Burr Season

[Mavis]

This could almost be burrrr (as in cold) season, since we're getting pretty close to frost some nights now, but I am referring to those sharp, prickly, sticky, messy burrs that get into the feathering of our beautiful dogs.

Chester happened to find a whole bunch of burrs on our run at the dog park today. He got some little black sticky ones - some small sharp, prickly green ones - and some big, brown sharp,prickly ones. A real nice combination of messy stuff.

Chester loves to have his ears brushed and fiddled with, but other than the top of his back and his ears, he hates being brushed and there is nothing worse than having someone (even me) touch, let alone brush his tail. Of course, his long tail attracted the most burrs.

So - like it or not, we spent the last hour and a half removing at the burrs he picked up today.

Maybe I should shave him short until burr season has past.

:) I'm kidding, I'm kidding!

[ursula wilby]

I tell you Mavis, there is a lot to be said for setters that dont have that long and thick feathering...:-)
Mine tend to end up with all those burrs on the feathering on their front legs....tails are never the worst (for me).

[Laura Kolbach]

i will put some of our burr photos into the photo gallery, check them out :)

[Mavis]

Oh Laura - I will never complain about burrs again after seeing those pictures - LOL. Actually Chester didn't really look bad. It wasn't until I pet him that I could feel all these things hidden (although his tail was obviously tangled up around some big ones).

I received a private message to spray him lightly with Pam cooking spray before going out with him again. Has anyone ever tried that?

[ursula wilby]

I would have thought spraying your dog with cookingoil (unless Pam has a very special type) would just produce a greasy dog...perhaps without burrs. But if your walking-area is burrinfested that would mean a daily grease-coating and eventually a grease-coated home! Im sort of happy enough with muddy pawprints and snotty walls to clean...without the added greasy-stains.
Or am I just being over sensitive...???????????????
:-)

[Susan Stone]

We suffer the same here... somehow the girsl are not so bad, but lately Glen ends up being covered in burrs twice daily - so after too many hours of combing & spraying with coat spray he now wears an old T-shirt when out in the woods. He looks as if he is in his pyjamas, so I just hope i don't meet anyone... ;-))