• Around what time of the year do basenjis "blow coat"? Does it mean they just lose more hair than usual? It seems like Zip has been shedding alot more than she did before, we're going through the lint roller like crazy. Zip's breeder showed us this tool she uses to pull out the loose hairs, it was a metal fine tooth comb like thing. I haven't seen it in any chain stores. Any ideas as to where would I find that?
    I was also wondering if any of you trim their coats. Zip has longer hair for a basenji especially around her neck and hackles and I was thinking it might help the shedding some to get her trimmed in those areas. She definitely looks like she'd been trimmed in the show pictures we have.
    thank you!


  • http://reviews.petsmart.com/4830a/2750607/reviews.htm

    We use the Zoom tool, which works great.:)


  • I agree with Basenji Boy about the Zoom Groom. I use mine when the dogs are being bathed rather than on a dry coat. With the dog lathered up, gently "scrub" the coat in circular pattern. This loosens up the dead hairs and they rinse right out.

    Would you post pics of her neck and hackles? I would like to see what you mean by it being longer.


  • @YodelDogs:

    I use mine when the dogs are being bathed rather than on a dry coat. With the dog lathered up, gently "scrub" the coat in circular pattern. This loosens up the dead hairs and they rinse right out.

    Never thought to zoom them wet…....great idea, thanks for the tip. I had some snow storms of hair during my backyard brushings last July!


  • I've used the Zoom tool once before at a self-service pet grooming salon - all tools provided. It worked great scrubbing them wet with shampoo. Usually they go to a groomer. They were there today and the groomer said that for each, Duke and Daisy - fur from 2 dogs each came out. I was surprised - because I hadn't noticed excessive shedding. But - they were wet and fur tends to come out better. They hadn't been groomed since September. Yep, my bad - nails were especially in need of a good dremmeling. Their white is so bright now and they have the cutest valentine heart bandanas. Also, the groomer said she used a special moisturizing oatmeal based shampoo - to condition the skin. She said it helps this time of year as the skin gets dry and itchy from the furnace being on practically all the time during our freezing cold winter. This year, the weather has been brutal for us in Michigan.


  • @mauigirl:

    Around what time of the year do basenjis "blow coat"? Does it mean they just lose more hair than usual? It seems like Zip has been shedding alot more than she did before, we're going through the lint roller like crazy. Zip's breeder showed us this tool she uses to pull out the loose hairs, it was a metal fine tooth comb like thing. I haven't seen it in any chain stores. Any ideas as to where would I find that?
    I was also wondering if any of you trim their coats. Zip has longer hair for a basenji especially around her neck and hackles and I was thinking it might help the shedding some to get her trimmed in those areas. She definitely looks like she'd been trimmed in the show pictures we have.
    thank you!

    She (your breeder) is most likely using a stripping knife, I would suggest just using the Zoom Groom… about the long hairs on the neck and hackles, I think you might be talking about guard hairs? They will grow longer when they start the blow coat.. and have you noticed the same long hairs on the backs of her legs? When was the last time she was in season and/or when was she spayed (if spayed)?


  • I think Zip had 2 heats and was spade in '06. And she did have longer hair on the backs of her legs. I went ahead and got her groomed and she looks much better but I still won't go with that groomer again. I actually may have to get their work fixed elsewhere. The hair on her hackles looks dreadful when standing up (uneven). Thank goodness that doesn't happen much. Her tail and neck look much better. I had told her breeder she didn't need to trim Zip's tail before we picked her up. But all of a sudden she's been losing so much more hair and we figured alot of it was coming from her tail. I like it better with shorter hair anyway. I do have a zoom groom like tool, pretty much the same thing except the cheaper version, haha. I had no idea how effective that lil thing was until she started losing hair, now it picks up so much more. When I find the time I'll post her before and after pics. The outlines of her 3/4 collar are much clearer now. I think it looks like a shooting star. My roommate thinks I'm crazy. But of course 🙂


  • She just might be having a very heavy shed (blowing coat) which will happen usually after being spayed.. and it can be up to 1 1/2 yrs later…. If you are close to her breeder, take her up that and have her show you how to groom her up.. it is really not hard at all....

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