Undoes ponytail-HELP!

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Archived Message

Undoes ponytail-HELP!
by Deanna (Moose & Squirrel)
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
Undoes ponytail-HELP!OK guys, I need some help with this one (and no laughing!) We keep the Beasties' hair in a single ponytails, tied with a terrycloth band and threaded back through itself so that it stays flat on their head. It doesn't come out unless you take it out (or so I thought). Every now and then I would find Moose without his ponytail, and a chewed-up band on the floor somewhere, so I would scold him gently for taking it out and wonder how he manged it. Then one day I caught Squirrel in the act of tugging out Moose's ponytail. (I'm sure he was trying to get Moose into trouble). Of couse I yelled out "SQUIRREL - NO!" and intervened, and the ponytail removing seemed to stop, I caught him trying a couple more times but he stopped as soon as I reprimanded him. But now it has started up again, and every day, but only when we're not home. I can't catch him in the act, Moose's ponytail is always out by the time I get home. I can't make the band any tighter and the latex bands don't stay in as well, also I'm scared he'll swallow them. I thought of spraying Moose's ponytail and band with bitter apple, but I am worried that it will get in his eyes (Squirrel seem to salivate all over Moose's ponytail when he undoes it). Any ideas? You were right when you said that neutering would cure the "marking on fridge" problem we had so I'm relying on you folks to help me out again!

DISCUSSION:

Hello! Sorry, but I got a visual and burst out laughing! hahaha These little guys are soooooooo smart! I think the bitter apple would be a good idea. Maybe you could just soak some of the bands in it and let them dry and THEN put them in their hair? If they are slobbering as much as you say, it would probably wet the band enough for them to get the nasty taste and quit. Maybe?
Jeannie and Ellii

Deanna--I too got a visual and cracked up laughing. That is so funny. Your fur babies are quite the imps! Cubbie would always pull the barrettes out and sometimes managed to paw out the top knots when I used the terry cloth bands. I had the best luck with orthdontic rubber bands (very small), he never could undo his top knots with those. I agree with Jeannie--try bitter apple. I can't stop giggling. Poor little Moose! Poor you!
Felicia & Cubbie

Hehehe, oopps, sorry, but it sounds so cute! Maybe they don't like topknots! I don't have any suggestions, but Taffy and I wanted to tell you how cute your babies must be while doing this!!
Robin M, & Taffy

Deanna: They must have all gone to the same puppy school. I can do their hair 50 times a day and 50 times a day they undo each others. I like the Bitter Apple idea, I may try that. Sorry if I had any ideas of my own they'd been posted long ago. I some times think I should carry their comb in my pocket to save steps.
Shelley

Squirrel, I am laughing my little fluffy tail off!

I say "way to go Squirrel!" If mommie found out I said that she would be mad at me for provoking you on. But if mommie tried to put bows in my hair (Im a boy) I would be upset and pull them out myself. No making me a Foo Foo girl dog! So keep it up Squirrel. Licks and wags from Buster
Buster

Deanna, C'mon now, you must have been hysterical. This is so funny and cute. I was going to suggest the bitter apple too, I bet that will work and it usually only takes one taste. What fun you must have with Moose and Squirrel.
Robin D.

Deanna, how cute your little doggies must be! I use barretts sp? on Tasha, most of the time when I come home from work the barrett is intack and her and my Pom go at it big time. I'v not had much problem with the barretts, sometimes when I get home it maybe lopsided, but still there. Hope this helps.
Dottie

Oh, Deanna, sooo funny. What a hoot, but only for about 4 days, huh. I loved Jeannie's idea. Sounds perfect. The only solution I can offer is scissors. The top knots are so adorable, but I just didn't have the patience (or dexterity).
Marie

When my baby's groomer does his ponytail, even I have trouble getting it out. First, she uses the small, thin groomer's latex bands, about 4 all together. The first one goes at the base, to make a simple ponytail. Next, she braids the tail, putting band #2 at the end of the braid. Then she takes either netting or hair styling wrap, and wraps around the top, bending the braid back to lie flat against his head. Lastly, she finishes off with a fancy bow to suit the occassion.
linda

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I think I will try out Jeannie's idea and let you know how it goes after about a week. Linda, your groomer's top knots sound very snazzy, I will try them out once I have successfully discouraged Squirrel from snacking on Moose's ponytail. Dottie, we did try barrettes, but they chewed them! And Marie, you are a bad girl! I will tell Squirrel that if he chews Moose's ponytail again that I will use Marie's solution on him....maybe that will work?
Deanna (Moose & Squirrel)

HI! Sorry, I laughed but I only laughed a little (it's funny!) I think you should ask your groomer what kind of band they use, try a bunch of different kinds untill you find a good kind. Or don't put a ponytail in at all.
Anne

Hey, y'all. I'm still around until tomorrow when I leave on vacation. I've been ordering bands and other stuff for several years from D. P. Kauffman, P.O. Box 596, Weimar, CA 95736. Haven't ordered for awhile, so hope she's still in business. She has latex elastics in all sizes, colors and plain. FAX is 916/637/5841. Check that area code since so many are changing over night! She also has Rice Paper Wrappers which are great for wrapping topknots and other hair.(again, mostly for show ones, but I like using the rice papers in the topknots.) They hold the knot much better. You wrap the paper around the length of hair, roll it up, making a tiny *package*, then band it. Some people band it twice, once in the beginning and once at the end. We did that for awhile but now just a pony tail suffices.

Don't know if many of you know about THE MALTESE MAGAZINE. It caters mainly to breeders and show Maltese: PO BOX 6369 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93412
annehudson

Well, looks like it's back to the drawing board. The bitter apple isn't deterring Squirrel one bit - the ponytail has been out every day! I think I will have to investigate different types of latex bands as some of you suggested. Thanks again for all the suggestions (even if you did laugh!) Re the Maltese Magazine: I thought I would like to order that until I saw the price for overseas subscriptions - I think it was US$65 seamail and US$95 airmail! That is soooo expensive - I only pay US$40 for the professional scientific journal I subscribe to!! But I think it's only about US$30 within the US.
Deanna (Moose & Squirrel)