Grooming question (again!)

[magicflower]

We are thinking about having Ruby speyed after her first season. We aren't going to breed or show her.

I have read somewhere that having her speyed may alter her coat. If so, in what way?

Also, I am hoping to get myself a Coat King and thinning scissors soon, so that I can trim her up. Her breeder showed me the basics when I saw her last week.

Will it be OK to continue grooming her with the Coat king etc (If I am able to master the technique!) or will she need to be clipped after speying?

Confused of Devon!

[DennyK]

Most but not all owners report a thickening of the fur after spaying/neutering - haven't had my boy done, but have seen two bitches - one was unchanged, the other one was a bit woolly.

I was a big fan of the Coat King but haven't used it much for a few months because I hadn't realised that it cuts off hairs as well as raking out loose hairs/fluff/debris and I found that it was making Paddy's coat feel a little brittle due to the stubbly ends of the hairs.  It's difficult to say what is cause and effect, because I also changed him onto raw food and quickly saw a huge improvement in his coat - softer, glossier - but I think stopping with the Coat King has helped too.  I still use it on his ears but that's all - and only once a week.

Denise

[CraftySam]

I've just had Barney castrated.  I was undecided as to what to do, purely down to the coat issue.

I coat king Barney and have had great results and I also do bits of handstripping. I'm told that handstripping just won't be possible when his coat changes so I'm hoping that with a combination of thinning scissors and coat king I'll be able to keep on top of it.
I gather alot of people do clipper dogs after neutering and I'm also told out of all the colours if you are going to clip blue roans look the best. 
I've seen a few clipped golds and I've not been too keen on the finish, besides which I tried to use clippers on Barney between his paw pads and he freaked as soon as you turned them on 

I went to watch Groomer of the Year competition last weekend. A guy in the competition did  a cocker purely using thinning scissors and it looked amazing, and he was placed in the competition apparently (I'd left by then). So if the coat king fails I'd have a go with thinning scissors before reaching for the clippers I think.