Help - first dog - fur everywhere (vanity)

2/2/2013 | me

[heartwood]

A Shepherd-Lab mix, she's blowing her undercoat. I brush her daily, vacuum and sweep daily, and she's confined to the family room and kitchen. But still the little hairs are floating everywhere. When I got the carving board out of the dishwasher and put it on the counter, there were hairs on it. Washed it and put the carrots on it - hairs. Wiped off the hairs, cut the carrots and put the celery on it - more hairs, and on, and on, and on...

The vacuum doesn't pick up most of the hairs - I am reduced to scraping the carpet with a shower squeegee - that works. An hour later it looks like I haven't vacuumed for a month.

Any suggestions as to dog brush, floor cleaning devices, what kind of furniture and flooring (for whatever distant future we make changes in) would be so much appreciated. We like having a dog - we will probably get a second at some point - twice the fun and twice the fur.

[rmh47]

Poodles are the most intelligent breed . . .

I see you've never owned a Border Collie.

Now ain't that the darn truth!

[brytlea]

Just a head’s up. Because *labradoodles are a mix some do shed. If one wants a larger sized non shedding dog go ahead and get a standard poodle. They are wonderful dogs and were originally bred as retrievers. Most I have known have been smart and actually a bit silly.
But, don’t get a golden retriever! I could spend every moment of every day vacuuming and NEVER be done with it. :)

[rmh47]

Border Collies aren't really as smart as people make them out to be. Mine rewired the house one time when I was gone all day, but there were a couple of things that weren't to code.

And this part needs to be modified for outdoors: Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?!

to: Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! Where’s the ball?! SQUIRREL!!!!!

[brytlea]

My sister spins. What she said is that you have to mix dog hair with something else (wool for instance). I keep intending to send her a bag to spin for me, but I haven’t gotten it sent off yet (it just keeps getting bigger —the bag of hair). I’m not sure what I’ll do with it when I get it back anyway, since I don’t knit or crochet anyway.
HOWEVER I have found a very cool how to on making BEADS with dog or cat hair. I haven’t tried it (it’s a sort of felting and looks really easy). I have plenty of hair. ;)

[rmh47]

My BC has on numerous occasions herded squirrels. She never tries to actually catch them. She just gets between them and the tree they are going for, and they have to turn around and go in another direction, and she gets in front of them again. After a bit of this, the very flummoxed squirrel eventually gets to and up a tree.

The local squirrels learned to head up the nearest tree as soon as they saw her.

Alas, she is getting a little long in the tooth now (she's 12) and can't quite mange this trick anymore. Still chases and barks at them, though.

[green pastures]

"Help - first dog - fur everywhere"

Hey, what are you doing with Bo's fur?

;-)

Okay, on a more serious note, get the furminator. Haven't read the whole thread, but skimmed enough to see you've gotten that as a suggestion already. They are great. Just be careful not to overdo it, because you if you press too hard or go over the same areas too many times it can cause discomfort, thin spots, etc.. Also be careful if there are any "skin tags" or moles, as well as any wounds. You want to avoid going over those with the furminator.

2 satisfied customers:

[green pastures]

p.s. They’ve been gone not quite two years and once in awhile I still will come across dog hairs from time to time. The one with a bunch of squiggles in it is the big girl’s.

Everytime I see one, I get a little verklempt. I call them their little love notes.

[mylife]

Mine rewired the house one time when I was gone all day, but there were a couple of things that weren't to code.

Hilarious!!

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

The Furminator brush is worth the extra bucks. It gets an astonishing amount of hair out of any animal. Also it is a very good tool for detangling small snarls. It is rather pricey, though. We got ours at the county fair and paid a lot less. You might also check out eBay, though buy from a reputable vendor since there are a lot of knockoffs of the Furminator.

[CGASMIA68]

Neigbor has a standard un clipped poodle and people dont know what it is.Looks like a big curly ball and he is crazy.loves the pond,the ball(s)the kids and keeps a good eye on the place.
I read some where poodles were used in I think WW1 for something.. all that plus and no fur

[Darnright]

>This time around, we got a long haired German Shepherd. He doesn’t shed like the other Shepherds we’ve had over the years. In fact, he barely sheds at all. No question, we’re sticking with the long haireds from now on. <

Many long-haired GSD’s lack the undercoat of the “stock coat”, or shorter coated type of the breed. Some long-haired GSDs do shed - a friend had one and he could shed like a collie.

German Shedders earned their nickname, that’s for sure. (c;

[momtothree]

Good to know, Duchess47. If I recall correctly, Pet Smart has clear glass so the owners can view the grooming as well? Once you find a groomer there that actually isn’t terrified/rough with your BIG doggie... I am wondering if you can request him or her for future appointments? We groom our GSD at home for the simple fear that his breed/size could end up having him treated badly. (funny thing is he is a big baby and sweet to everyone... except squirrels)

[heartwood]

I came downstairs to find our dog had gotten two avocados off the table, but didn’t eat them in the kitchen, no, she took them in the family room and left the shredded peel all over the carpet, licked clean.

Internet searches showed the only serious problem would be if she ate the pits and they caused an obstruction, but she left those. Some dogs might vomit or have loose stools, but she didn’t. There are lots of people with avocado trees who let their dogs forage the windfall with no harmful effects.

It does cause heart failure in birds, though, so no avocado for the parakeets.

[TexasRepublic]

“I wish herding dogs were smart enough to vacuum!”

They are, but life is kind of tough without opposable thumbs. If my two Aussies had hands instead of paws, they would be dangerous, getting into everything!

Now there’s a breed that sheds, year ‘round. Try keeping two in your house! And their hair growth is prolific — I read that they grow in a new coat every 6 to 8 weeks, which I personally believe to be a true fact. The amount of fur that we vacuum up seems to defy rational explanation. I could knit a new dog every month.

Those bag-less vacuum cleaners advertised for pet hair don’t cut it for Aussies. We use a Sanitaire commercial vacuum cleaner, it has a bag like the old fashioned Hoovers, and a powerful suction.

[brytlea]

I've never had one (I have big hairy golden retrievers and big not so shedding but bearded spinone--well in the past but not at the moment). But with only one exception every one I've known has been very cool and fun loving. I don't know a whole lot about their history other than they were originally bred as retrievers. Some people do still use them for that. They do look rather cool when corded altho I wouldn't put in that kind of work.

[DivineMomentsOfTruth]

I have a Border Collie/ Sheltie mix.. Scary smart!

Since I’ve had Border Collies I’ve been a slave to housekeeping.. and I wouldn’t have it any other way. :)

-No Outfit Is Complete Without Dog Hair!-