Grooming Considerations
By Cheri O'Neal
One of the greatest challenges the owner of a Polish Lowland Sheepdog (PON) will face is the commitment to consistent grooming in order to maintain a healthy mat-free coat. While the long, shaggy coat provides a very appealing picture, the care and maintenance can be a daunting task.
A PON puppy should be trained from the first days in its new home to accept daily short periods of gentle brushing and combing. It should be a pleasant positive experience and become a time of bonding and relaxation with the owner. The foundation of the training to accept grooming will be invaluable during the lifetime of the PON.
PON breeders work very hard to educate prospective owners on the various stages of coat growth, its care and maintenance. During the first 8-10 month, the puppy's coat begins to grow the dense soft undercoat and the outer coat begins to lengthen. During the 10-20 month period the puppy coat will begin to be replaced by the longer adult coat. It is during this period that mats will appear overnight. Without almost daily brushing it will quickly develop into a tangled mass. To postpone the grooming until 'tomorrow' means the problem will only magnify for you and the PON.
The most frequent and sensitive problem areas are behind the ears, elbows, thighs, feet and stomach/groin, between the toes and pads of the feet. Always lightly mist a dry coat with water before brushing to avoid breaking and damage. Brush or comb from the skin outward.
Use a sturdy quality pin brush, which has long pins without balls on the end. A small triangular slicker brush may used on the sensitive areas described above, but care must be taken not to damage the hair. Never use a slicker brush on other areas. It will damage the outer coat and pull out the undercoat. A long-tooth steel or Teflon comb is an essential in helping you locate small tangles.
Bathing: Never bathe a matted coat – it will only make matters worse! After wetting the coat thoroughly, gently apply shampoo from your hands onto the coat and allow it to be spread in the same direction in which the coat grows. Avoid rubbing and working the coat into a lather that could tangle. Follow the first cleansing shampoo with a good conditioning shampoo, follow with a good conditioner to the clean coat and rinse thoroughly. This will help control matting during this growth phase. Gently squeeze the water from the coat and legs using your hands and use a towel to absorb the balance of the water.
Drying: Wet hair is more elastic and won't damage as easily during the drying process. Whether you dry the dog standing or lying on its side is a matter of your early grooming training. Carefully brush and dry small sections at a time. Never back brush, it will break and damage the coat. You must make certain the entire coat is completely dry to the skin. Any dampness will magically transform itself into mats by the next day. Finish drying with cool air to help seal the hair follicle and use the long-toothed steel comb to locate any remaining mats or tangled areas. This time should also be used to pluck long hair from the ear canals, trim the nails and check the teeth and gums.
By establishing your grooming routine, both you and your PON will avoid the distress caused by dealing with a continually matted coat. It will provide you with more enjoyable time together.