Wavy Coat

[Rottnlove]

Xena is about 13 weeks.

As of just lately, the fur just along her back has started to have a wave about it. It's not curly, it's a little wavy. I've bathed her and brushed her fur and it just doesn't come out.

Is this common? Since she's still so young, is there a chance it could change? all the hair everywhere else on her body is very straight.

I read a few things in the archives about this. I think I'm just overly worried. My guess is this waviness could change in the first year and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that it straightens out as she ages.

Also, I hope to show her in conformation. Is this slight wave along her entire back going to disqualify her from the show ring? I would hope not!!!!

Thanks.

[Roscoe's dad]

Still a puppy, it may go away as she matures.

[Chilimson]

I have seen some of my previous puppies' waviness going away as well, when they mature. Not too sure why, but seems to have these waves showing up at the neck or near the back portion of the body.

[Rottnlove]

Thanks you guys. :)

Yeah, I think I'm just a worry wort. :p

It's strange that it starts at the back of her neck and ends at the end of her back. Every where else is just perfect. Kind of strange, but I think it's common.

[Chilimson]

Just a long shot, does anyone think that the sort of "uneven" growth during certain period of the puppy stage that create this waviness? Like the backbone and the structure versus the body mass and the skin coat?

[tlc]

I'm not sure what causes the waviness, but it did go away on my boy. It took a while though. I am pretty sure he was over a year old. I don't know about the confirmation ring though... Good luck! :)

[whitney greenway]

Dru has a slight waviness as well. You only really notice it if she has gotten wet.

Nothing to worry about.

[Rottnlove]

Thanks, I feel lots better now. I'm just going to watch it and wait until she's over a year in age. :)

[fbkeays]

Two of my three dogs had the wavies as puppies. One, she grew out of it before she was 18 months- who knows maybe by 15 months, didn't notice until she was 18 months that it was completely gone. My second dog, he still has it at 5 years of age. He has a very short back and a short neck. He has a correct length coat, but he is a bit wavey on the shoulders and the croup. He was a show dog and it didn't really hinder him in the ring. My third dog never had the waves.
How I minimized the waves on my show dog was I bathed(no conditioners- just shampoo) him two days before the show(Thursday night) and towel dried him. I then took a flea comb or slicker brush and brushed his whole topline to one side. So from below say the left shoulder, I brushed across his back to below the right shoulder. I then let him air dry, brushing every so often to keep it going "sideways". I did not crate him while drying as that would push the hairs in the wrong direction. After he was dry, I brushed him straight. Most of the waves were gone. I added no "foreign" products to straighten his coat. I have seen people use mouse and hairspray and who knows what else on their dogs- yuck! Do not use a hair dryer- all that does is add volume and increases the waves the next day. I have also found that a heavy undercoat increases the waves. So if you can strip out the undercoat without damaging the top coat, that will help too.

[Rottnlove]

Originally posted by fbkeays
Two of my three dogs had the wavies as puppies. One, she grew out of it before she was 18 months- who knows maybe by 15 months, didn't notice until she was 18 months that it was completely gone. My second dog, he still has it at 5 years of age. He has a very short back and a short neck. He has a correct length coat, but he is a bit wavey on the shoulders and the croup. He was a show dog and it didn't really hinder him in the ring. My third dog never had the waves.
How I minimized the waves on my show dog was I bathed(no conditioners- just shampoo) him two days before the show(Thursday night) and towel dried him. I then took a flea comb or slicker brush and brushed his whole topline to one side. So from below say the left shoulder, I brushed across his back to below the right shoulder. I then let him air dry, brushing every so often to keep it going "sideways". I did not crate him while drying as that would push the hairs in the wrong direction. After he was dry, I brushed him straight. Most of the waves were gone. I added no "foreign" products to straighten his coat. I have seen people use mouse and hairspray and who knows what else on their dogs- yuck! Do not use a hair dryer- all that does is add volume and increases the waves the next day. I have also found that a heavy undercoat increases the waves. So if you can strip out the undercoat without damaging the top coat, that will help too.

Wow! Thanks for that excellent advice! I'm sure it'll help to straighten her coat. :) I've never heard of anyone using hairspray or mouse on the coat. I would think that would just irritate the skin and dry it out...

Thanks again!!! :D

[arashed]

Simba, same age, same waves :)