what causes this? is it a dry coat? what can help irradicate it?

fur separation ? do you mean mats ? rub in some cowboy magic doesnt prevent them occuring but makes them easier to remove without damaging the coat.

no, they arent mats. i'll give you example of what i mean... if you brush through hair behind ears where the mane starts, even though its brushed through perfectly, 2 minutes later when the dog turns his head gaps are left. i assume it is down to dry hair because he has like a fluffy, cotton wool like hair behind his ears, where the separation is.

you need someone with your breed to understand  exactly what you mean.

Lol!  I know what you mean but can't be of any help!  Will read replies with interest : )

Is it not just the texture of the dogs hair that causes this & is really nothing to worry about?    

Why don't you ring your breed club and ask them? With all their combined years of knowledge I bet some of them have come across it and would be more than willing to help you out with products etc. 

i was thinking of some sort of oil to try and add moisture to the fluff but im worried that putting products on his hair will ruin the hair in the long run. bit like peoples hair, does it not create a long lasting film that will need stripping outwith special products later down the line?

Sorry Tanya I'm being a bit thick tonight, mebbe you or Susie could explain?

Barbara

hi barbara, mccartney has fluff at the back of his ears where his mane starts. when i brush it, it lies flat and lovely, until he moves! when he turns his head, almost like a parting is created and you can see down to the skin. there's no hair missing or anything like that, i just think its dry hair that wont lie flat. but im worried that by putting products on the hair to try and add moisture that i will ruin the hair

Is it like puppy fluff?(you know pups with loads of fluff on their ears that will disappear when they mature)
Does it come out if you try to strip it with your fingers? I know somepeople do strip the puppy fluff out if the dog has grown but kept the fluff...
I would give the hair there a good wash/conditioner and then see if some of it strips out as if the hair is really dry it could well be stuborn pup fluff
Even if it is not puppy fluff the amound of hair could make it behave like it does, so some stripped out might help.
If it does not come out easily you will just have to live with the partings.

SOUNDS LIKE THE COAT AS BLOWN  AND LOST THE UNDERCOAT
IT WILL COME BACK, THE UNDER COAT THAT IS WHAT HOLDS THE MAIN COAT
TOGETHER TO FORM THE JACKET.

it is like puppy fluff but shows no interest in coming out

Tanya of my two adult girls ones coat looks perfect all the time without even been brushed,people often think shes just been bathed!!!  The other I can bath and blast for a show, stand back and think you look lovely and an hour later shes back to an ungroomed look.  I think it depends on their coat type and how much undercoat they have.  It's almost like the more undercoat they have it sperates the gaurd hair, less undercoat and you get the look you refer to.  Think it's just something you'll have to live with.  Did your boy not lose a lot of coat when he was unwell?  If so it may improve when it grows back

He obviously feels he is still a baby-Leo

Oh Gillain you had me smile lol i have one who always looks smart and one who to put it politly looks like she has been dragged though a hedge moments after being bathed/brushed lol

Is it the area of extra-silky hair behind the ears that most long-haired dogs have?
(or is it my turn to be the thick one!! lol)

i think you all right. a combination of lack of undercoat and his physical immaturity. he's still very much baby like and looks very childlike compared to his peers. his head has just started to break and he is bodying up now. so maybe it will improve with age. its not unsightly or anything like that, its just a little annoying when the rest of him looks impeccable after a groom.

LOL. Abraham.....that is normally the phrase I use!!  And she honestly almost always does look as though shes been dragged through a hedge backwards

IMHO so glad its not just me, when showing her i pray for it to be windy !!!!!!!!!!!!!

heheheehe