as NZ, so apart from the initial purchase cost, their upkeep is cheap.

Good on you for grooming your Corgi for 30 minutes every day. Regular grooming is great for Corgis whether they like brushing and combing or not because it is great for their skin and it is a form of massaging which is good for muscles, and it gives their coats a real gleam, but if they enjoy it - and most do after some initial adverse reaction - then it is stimulating for them as well as providing extra attention which Corgis usually love.
I groom my Pem, Taylor for about three to five minutes daily and he loves all of it. But I don't feel the need for any longer length of time unless I was into entering Taylor in conformation shows. On our visits to see elderly and sick people and school kids, I just do the five minute 'makeover' which also softens Taylor's coat and makes him look a bit more presentable.

[mtoy]

My SIL used to shave her dog, an Australian Shepherd. The poor thing looked bad but most of all, it felt yucky. It gave me the heebie-jeebies to touch it. I couldn't see shaving any dog that I would want to pet.

Sometimes I clip (with a scissors) Millie's undercarriage fur just a bit where it nearly touches the ground and around her butt where it gets all muddy and dirty so often - maybe that would help?

[milles2]

My two love the mud. And when we come in from walks I normally towel them off, that actually takes care of most of the problem. And dirt for the most part just drops off.

But... Tuck spent the day in a horse barn for his 1st Agility trial and when he came home he went right into the sink. Different stuff on the tummy that day!

Tuck has allergy eyes so he has Doggles and will tolerate them. I may look into a hat for Lulu.

If my two end up on anyone's doorstep because they want a new Mom, one who doesn't try to turn them into a dork, please send them back to me!

[MoTown]

Hi Machel!
You can find more about them hear Nier Lake Shetland Sheep I sell the wool to my friend whon then makes sweaters out of it.

[manymuddypaws]

Sam does have doggles but doesn't wear them much- unless we are out in the sun alot just doing regular stuff- yard work, camping, picnics etc. He can't wear doggles- or a hat for that matter running agility! The sunblock works great and he doesn't mind at all.

-amanda

[Michael Romanos]

If I see a dog in NZ competing in agility wirh a cap an/or doggles on, I'll let you know. We do have some horses in horse racing that wear blinkers - but don't think the same set of circumstances are present for any distractable or nervous dogs to be 'blinkered' in the same way.

[MagnoliaFly]

You said you own horses? Why don't you groom your corgi really well and then spray some Showsheen into his coat afterwards. Its silicone based and will help him to stay clean and prevents lots of dirt from building up in it.

[PaulaK]

I can second the suggestion for Showsheen (actually I use a cheaper product-Lazer Sheen). Lightly spray after a bath. I've been doing this for years on various dogs and it does help.
Paula

[Bayoucorgi]

One of my foals has an almost completely white face. We had to put sunscreen on her or keep her in the barn in the summer or she'd be a pink faced mess. I also had to be careful to jacket my white sheep after shearing or they would burn too. And when they peeled it would leave dander in the wool that was almost impossible to get out. I've spun Shetland wool. I love the colors. Oh I miss my sheep...