[HavaMom1]

Hello everyone.
I have been growing out Milo's fur since he was a puppy. I have been grooming him myself as it grows out and have learned quite a few tricks. It is still a LOT of work, but the look is so preferable to me that I keep at it. He does have one leg that is short due to a hip surgery (FHO) but it is growing back in nicely. About 1" now since May.

We are traveling to South Carolina for a week soon and I am concerned about the sand, wind, heat for him. I have made every accommodation for my baby you can think of - cooling gel pads (non-toxic), jogging stroller with wheels for the beach (can't believe I spent money on that! ha!), battery operated fans, water containers for dogs, etc. I am a master at this point of getting mats out, but I worry this will all be too much and my vacation will be spent just drying, brushing and trying to get out mats each day.

For those who have clipped your Havanese down to maybe 1.5"-2" then let it grow back, how long does it usually take? For those who have taken your Havanese to the beach, any recommendation?

Thank you so much.
Heidi

 

[Heather's]

If Milo stays out of the water it won't be a problem. Truffles has never had her coat cut short. She usually goes to the beach about three times a week...she's at the beach now and just got groomed yesterday. I never notice sand in her coat after going to the beach. She's afraid of the waves and will not get close to the water. Scout will run along the shoreline and get his paws wet and sandy, but the sand falls off after the coat dries. Scout's coat is about 2" long and needs to be groomed at least every six weeks to keep it that length. I would think it would takes many months to regrow the coat to a long length. Several years ago there was a thread about Louis after being shaved. The thread is "Hair growth progress." Bring a brush and comb and have a wonderful vacation! 🏖

 

[EvaE1izabeth]

Sundance grows pretty fast so he’s been cut shorter and grown long again pretty quickly. Growing completely out takes a little less than a year, but to just get fluffy again only takes a couple of months. Even though the rate of growth doesn’t change, clipper cuts takes the longest to recover from. When it’s cut short with scissors it seems to look better fast. Clippers cut with every contour, and it looks cute when it’s short but when it’s growing out it doesn’t look natural, imo. So if you decide to go short and know you’ll grow it back out, I’d just go for a longer puppy cut with scissors.

How old is your Havanese and is he in full coat or just on the longer side? Does he like the water? I haven’t taken mine to an ocean beach yet so I’m not sure about the difference sand makes. Lake sand hasn’t been a problem. My adult Havanese has a higher maintenance coat that needs more frequent combing and as long as his coat is in good shape without a lot of broken ends, I can get away with a brush for a week as long as I detangle well with a comb before I give him a bath when I get home. He’s gotten wet when and I wasn’t able to dry him but I brush him after he air dries 75% or so in the sun and it’s been okay. He might end up with a couple of small mats around his butt when we get home, but really not bad. The exception was when he went in chlorinated water. His coat really soaked up the chlorine and it was pretty dry, he needed chlorine shampoo and to be thoroughly brushed afterwards and I didn’t brush him until the the next day I think. But that is partly his individual coat texture/porosity, and he had air dried before without a problem so I didn’t consider the chlorine would make such a difference.

We don’t travel a lot but after Sundance got marshmallow stuck in his coat while camping I started taking conditioner with me on trips regardless of his length, just because it can be helpful in a pinch. If he gets really wet and messy you can give him a quick rinse with conditioner instead of a full bath. The nice thing too is you’ll be in the sun. I’ve also used diluted conditioner to clean up dirty feet quickly.

 

[krandall]

Kodi LOVED the beach when he was an “only dog” and we did not limit him. Simply rinsed him thoroughly with the sprayer, then poured conditioner on him, then blow-dried and combed him out. Kodi was never cut down until he was 10 years old and an illness (of mine) made it necessary.

That said, if you choose to cut him down, a good rule of thumb is an inch per month for hair growing back.

With four, I have to admit, the idea of dealing with 4 wet sandy coats is too much for me!!! LOL!

 

[Tom King]

The sand usually mostly falls out of the fur by the time you get back to the car if they haven't gotten wet. If wet, you probably need to find an outside shower.

Looks like the hot weather is going to be gone for a while.

 

[Heather's]

Today was Scout's turn with groomer. When we arrived home Truffles was back from the beach and sand free.😄

 

[rhonlap]

I live at the beach in Virginia (recent move) with a 2 year old, hav. Jax has a shorter coat maybe 3 inches all around. We only take him on the beach right before he needs a bath, he loves the water but so so messy. I groom and bath him about every 10 days. He picks up quite a bit of sand on our daily walks but it does tend to fall off, all over the house which drives hubby crazy. A bigger problem I have recently noticed are the prickers in the grassy areas, he has gotten them on his feet, ears and snout , will go nuts trying to get them off only making the situation worse. I am now walking with a comb which seems to be the best way to get them out. Enjoy the beach!

 

[anna7]

I would just leave it. The beach is my go too destination and I never noticed an issue. I do have a small groom table chris Christensen spray and combs with me but that is more to prevent mats. The beach is my go to camping and normal we are on the sand site camping. Even wet sand is not an issue. Let me see if I can get pictures posted. Molly-Mo is just over 6 months and she still has not blown her coat.

 

[HavaneseMe]

View attachment 180301
I would just leave it. The beach is my go too destination and I never noticed an issue. I do have a small groom table chris Christensen spray and combs with me but that is more to prevent mats. The beach is my go to camping and normal we are on the sand site camping. Even wet sand is not an issue. Let me see if I can get pictures posted. Molly-Mo is just over 6 months and she still has not blown her coat.

Where does one go where you can set up your dogs on the beach like that!?

 

[anna7]

Where does one go where you can set up your dogs on the beach like that!?

State Beaches in California. Dogs are not allowed on the beach in many places, unless they service animals with papers, but they are set up on the sate camp ground here, at the back end of our slot. People can walk the long paved path next to the beach with their dogs. There are also many dog beaches, marked as such.

 

[anna7]

Kodi LOVED the beach when he was an “only dog” and we did not limit him. Simply rinsed him thoroughly with the sprayer, then poured conditioner on him, then blow-dried and combed him out. Kodi was never cut down until he was 10 years old and an illness (of mine) made it necessary.

View attachment 178919

View attachment 178920

View attachment 178921

View attachment 178922

That said, if you choose to cut him down, a good rule of thumb is an inch per month for hair growing back.

With four, I have to admit, the idea of dealing with 4 wet sandy coats is too much for me!!! LOL!

Stunning pictures Krandall.