Coat Question

[Jeni D]

Dudley's coat (seven months old now) is started to feel fuzzy, especially on his lower back and up where his neck meets his head. It sticks up and doesn't lay down flat! I was just wondering if this was "normal" and if it will go away or if this is how he is going to look from now on. Are these cowlicks? Just curious as to what is going on with my little dude's coat and wondering if there was a solution. Thanks!

Jeni

[Chip's Mom]

Golly - I am not sure. I know Chip's fur around his tailend where it was shaved for neutering is coarse and doesn't lay the way it is supposed to. I got him some oatmeal shampoo but I haven't tried it yet. I think his skin is dry in that area. I am sure someone will have the answers though.

[corgimom]

Jeni,

Dogs can have cowlicks and Cody has one on his nose right between his eyes.

When you say Fuzzy, do you mean his coat sort of rough?

[Jeni D]

Yes, it is kind of rougher there than everywhere else. The rest of his fur feels very soft.

[jprechel]

Jeni - Ace's fur is doing the same thing. Maybe it is a cardigan thing? Down Ace's back his hair has become much thicker and more coarse in spots. If I look at the hair he has shed I can see the hair has small waves in it - like a bobby pin - if that makes sense. He also has formed a small cowlick at the end of his back - right where his tail starts - that sticks up. I think it is very cute. We have noticed that when Ace gets into protective mode and starts barking at something the hair on his back will raise up!

By the way, I saw a commerical for the dog show on animal plant tonight and it had a cardigan corgi on it! I was very excited! I could tell the dog was a corgi but when he turned around and I saw the tail I was surprised! Good thing we were tivoing a show at the time so I recorded it and showed Jim. It was pretty cool and it made me think of Ace and Dudley!

[Jeni D]

Is that the commercial with the cardi, Black Jack, going off to the dog show? I love that commericial!!
Maybe the fuzzy hair is a cardi thing because what you describe sounds exactly like what Dudley has. Dudley has always puffed up when in protective mode, since the very first day we brought him home! Even his tail gets puffy!
Thanks for letting me know that Ace is doing the same thing with his hair...good to know Dudley maybe isn't as weird as I thought he was

[jprechel]

Well.... Their all weird in their on right! Ace and Dudley are one in the same when it comes to protectiveness! Ace's tail puffs up too! I just love it when he runs to the fence and barks at our neighbors - he is determined to protect us from all that is bad. The way he stands and his hair stands up..Just love it, makes me laugh every time!

And yes! That is the commerical I saw with Black Jack! Very cool!

[jprechel]

By the way, we just watched the cardigan welsh corgi - Harry Potter - win the herding group of the eukanuba tournament of champions in Houston! Woo Hoo!

[Michael Romanos]

Jeni - Corgis go through various stages with their coats. If you were going to show your pup in conformation, then you would hope that the coat does not stick up or out, is not extra layered in parts and is kind of silky rather than fuzzy. A messy coat can tend to detract from a good top line ie no lumps and dips

[Jeni D]

Well then, his coat is probably a reason he was not a show dog

I, too, saw Harry Potter last night! I get excited when I see any corgi sighting, but double excited when I see a cardi!

[Fluffypants]

Jackie has that "bobby pin" look to her hair also . . . I tell her she should have been born in 1985, she has naturally crimped hair! Also has a cowlick right in the middle of her back. The hair stands up and curls in the wrong direction, making it look like a tidal wave. No matter what I do, I can't get it to lay flat!

[MissGambler'sMommy]

Oatmeal shampoos are not only great for the fur, but also for their skin. My vet joked with me about this, telling me that I should have known better since I am a red-head. She said that Miss Gambler is no different, she's even known dogs with her coloring that have to wear sunscreen, just like people. We only use an oatmeal bath and it's great, her fur and skin are extremely healthy, and it cut down on the shedding greatly. Also, using the right brush, and using it properly when drying is a must to get that fur to go where it's supposed to go. But just like everything else about a corgi, it'll do what it wants to do! Miss Gambler has a patch of hair on her extreme lower back that after a bath the fur is going in every direction under the sun. It's only after a few licks from her cat buddy that the fur is tamed.

Take care, and love your corgi!

[Dillydoodle]

Dillon has that same thing after a bath, the hair on the lowest section of his back right before his butt sometimes does that same tidal wave curl like you described Jessica - or it does the going every which way as you described Miss Gamblers mommy- I find that after a day it calms down and lays properly but that first day he looks all fuzzy and cute...

[corgimom]

I have the same thing with Cody - that little section on his way lower back has a mind of its own after a bath and goes every which way, but where it is supposed to go.

[Chip's Mom]

I just gave Chip a much needed bath night before last with an oatmeal, anti itch shampoo. Not sure of the brand and I am not home to look but he is so soft and his coat lays perfectly.

All dogs are show dogs - I show Chip off every chance I get.