Dare i take my filthy dog to be groomed ?

he's a springer spaniel cross. i walk him twice a day through fields. he seems to love mud and water and puddles!!! he's always caked with mud. he has a great dogs life. but unfortunately, he's getting so matted up underneath. he wont let me try and comb out a matt, it must hurt!! how on earth can i keep his fur in good condition?
i thought maybe take him to be groomed, possibly all shaved off underneath. but wont he freeze with no fur. also would the groomer think i'd been neglecting him by taking him so dirty and matted up?

he's also rather daft when being groomed. he wags his tail and most of his body, how on earth would they manage. keeps flopping over when you need him to stand up still, or trying stand up cos i'm snagging the hairs on his belly. its hard to be very gentle when he doesnt keep stock still

If I was the groomer i would first note that you have a sporting breed and i would also figure that you love your dog at least enough to realize that he is in discomfort and you care enough to do something about it...My sister has a lhasa apso and the same thing happens when she goes outside to play after it has been raining. My sister will usually just soak her in the tub for awhile. She doesn't always wash her...just allows the water to soak in and loosen the dirt and mud. It has worked for her quite well. Also the groomer may not have to take ALL the fur off and he should be fine. In the future i would brush him out right after a walk and soak him if it is pretty bad.

You should take him to the groomer, and don't worry about what they think of you, who cares! In the future, try wiping him down with a towel when you get back in from walks, and give him a brushing every 1-2 days, it will help to keep the mats out. Definitely target the muddy/cakey spots as soon as you get back in from the walk though. Good luck!

Yes, take him to be groomed - they'll do a much better job of cleaning him up than you can. If you're taking him to be groomed, you obviously care enough to get him cleaned up when he needs it.

i think u shouldn't worry what the groomer thinks but concentrate more on ur dogs welfare.
i do think he might be cold if you shave off his fur at this time of the year so maybe keep his fur until the summer and then shave him down (not too short) but short enough that they fur can't get matted.
i think you should take him to the groomers and then once she has done all the dematting bring him to the groomers more regularly.
good luck

nah, i bet he'll understand once you tell him the circumstance.
besides, he won't turn away any business.

groomers are specialized to do this. i very much doubt he is going to shave your dog. he'll find a way to get it out.

but in the very non-likely chance he does, you can just get your dog a sweater to keep him warm.

It is their job and I am sure they have seen much worse. Just keep his best interest in mind and remember that he is miserable with all those mats.
If you leave it to nature, he will eventually start to get infested with all sorts of things that could potentially kill him.

I think that's what groomers are there for!
They'll realize that your dog's a sporting/working dog and obviously active!
So no worries there,. do take him in to a good groomer (that doesn't use tranquillizers, just kindness),.. he will be much more comfortable.
Matts hurt and tug at the skin.
Don't attempt to do yourself, for some reason dogs acts up more when owner's doing it!
Gd. luck.

I had Rough Coated Collies, same problem. I just rinse the mud off and brush them regularly. It's not that hard. Take him to the groomer if you can't get the mats out. They may have to shave him if it's really bad. Let them if they ask to and in the future invest in a brush so they don't get so matted. It's WAY uncomfortable, painful even, for a dog to get that matted! Plus brushing takes 5 minutes or less if you do it 2xs a week or so.

You can try and keep the belly hair and paws cut short to reduce the mud mattes.

Definately get him groomed, they do an absolutely brilliant job! My dog (Malamute) does the same, she loves water and mud and I have never had a groomer comment on her being neglected, I think they know how to tell a happy dog from an unhappy one! :o)

Just tell the groomer what you told us and have his underside shaved down. He'll be fine.

Oh, take him to the groomer. Just tell them that he very active running in the fields and in water, being a dog. Just get them to cut underneathe alittle shorter for you. Also if you know that he is going to get wet, make sure that he is all combed out before hand. Getting wet will make the mats even tighter. He will feel so much better afterwards, as these mats get tighter and against his skin and start pulling. Continue to have lots of fun with him.

you are going to have to start from the beginning. have a groomer clip him down and then you will have to start brushing him daily to keep the coat from matting. yes matts are painful when allowed to matt to the skin and the longer you wait the worse it will get.

don't be embarrassed the groomers have seen worse I'm sure. just tell them you learned your lesson. good luck

Have a few groomers picked out. Lots of them go to pounds and take care of dogs, so trust me, they've seen worse cases than caked mud. Also, tell them about your dog's habits, i.e. the mud bathing he enjoys, they may be able to trip his hair to avoid the knots, or at least keep them at a minimum. But seriously don't be embarassed, its their jobs and your dog needs it. But if they treat you strangely, have another place in mind for the next time.

That what a groomer is for.
Buy him a sweater or insulated coat if you're worried about him being cold. Or if you're not sure about the sweater then ask the groomer or even your vet.
The groomer won't think you're neglecting him ,simply explain that he loves to play in the water and mud and that everytime you go to de-tangle his coat, he doesn't like it, they'll understand.

Yes, you should take him to a groomer - unchecked/treated mats can lead to problems with pests and especially hotspots, which you don't want. Explain how he got dirty and ask if they have any advice - your approach, attitude to your dog, and his behaviour will all indicate he's not neglected at all. Be sure to ask a lot of questions of whatever groomer you choose, and if you don't get a good 'vibe' from them, go somewhere else. He should be fine with a shaved belly in the cold weather. If you're very concerned, or it's very cold, wait till the weather warms up a bit b/c depending on the extent of the mats he may be shaved pretty short. Brush him out as much as he'll allow (try bribing him into the sit or down/stay position and treating him for staying; I always pause, apologise to, and scratch my dog's ears after I work on a particularly painful knot).

As for how to deal with this yourself, comb/brush him as often as you can. Dried water and mud will almost automatically lead to mats. If he'll let you, clip any you can't comb out off with safety scissors (those with a blunt nose end). I recommend holding the mat between two fingers horizontally so you're sure you're not cutting skin. Try to brush and dry him as much as possible. It's great you let him have puppy fun in the puddles, but it may mean he shouldn't have a 'spaniel type' cut, with really long fur on the belly and legs. Once he's shaved, it may be easier to brush those problematic areas, but if not, he may just have to be shaved every so often (before the mats start/get bad) to accomodate his wilderness affection.

Good luck!
ps - ask about nail trimming and ear cleaning when you book your appointment

you really should take him to the groomer my dog does that

I used to be a dog groomer and by all means, take him in to get groomed! The groomer will likely give you tips on keeping mats out of him and will tell you whether they can be split and removed without shaving or whether he needs to be shaved.
Splitting and removing mats is more expensive because it take a lot of time and it isn't pleasant for the dog unless it is minor. Being a sporting dog, the mud is understandable.
If he is an outdoor dog, you might need to keep him indoors more while his coat is growing back in if he needs to be shaved.
Leaving mats in causes them to tighten up, pulling on the skin which can irritate and injure it! So good for you for taking him in!! It's very possible that only partial shaving is necessary and it may not be nearly so bad as you are thinking it is.

do what ever makes you happy and the hell with what others think ! develop this attitude and you can always wake up with a smile on your face ! butcher !

As a professional groomer of over 10 years....I have seen just about everything. I once shaved a dog , it was sooooo matted..when I got the matts off, up came this horrible smell...dog was covered in magot infested wounds...trust me....dirt is the least of a groomers worries!
Get your dog to a groomer....asap!