Soft, shiny coat – How? And Grooming help. (Beagle)

[makka619]

What are some recommended ways for maintaining a nice healthy coat? (8 ½ month Beagle)

Gordy’s ears and sides are super soft, but the top of his back is rather rough.


My other question is how do I brush a Beagle’s fur? At the moment, I have a comb and one of those spikey brushes. Neither seem to be very good and don’t collect much fur.

Can someone recommend me the best grooming products and ways to groom.

Thanks.

 

[Herschel]

Does your dogs breed have a rough or smooth coat?

The best way to maintain the coat is from the inside--what are you feeding him?

 

[Gempress]

^^^^Agree with Herschel. I think food is one of the absolute best ways to maintain shiny, soft coats. Regular brushing helps as well.

 

[mrsgrubby]

I too have a beagle,,,well beagle mix. The beagle books I have say use a soft bristle brush to brush their coats.

As far as texture, their ears will be softer than their backs, but there is stuff you can do to improve their coats.

Try giving you dog fish oil pills, they really add to a shiny coat as well as overall health. They provide great omega 3 (I think ?) . I've really noticed a difference with those. Also, a good quality food helps. Something with very little corn, wheat, or other grains. Not like pedagree, or eukanuba, or science diet, which are full of grains.

A couple I like are Solid Gold, Chicken soup for the dogs soul, but there are others as well that are good.

lastly, keep your dog clean, but don't over bathe it and dry out the fur and skin.

 

[makka619]

Does your dogs breed have a rough or smooth coat?

The best way to maintain the coat is from the inside--what are you feeding him?

Diet:

Breakfast: Weet-Bix with water. (He has started to go off of it)

Dinner: Peas/Carrots/Pumpkin (cooked) with 2/3 chicken necks (raw). (As advised by Breeder)

Training: Kibble, Random Dog-Treats, Sausages, Hot-Dogs, Ham, Chicken.

Other: Raw Eggs – average 2 wk
Raw bones – average 3 wk


Many sites described the Beagle to have a coarser outer coat and a soft undercoat. One said it should be “hard, never soft or silky”. But I came across others describing it as “sleek and smooth”.

Also, I found sites that suggest you shouldn’t bath Beagles too frequently (one bath every few months!) as it interferes with the water-proofing of their coats. They seemed to suggest that more frequent brushing is sufficient enough in maintaining clean coats.

My brother was told by the vet (and I think Breeder) to bath him once a week which I have been doing.

 

[makka619]

I too have a beagle,,,well beagle mix. The beagle books I have say use a soft bristle brush to brush their coats.

Thanks, I will look into the soft bristle brush.

Try giving you dog fish oil pills, they really add to a shiny coat as well as overall health.

How many and how often do you feed fish oil pills? Do you mix it in with their dinner?

lastly, keep your dog clean, but don't over bathe it and dry out the fur and skin.

How often do you bath your Beagle mix? It seems I have been doing it too frequently (once a week.):O I read that one bath every few months is sufficient, but that just seems too long.

 

[Herschel]

Unless your dog is having any skin issues, then a bath/week is too much! Bathing less and supplementing fish oil will give your dog a sleek, glossy coat. However, beagles shouldn't have soft fluffy coats.

The raw diet that you are feeding sounds like it will be great for his coat, especially with the raw eggs supplemented. Just cut down on the bathing and supplement fish body oil (not cod liver oil) and you will be all set.

 

[makka619]

Wow, glad I found this out now, I am sure Gordy will be more so. I am a bit surprised the vet said to bath a week.

Oh, I didn't mean fluffy, just smooth as it is everywhere but his back. I was at the park today talking to a lady, and her dogs have super smooth fur. She noticed Gordy's was a bit rough on the back and told me to get alovene (sp?) dog shampoo; which she said gave her dogs the smooth coats.

Do you know how often I should supplement the fish body oil and how much ?

lol Gordy has his face stuck in the ground. I think he is pulling up the grass. But yeah I took these 2 at the park.

 

[Herschel]

We supplement Herschel with 4mL of Lakse Kronch salmon oil every day.

These are the recommended guidelines (each pump stroke = 4mL):
0-26lbs=1 pump stroke
26-53lbs=2 pump strokes
53-106=3 pump strokes
106lbs=4 pump strokes

4mL contains:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids:1050 mg
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA):350 mg
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA):450 mg
Omega-6 Fatty Acids:150 mg

 

[makka619]

Awesome, thanks so much

 

[mrsgrubby]

I give the fish oil in pill form, Violet eats it just like a treat. She gets one pill per day at night.

As far as the baths, I only bath her when she has gotten into something stinky or smelly or if we are going to take her to someone's house. So she probably gets 3-5 baths per year. Plus in the summer she likes to swim, and we swim about once a week, but that doesn't seem to dry out her coat.

 

[makka619]

Okay, I guess I just need to judge when he needs a bath and bathe more infrequently.

Where do you get the fish oil pills from? Never heard of them, they aren't special dogs ones are they?

 

[mrsgrubby]

at first I got the pills from a small pet store in my area, and I think they were just for dogs, but now i get them at Sams Club and they are actually for people.

 

[Herschel]

You don't need to get salmon oil that is especially designed for dogs. However, I like the Lakse Kronch pump and its preservative free.

If you buy the people variety, make sure you don't buy "cod liver oi", as that isn't nearly as beneficial as salmon body oil.

 

[em&ollie]

Thanks for the fish oil idea guys! I have one a day myself (If i can remember) So I'm sure Ollie will benefit too

 

[ihartgonzo]

Good advice. =) I feed my pups fish oil too, and they have awesome coats. They only need 2 baths a month, on average, and they both smell really clean.

I just wanted to say... Gordy is adorable! He also completely convinces me that Fozzie is part Beagle. They have very, very similar coloring! And Gordy's face reminds me of Fozzie with floppy ears.

 

[showpug]

Don't confuse the words "sleek and smooth" with soft. They are different. A beagle is not suppose to have a soft coat. They are a hunting hound that needs a coat that can withstand certain brush and elements, so they are going to feel different then the coats of other breeds. The hair down his back sounds very normal and fitting for the purpose in which he was bred.

This was taken from the AKC standard for the breed:
"Coat
A close, hard, hound coat of medium length. Defects--A short, thin coat, or of a soft quality."

Sounds like you dog actually has the correct coat texture.

All dogs can still benefit from fish oil though.

 

[makka619]

^^Actually Showpug, I think you are right. And I was confusing words in there too. lol

Thanks for the help mrsgrubby and Herschel

 

[makka619]

Good advice. =) I feed my pups fish oil too, and they have awesome coats. They only need 2 baths a month, on average, and they both smell really clean.

I just wanted to say... Gordy is adorable! He also completely convinces me that Fozzie is part Beagle. They have very, very similar coloring! And Gordy's face reminds me of Fozzie with floppy ears.

Hey I checked out the pics of Fozzie, he is so cute, and does remind me a lot of Gordy. Fozzie has definitely got to have Beagle in him.