Burrs in coat

[Smith]

When my long haired dogs (shelties) go for runs through the fields, they sometimes get home with a bunch of burrs in their coats. It is a real pain removing them. I know it is impossible to avoid, but does anyone have any advice on how to remove them easily?

[Becky]

I'm not sure that there is an easy way. I just use a fairly fine comb and spend the time combing them. It is not fun for me and them, but they love being out so much.

[suki]

I just recently removed some at the vets. Start at the tips of the hair, and slowly pull most of the hair away from the burrs. Seperate it, so to speak, away from the bur. Almost like peeling a grape. Then when you get most of it out, go in with a fine tooth comb, and remove the left over peices. If you try to go too close to the skin, at first, the dogs freak, and get scared, cuz it hurts 'em more. So, start it the tips, and work your way down. Hope this helps.

[Marinepits]

A slicker brush also works very well -- the bristles are much closer together and very fine, which makes grabbing the burrs much easier. If you can, hold the fur very close to the skin and work the slicker thru, starting at the ends and working towards the body. Just brush slowly and try to avoid brushing too much on the skin to avoid "brush burn". Good luck! :)

[thecrew]

I sprinkle a bit of cornstarch on the burrs..it seems to help them slide out more easily. It still takes a while, but speeds up the process a bit.