Most of the giant breeds
shown here in Australia are from Group 6, the Utility Group, so
I get to see most of them at some stage up close and personal.
This is particularly so when I show at Erskine Park down in Sydney
where you can't bring your vehicle right up to the ring and instead
set up with brollies, tents etc. As a dog person I am always consumed
by curiosity about other breeds. I cannot help
but be awed by a good example of any breed. It would be nice to
play Noah and have two of every kind as they all have beauty and
attributes that are appealing. Still one wonders just how you
lift a Saint Bernard into a hydrobath or even haul it through
the doorway of a hydrobath big enough to take it.
How do you lift an Anatolian up onto a grooming table? Then just
how much shampoo does one need to bath a Neopolitan? Have you
seen the size and thickness of those toe nails. Do they make clippers
big enough to cut them? I tend to stick my nose into what other
people do with their breeds from sheer nosiness and a desire to
learn. It beats gossip and maybe I can not only learn but offer
assistance. When speaking to some lovely people with a giant breed
I was interested to see they were feeding the dogs in the crates
by the ring. I found that interesting as I don't feed my guys
the night before a show and if another show follows on the next
day, then I try to feed as early as possible. I like those dogs
on their toes and perky.
It's sometimes a bit tricky
opening up conversations with strangers about their breed and
asking what and why they do things. I suggested that as a giant
breed it might be a little more spry on its toes around the ring
if not ready for a snooze after dinner. No-one had ever suggested
such a thing so they tried it the following week and bingo, hit
the jackpot and won. It's hard getting animation from these big
guys. They don't rocket around a ring all light and flowing as
does my breed but they can move according to their standard requirement
with purpose and desire. I wondered that no-one had sought to
help them as fellow exhibitors.
So pondering over the thought of getting a giant creature into
some sort of confined bathing area and then the task of getting
it to show presentation is a good exercise. I wonder if most do
this every week when there is a show? I have encountered some
whiffy large dogs at shows but in all fairness it must be some
kind of achievement at any time to get and keep them clean. I
suggest a light swish through with something not too demanding
on the groomer or the dog - either a bucket routine or a hydrobath
system with just Plush
Puppy Hydrobath Wash which can be sluiced through to lightly
cleanse. This is very low foaming and only needs a small amount
to get the action going. It doesn't need to be scrupulously rinsed
out either. Feet, legs and the undercarriage and face can be attended
to with a diluted solution of Plush
Puppy All Purpose Shampoo - this smells divine. Scrub
if necessary with a nail brush and rinse. If the feet area etc
is white then use PP
Whitening Shampoo. Condition if required with PP Silk Protein Conditioner again diluted
at least 5:1 or 10:1.
What to do with the slobber
stains? You often find inside ears and around the mouth reddish
staining which is not required at all. I did mention a mild lightening
mix a few articles ago which I have been asked to repeat - for
WHITE COATS ONLY - cornflour and Milk of Magnesia mixed together
with 40 Vol peroxide to a paste. Mix only in a plastic dish and
use a plastic tint brush. Apply to coat only, not skin and do
not get anywhere near the eyes. Leave to dry and then brush excess
out and wash off. The other alternative that is reasonably mild
is Smokers Toothpaste. Apply, dry and brush out and rinse off.
At the first sign of discomfort to the dog with either of these
recipes, take it off immediately. Obviously with a big dog you
would have bathed him the day before - it's a big job! So they
can get whiffy between then and there at the show. They also tend
to slobber again and pigroot when peeing and your wonderful presentation
has gone west. Use the PP
Wonder Wash. Just spray, lather and rub off with a dry
towel. Sparkling clean once again.
On the day you must brush well all the way through from skin to
end. I hate to see matted coat at the root. So many breeds are
just brushed over the top and the undercoat left to fend for itself.
I like the skin to breath and to get rid of any dead or loose
coat. Brush or comb right through. Takes time but the coat will
regenerate quicker. Before brushing, spray with Plush Puppy Odour Muncher. Some breeds
just have an odour - some more so than others. This will eliminate
the whiffiness and leave a really nice fragrance on your dog.
It also smells clean and freshly done. Great when you have a 2
or 3 day event away from home. We've already covered how to cover-up
stains on the day in a previous article so get the PP Coverup Cream going and finish off with
a nice light gloss of PP
Shine and Comb or if something more intense is required,
a light spray of PP
Seabreeze Oil onto your hands and wipe along the topline
etc. This is particularly good for thicker, coarser coats and
if you must use on a single or finer coat, do so sparingly. A
little bit goes a long way.
The hot weather is now
upon us and it makes showing the larger breeds a bit harder -
most don't like the heat. A handy standby if you must show when
it's warmer is PP Show
Reviver. A few drops first thing in the morning and roughly
45 minutes before you go on, gets the dog at least focused and
moving. Frankly I don't like the heat any better either and I
have been known to allocate these with a one for them one me attitude.
That and lots of ice cold water and ice cubes for the dogs in
their crates.
That last little hint is
the best. Don't slosh the dog full of water just before going
in the ring. Give him his water steadily throughout the day and
then drop off thewater well before show time and issue him instead
with a dish or small bucket full of ice cubes. Keeps him cool
and rehydrated without consuming too much. Nothing worse on a
hot day than a belly full of food and a gut full of water all
sloshing around whilst you try to get him to give you performance.
Good luck to all the big
dogs out there and I deserve a big slobber and a kiss from all
of you.
CHERYL LECOURT
Plush
Puppy All Purpose Shampoo with Henna
Plush Puppy Whitening Shampoo with Ginseng
Plush Puppy Hydrobath Wash
Plush Puppy Silk
Protein Conditioner
Plush Puppy Wonder
Wash
Plush Puppy Spray Bottle
Plush Puppy Odour Muncher
Plush
Puppy Cover Up Cream
Plush
Puppy Shine and Comb
Plush
Puppy Seabreeze Oil
Plush
Puppy Show Reviver