SAVING FARFAL - THE FINISH LINE - A Case Study in Dematting a Bearded Collie

We first began grooming Farfal on November 19, 2005. See blog of 11/21/05 for the whole story. He came in looking more like an Old English Sheepdog than a Beardie.

Here he is after the third, and final, dematting session.

Let's look at the two views side by side:

WOW! (If I may say so myself) What a transformation! In the first picture, the hair is being held off the face by ratted up mats. No kidding. In the second shot, the hair is being held back by Chris Christensen "Thick n' Thicker" spray. Get some, it works great. Cover the eyes with your hand and spray on top of the head and quickly swipe your off the sides of the face. I don't know exactly how long it lasts, but at least until the dog goes home. :-) The feet were finished using a coarse blender. (Arius-Eickert Coqui Blender to be exact). This gave the feet a natural, but shaped look. The people noticed the feet right away!

Here's before and after from the side:


The overall project required a total of three visits. I could never have accomplished it all in one visit. There were three major factors that contributed to the success of this restoration: (1) The coat was fabulous - good texture, very workable in spite of profuse matting over the whole body; (2) The dog was very patient - Farfal was a terrific subject, hardly wincing except for in the flank area; (3) The people were willing to pay - saving this coat required three visits at $85.00 each, or $255.00. And Farfal is now scheduled for his first monthly maintenance grooming. I should add two more factors that operated here: (4) Dematting skills - we are looking at 35 years of practice here, and (5) Tools and products - I could never have succeeded without my trusted Mat Breaker tool, the wooden handled poodle comb and tons of silicone spray.

In conclusion, it is important to clarify that by no means should this level of restoration become the expectation. It is an example of what is possible, not what is probable. This is a very special case where the right people, the right dog, and the right groomer came together. No groomer in their right mind should be expected to undertake this kind of project. For me, it was hugely satisfying no worse on my body than other deep combing work. Most groomers would be justified in turning down this job or requiring the dog to be clipped. And there is much to be said for creating a "virgin coat" by clipping and regrowing the coat. It is possible that although Farfal looks great today, the coat may now be more difficult to maintain because of the considerable coat breakage that was done during the restoration.

On the other hand, I'd like groomers to see that perhaps more is possible than meets the eye. Dematting skills are special, just as are scissoring skills, and can be marketed selectively when the conditions are right. I have been clear with Farfal's owners that this "save" is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It is not something that can be done over and over or even ever again.
My willingness to even attempt this restoration, however, has won me a regular customer for life. And these are people who bring gifts. So far I have been the recipient of home made cookies, chocolate covered pretzels and a gorgeous Poinsettia plant that is the centerpiece of my salon's Holiday decor.