To groom a Coton you want them to be lying
on their side for most of the process. To
bring them to a side-lying position
comfortably, hold them to your chest with
your arms around them as shown. Then bend
at your waist and bring them down to a
side-lying position facing you either on a
table or your lap.
With your dog lying on her side, beginning at
the side of the dog closest to the table (or
your lap) separate a layer of hair starting at
the head and going all the way to her tail.
You should have one thin layer of hair. With
a brush, starting at the base of the hair shaft,
brush away from you to the end of the hair.
Continue to do this all the way down the line
of the back. Repeat with the comb.
It is very important to start at the root of the
hair. When this layer is finished, pull down
the next layer and then the next, until you
reach her legs. Then place her on her other
side and repeat. Should you encounter a
mat, use the end teeth of the comb to gently
"pull" the mat apart starting on the end of
the hairs and working toward the base of the
hair. It helps to hold traction on the skin/hair
base while you "pull".
To groom their legs and belly, you will want
them on their back. Again, brush from the
root of the hair outward - always brushing in
the opposite direction of fall of the hair. The
exception is the feet (it's pretty difficult to
brush the hair back from the toes). Make
sure you brush them well under their arms,
legs and chin as this is a high mat area.
Another high mat area is behind their ears.
on their side for most of the process. To
bring them to a side-lying position
comfortably, hold them to your chest with
your arms around them as shown. Then bend
at your waist and bring them down to a
side-lying position facing you either on a
table or your lap.
With your dog lying on her side, beginning at
the side of the dog closest to the table (or
your lap) separate a layer of hair starting at
the head and going all the way to her tail.
You should have one thin layer of hair. With
a brush, starting at the base of the hair shaft,
brush away from you to the end of the hair.
Continue to do this all the way down the line
of the back. Repeat with the comb.
It is very important to start at the root of the
hair. When this layer is finished, pull down
the next layer and then the next, until you
reach her legs. Then place her on her other
side and repeat. Should you encounter a
mat, use the end teeth of the comb to gently
"pull" the mat apart starting on the end of
the hairs and working toward the base of the
hair. It helps to hold traction on the skin/hair
base while you "pull".
To groom their legs and belly, you will want
them on their back. Again, brush from the
root of the hair outward - always brushing in
the opposite direction of fall of the hair. The
exception is the feet (it's pretty difficult to
brush the hair back from the toes). Make
sure you brush them well under their arms,
legs and chin as this is a high mat area.
Another high mat area is behind their ears.
...And when all else fails, there's the
puppy cut. Just please, I beg you, don't
make him look like a poodle or Bischon. I
have nothing against poodles or Bishons,
but let's face it, cotons don't make good
looking poodles or Bishons!
puppy cut. Just please, I beg you, don't
make him look like a poodle or Bischon. I
have nothing against poodles or Bishons,
but let's face it, cotons don't make good
looking poodles or Bishons!
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
"pulling a mat"
Part hair in layers
outward against the fall of the hair
Click to watch videos