TopKnot Again

[Sue67]

As you may recall, Indy has a very curly topknot.

After much browbeating and persuasion from various members, I agreed it had to go.

Thing is, what do I do to get rid of it? 

It's very curly, even when wet, it doesn't lie completely flat.

Do I get trimmers and whizz it off? Won't it look odd, there'll probably be little tufts left, wont there? 

I've tried hand stripping, but it doesn't want to come out, (plus she bites the hand that plucks!). 

I don't want to have to pay someone just yet, what do I do?

[happydog]

Have you got any thinning scissors?

[Sue67]

Nope - no thinning scissors, I have looked in a couple of pet shops, but they didn't have any.

Is it a specialised thing you can only get in certain places?

Besides, scissors + wriggly, 'not keen on what your doing' pooch = missing eye!

[Ailsa]

I used a coat king on Twix's head. Not sure if that is the correct thing to do, but it certainly tidied it up alot. It is still not a smooth perfect spaniel head - still a bit tufty - but much better than before when it was all falling into her eyes!

[happydog]

I've only got a working cocker so very little grooming required! I was only repeating what I have read in other posts here. Coat Kings seem to do the trick as Ailsa says. (Don't get too carried away though or you'll end up with a bald cocker!)
If you do a search on COL for 'Coat King' I am sure there will be a link or two somewhere to an online source for them.

Good luck!

Edited to add. have found a link for you.

http://www.hubintsecured.co.uk/acatalog/Coat_Kings.html

[Cob-Web]

Nope - no thinning scissors, I have looked in a couple of pet shops, but they didn't have any.

Is it a specialised thing you can only get in certain places?

Besides, scissors + wriggly, 'not keen on what your doing' pooch = missing eye!

Thinning scissors are avaiaible in Boots/Superpdrug and other chemists with a decent haircare section - I buy straight and thinning hairdressing scissors from Boots about once a year rather than pay a fortune for them from a specialist grooming supplier (obviously if you intend to show, then the quality/type of scissors is more important  )

I use the thinning scissors on Molo's head  , and it really does tidy it up nicely 

[Sue67]

Coat Kings seem to do the trick as Ailsa says.

Have you got any thinning scissors?

Will these actually work on her very curly head? I'm going to try and get a head shot to post so you can see what I mean.

Anybody else who has a curly headed cocker - what do you use?

[happydog]

I'm going to try and get a head shot to post so you can see what I mean.

Good idea 

[Sue67]

Got one.



Someone please tell me their dog's got hair like this and she's not a freak!

[spanielcrazy]

She certainly has the most curly top knot I've ever seen, but not the biggest! She's not a freak, she's a pretty girl!

We did tease you, we hope you don't take it as browbeating, all in fun She's your dog and if you like the topknot you keep it!

Thinning shears will be your best bet. It will give a very natural look.

 When you use them, at first you won't think they are doing anything, you'll make a cut and nothing will appear to have happened. What you do is make a couple of cuts, then swipe with a slicker. Cut, cut, slicker. You'll see the hair that you've cut on the slicker. Keep doing this till her hair is where you want it, then use the thinning shears to tidy up any "sticky-outies"

[Ailsa]

What a wee cutie!! She is most definitely the Leo Sayer of the spaniel world!! Twix's head was also pretty curly until I used the coat king - it could probably still do with a tidy up with some thinning scissors, so I will be visiting Boots this weekend.

[happydog]

Aaaw Indy  . Mummy is going to give you a smooth elegant cocker hairstyle very soon. Spanielcrazys tips sound good to me.
It's a bit like cutting off your baby's first curls isn't it? (Not that I have the human kind -I prefer dogs). Are you going to save a lock for posterity?  .
Can't wait to see the new improved modern miss. She will defo look more in proportion when tidied up.
Good luck  .

[Abby]

Ooh Me ME!!! I have a curly haired cocker Too!!!



I keep Clives big fat old lady sausage curls under control with thinning scissors - just chop it off and then smooth it out. Worth their weight in gold those scissors are. He still gets Kevin Keegan waves down his neck but you can't have everything can you???



Clive after his first top knot cut...

[Nicola]

Got one.



Someone please tell me their dog's got hair like this and she's not a freak!

Oh my god those curls are something else! It looks like a hairpiece you've just set down on her head 

[Sue67]

I've got thinning scissors.

I've cut off her curls.

She's now got ripples all over her head! 

I think I've resigned myself to the fact that she's never gonna have a smooth head.

Bless her!