Grooming long hair?

[BaileyBun]

 Logan is a Jersey Wooly, so he’s a fuzzy boy.  I’ve been grooming him about every other day, but I’m not sure I’m doing it right.  His foster mom said to use a slicker brush, so that’s what I’ve been using.  At first, I think I was just getting the first layer of long hair, but then I discovered the wooly underneath hair.  Should I be trying to get this underneath hair, too?  I’ve noticed that when I try to get at the wooly hair, I end up pulling at his skin- he doesn’t seem to mind, and a good amount of hair comes out, but I’m not sure if this is necessary.  I’m also wondering what to do about the fur on his belly- he really, really hates it when I try to brush him there, and he hasn’t had any mats yet, so if I don’t need to brush underneath so much, he would appreciate it if I left him alone  

[Monkeybun]

He hasn’t had any mats yet, as you have been brushing him

yesterday at the RA bunny outreach, where we do grooming and nail trims, 2 jersey woolies came in. They had huge mats on the tummies that we had to cut out as the bunny mom didn’t think she had to brush them very often. with the long hair buns, i find it is easier to use a comb than a brush, it doesn’t seem to pull at the hair as much. and brushing every day makes it even better to keep track of their hair

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I run my hand behind the slicker-so that I kind of press it down to keep it from pulling the skin…if that makes sense? Sort of follow the brush with my hand.
That being said I’ve given up and Kahlua just gets goofy hair cuts now. She seems to like it though

[cactuspancake]

Don’t use a slicker brush! Use a comb like on the binkybunny site, and THEN only use the slicker for the top layer of fur to grab the excess so he doesn’t swallow it! Trust me, I go through this every day with Franz The slicker isn’t really good for much and I think It’s uncomfortable and only gets the top. Hope this helps.

[cactuspancake]

oh also you shouldn’t need to do the belly; unless his fur is longer than Franz’s, it probably doesn’t mat there at all because Franz’s is shorter and coarser and doesn’t seem to tangle at all down there. Saves him discomfort If you have to do it, get him “in a trance” on his back (make sure he’s secure, calm, not struggling, properly supported ect.) and have someone else brush there. I only had to do this once with Franz when I first got him he was all matted there.

[BaileyBun]

Haha, Monkeybun, good point! I guess I was expecting him to get tangles between brushings, but so far he seems fairly low-maintenance for a long haired bunny.
I’ll try a comb, and see how that works. And I’ll leave the tummy alone! He will be very happy to hear that
Kokaneeandkahlua- does Kahlua get haircuts all year round? I’m wondering how Logan will do during the summer, when it’s hot and humid in Boston, and thinking maybe a little shave would make him more comfortable. Is this a good idea, or do I need to check with my vet? I have horse clippers somewhere back home in WI, so maybe I’ll grab them during my next trip back.
Thanks, everybunny!

[Samus]

i have a wooly, oh goodness they get matty and fast, i am a dog groomer by profession and the first thing i gotta say is a metal slicker brush is HORRIBLE, a rabbits skin so so papery its the equivalent to when our skin gets wet, its unpleasant. and if your only combing down top hair your just building small matts and not even knowing it. what you should do and what i do every day is i own this http://www.petedge.com/product/Grooming/Grooming-Tools/Combs-Brushes-Rakes/Master-Grooming-Tools-Rotating-Pin-Combs/pc/190/c/214/sc/276/55304.uts , its just a comb, it gets to the skin without ripping it open and it pulls all that down fur out. also i use a flea comb for under my rabbits chin, another thing people dont realize with any long haird boy animal is every time your animal errr ‘pokes out’ his genitals are wet and it grabs the long fur and when it retracts it pulls the hair into the sheath causeing blocking and irritation, so every so often move the fluff out of the way to check out his junk. if you are going to clip him PLEASE get an andis clipper! they work well but you have to be so careful with buns, i do an assortment of small animals and buns really are the worst. if you were in new jersey id say just bring him to me, i wouldn’t charge you a thing for a full bath, and no.. i dont use that ‘bunny bath’ chemical nonsense petsmart sells lol. woolies are a serious down fur mess, have fun keeping up! 8D

[BaileyBun]

 The slicker brush I have isn’t totally metal- it has little bumps at the tips of the wires, so when I rub my hands on it, I don’t get poked (so I’m assuming it doesn’t poke Logan either).

It looks sort of like this, but the wires are pretty short and more angled back.  

[Samus]

sorry its been a few days, but that brush is nothing but a waste of money, it doesnt get down to the skin at all, it just pushes the fur down, i would suggest spending the extra 7$ and getting a real metal comb like i linked.

 

also with plastic it causes static, causeing matts.

[Deleted User]

I am not a fan of slickers on long hair either. i had success using a natural soft boar bristle brush that I would mist with water prior to grooming.

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