Yes the fur is not easy,but it is like the driving of a car.As more you drive, so better driver you are.When I started with the fur I was making one animal fur for 5-6 days.Now I am making the fur for....I will not tell you.:)It is a secret.
And something else.Look first the anatomy of the aminal you make,before strting the modeling.I noticed,that you have this problem too.
About the lion,..better remove the fur from the model and leave it only rigged.In this way this will cost more,that now, because the making of good rig and skin is expensive.