Grooming A German Angora

Grooming Your German Angora

This care sheet is for those on my waitlist and is by no means comprehensive but a beginning.

German Angoras have the densest fiber of all the angora breeds. A lot of research has gone into these guys and like all science stuff new knowledge puts old knowledge to bed. So changes are frequent.

1. The Germans require grooming every ninety days meaning you will clip with scissors or shear with clippers all their hair off completely, do their toenails. Leave the hair on the bottom of their feet as much as possible.

In between, at about 45 days might do a little check of their rears to make sure they are staying clean.

That's it. Thats all. You do not and should not blow them out or brush them in the meantime. I usually blow mine out right before I do their 90 day shear cause it opens the coat, gets rid of any dander, vegetable matter etc. These guys are relatively dander free but still good to assess it because dander can indicate fur mite infestation.

2. The equipment I use is simple as seen in the video below- Marshmallow s Hair Day.

Scissors. I Iike the 9 dollar Fiskar sewing scissors from Walmart the best.

A 1.5 gallon wet vac put on reverse blow. These are cheap. I use this instead of the pet blowers that cost hundreds of dollars. With the same result. The wet vac is also VERY useful in cleaning after the shearing is done.

Clippers. A timesaver over scissors. IAGARB used to recommend Aesculap clippers from Germany. When I found out they were four hundred dollars I almost cried. Then a person retiring from their pet grooming business gave me an old pair of Osters. I used those until they needed the blades sharpened- an expensive proposition depending on where you live and an unnecessary expense even if you are surrounded by sharpening businesses.

Another friend put me on to GIMAR dog clippers from Amazon. They have titanium blades, cost around 30 dollars so if the blades ever go dull just replace the clipper instead and its still less time consuming and less expensive than the detachable blade clippers. The best part is they are rechargeable so you can carry them place to place.

Toenail clippers. A wide variety of styles exist. It doesn't matter which. Whats important is not cutting into the quick. Its not the end of the world if you do. Cornstarch or any of the blood clotting powders at the feed store will work. Over clipping just might make the animal more feisty next go round as its painful.

REW is the easiest to clip as the quick shows clearly in their transparent nail. The darker animals have dark nails. It can be very helpful to shine a pen light through the sides of the nail to locate the quick before cutting.

Grooming gloves. I first got into gloves with rubber points on one side when I worked at Golden Gate Fields as a groomer 30 years ago. Those were the days. But these bumpy gloves were a great way to brush a hot horse. We ordered them by the case. Later other animal raisers started using them on the fair circuit and ultimately it hit the dog market. Get them at Petco or wherever. I got mine off Amazon.

I use them very occasionally just to do a light "petting" over my bunnies especially if they have rolled in the hay and mixed that with any loose hair. Used lightly they don't injure the hair follicles like brushes do. Never brush your German.

I may edit to add other stuff later. But that is the gist of it folks.

Bare minimum requirements: scissors and toenail clippers.

Luxury: clippers and blower.

Most important- every 90 days. That is how you prevent illnesses and woolblock.

Not with cat hairball paste or papaya tablets. That's all bunk.

Woolblock is prevented by grooming, exercise and proper feeding.

Next up How to Feed Your German Angora.

Video: Marshmallows Hair Day

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdq4AAVx/