Marley went out off lead tonight with Toby and Jack. He had a whale of a time was off through hedges and bushes and all the long grass.

When we came back his left ear spiked me! At first I couldn't see anything, we're still fighting our way through the matts on his ears anyway, the underneath is sorted but the tops weren't. I took him to out agreed grooming spot ( outside the front door, he watches for cats!) and started to have a look at the spiky black ear. and look what I found.....



It was a right pig to get out, had to peel the fur away from each little spiky bit. He knew it was there coz he tried to guard it. SO whilst we had a good grip on him I finally got on top of the matts. I had to cut some out, it doesn't look perfect but its better for him and hey its not like he's going to crufts!!

Aarrgh, I know those bl... blighters! My late Flatcoat used to pick them up by the dozen, and it took me ages to get them out - I had sometimes to resort to scissors!

ah them be thistle "teasels" i call them

been suffering with them for weeks now - soon as the sticky bobs ease, these come out!!! right pain in the backside, sometimes i can get them out other ones are really tight in the fur and jack likes to do them himself - other ones he cant get to, and are really tight, and take me lots of patience to get out!!

and just imagine how many i find in harveys super furry feet!!! its a daily removal excersise for me

well done on clearing up the matts too, might as well get it all done!!

Ahhhhhhhhhh ............. sticky buds ................ could probaly fill a wheelie bin with the ones I pick off Oscar at this time of year ........ they don't seem to stick to the lil' one's though ............ or probably don't get chance to stick because of the wind turbulence at Mach 1


Funnily enough though they usually come off Oscar's coat fairly easily

O_D

Aaah stickys mmm they can be horrid to get out of a long lug.

I bloomin hate the little blighters!!! Take ages to get em out of my two!

we didn't even go in the thistle field this time!!!!!!

Now since finding this ugly thing I've decided I don't mind sticky bobs anymore, they're much easier to get out!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is this what sticky bobs grow into?

And how did he manage to hide it so well??!?!?!

Interesting that you let Jack get his own out Sparkydee, will remeber that for next time if he can get to them.

Ruby's ears are sometimes so covered in these she looks like she has a green tint

those are horrid things

oooooo, that looks painful, poor thing.

Naaaah there just caught in Willow's wiggy

you is in so much trouble
same here normal have to cut them out

jen jack will take them all out himself if he can, he doesnt mind, likes spitting them all over the place!

i just assist coz its quickr and less messy, and of course do the ears and his chest and any others he cant reach. never resorted to scissors yet, just gentle teasing out pulling the fur away slowly.. (touch wood!!)

the little round sticky bobs (my description) come off long strandy grass like things, these are thistle heads completely different plant.. lots of seeds in them when they break up (permanently hoovering them up!!)

and poor wills!! only had that once or twice!

they dont hurt, she just hates having them teased out - you thought getting them out of Marley was tough - you've seen Willows top knot and ears - not a wig

Ta Sparkydee.

I pulled the fur away bit at a time but the thing was really dry and split up in my hand making even more mess ( not that you'd notce in a Springer house!)

I used to have lovely pale cream carpets aaaahhhh......***smiling whlst she reminises****