There has been a propensity
in past years to ignore the German Shepherd’s glamour qualities
in favour of his working capacities to the exclusion of all else.
There are always factions who when discussing good honest working
breeds, claim to be purists and excuse their lack of success in
the show ring as the fault of everything but their own participation
in doing the hard yard with presentation.
Having thrown that contentious
claim into print, I can at least state that the German Shepherd
exhibitors have really got into this grooming thing and are inundating
me with lots of questions and interest. I am mightily pleased
at the level of work that most are ready to do as it is true that
when it comes down to the wire in that show line-up, the dog has
to look good too.
The standard calls for
a double coat that is neither open nor soft. The coat must be
dense, harsh and lying close to the body. Now the interpretation
of this can often be to have the coat slick and flat as a pancake
which does not serve for a good looking finish. Much better to
have a slight lift to the coat when drying and utilise that density
for a fuller finish without destroying the outline of the dog.
He must at all times give
an overall impression of smooth curves rather than angles and
the touch of elevation to the coat when drying can enhance this.
Let me explain. Starting from scratch with the bath, select which
is the main objective for the coat and it will be either more
coat or a shinier coat, depending at what stage of shedding or
regeneration the coat is at.
Never use conditioner unless
you have too boofy a coat and want to really flatten and soften.
So, as your coat does not require softening, I advise avoiding
conditioner. The answer to hydrating the coat and keeping the
good general healthy vigour is to oil the coat. This will not
soften nor change the texture but will keep it in good health
especially when showing every week and bathing every week. Use
Plush Puppy Seabreeze
Oil which is a very alternative oil and is all naturally
sourced containing primarily Evening Primrose Oil, Calendula Oil,
Wheatgerm Oil and other nice goodies. Use at a ratio of 1 tbspn
to 1 gallon/4 litres water and sluice through, sponge on or surge
bath into the coat ensuring it goes right through to the skin.
Leave in and do not rinse out. This is not an oily oil and is
totally water soluble.
This is probably the best
thing I know of for keeping that natural look to the coat and
giving lots of glamour and vigour without softening. It is also
just wonderful for the health and vitality of the skin and hair.
Also good for those that have that scurfy, powdery, skin shedding.
Now some GSD’s do have a dodgy skin - it seems to follow
some of the lines and is there whether we like it or not. All
the products listed will be kind and gentle to these situations.
For the very serious problem skins, use the Plush Puppy Itchy Skin Shampoo at a ratio
of 3:1 till it starts to clear and then dilute further to as much
as 10:1 for general follow-up maintenance. Follow with the Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil
as discussed above as this is quite calming to distressed skin.
Now you have bathed and
oiled your dog and it’s time to blow dry. Use an oval pin
cushioned brush such as our Plush
Puppy Pin Brush and blow dry the coat against the grain
of the coat all forwards towards the head. Do this till the coat
is ¾ dry and then switch to a ½ bristle ½
plastic cushion brush such as the Plush Puppy Porcupine Brush for a professional
finish. You use the pin brush when the coat is very wet so as
not to rip the guts out of the coat but need to finish with the
other brush for that closer, smoother finish.
Once fully dry, the dog
can have a good shake and the coat will fall very nicely back
into that curved silhouette that is desired but has many advantages
over drying with the grain of the coat. Firstly, it allows you
to really get into all the underneath areas and get all the dead
coat out thoroughly without any of that felting one often sees
with a dense, double coat. It also aerates the skin and allows
you to check for any skin allergies, ticks and fleas - heaven
forbid! By the time you get to the show and the dog has squashed
most of the “do” it will be just perfect for the show.
You can use some Plush Puppy Volumising Cream
when drying at a ratio of 1 tbspn to 1 cup/250 ml water to bodify
a sparse coat that has recently shed - use the whole of this mix
when drying. You can also spray with Plush Puppy Ruffy Tuffy Coat Spray if
you want a firmer texture - spray lightly and dry and keep applying
till the level of harshness has been achieved though to keep a
natural feel, don’t go overboard.
Show day is a matter of spraying and brushing with either the
Plush Puppy Volumising
Cream mixed as above or the Plush Puppy Ruffy Tuffy Coat Spray or
the Plush Puppy Quick Fix
for a light hold factor if a little more lift is wanted. Spray
for final finish with Plush
Puppy Shine & Comb and you have a very glamorous German
Shepherd which is exactly adhering to the requirements of your
breed standard. Don’t forget to add that final pizazz of
a good misting of Plush Puppy
Odour Muncher to really get some attention. It smells
divine and gets rid of any doggy odours too.
Your breed is a fantastic
dog. He is arresting in the ring when presented well and not only
should capture attention when he moves out on that long leash
around the ring, he should look a million dollars as well and
he can and he will! Hope to see you at your Nationals somewhere.
CHERYL LECOURT
