I often speak of tradition
being the way we mostly learn to groom our dogs, having the techniques
passed down from the breeder we purchased from originally and
bits & pieces learned along the way from well meaning friends
and other success stories.
No matter how long we have
been showing dogs, it always amazes me as to just how much there
can still be to learn. I have been in hair so to speak, for 35
years and yet I love to learn new stuff. Perhaps it's because
I am in a fashion industry I am open to suggestion and understand
that new things happen each year and the old stuff is often passe.
So, when a pro handler overseas said to me, very off the cuff,
that she used our Plush
Puppy Seabreeze Oil for just about everything, my ears
pricked up. Now, I had been using this stuff for yonks and thought
I had explored it's every use, until she said that!
Knowing she showed Standard
Poodles, I had intro'd her some time ago to the delights of the
oil and how light and non greasy it was etc so was not surprised
that she loved it. However, this statement kind of made me sit
up. I didn't have the opportunity at that time to question her
and went on an exploratory mission myself.
Experimental animals at
hand happen to be the home grown kids, the Siberians. Let's throw
some of that stuff onto them! Being a double coated breed, I dislike
using too much conditioner on them as I like that full, flamboyant
look to the coat for the show ring and, as we all know, conditioner
softens and flattens a coat.
The goal was to have shine,
a real glimmer to the coat, moisture and coat protection. Bingo!
It works like a treat. I had anticipated it would be used only
as a between show event. However, it worked so wonderfully I used
it also for the shows. I now use it on everything, except, a single
coat. I have not yet I admit used it on a Peke or a Pom. Give
me time and I will report back
For any coat that needs glamour, such as a Doberman, Sheltie,
Dachshund, Afghan, Malamute, Samoyed, Setter, Staffie etc, use
at a mix of 1 dspn - 1 tbspn per 1 gallon/4litres of warm water.
For those with a hydro-bath use directly into the tank. Depending
upon your bathing set-up, either hydrobath it through as a final
rinse, sponge it on or dunk the dog if small enough into a plastic
container full of the mix. Don't towel rub, just squeeze out the
excess and blow dry - even the Dobermans.
I am a stickler for blow
drying with a cool turbo type dryer to remove dead hair and give
an even finish. The result is a wonderfully shiny and healthy
looking coat. Imagine the effect on a dark coated Rottweiler,
a Min Pin, a Flat Coated Retriever, a Pug, an Akita, even my Siberians?
I have had dry, brittle, red coats that appear beyond redemption
and bring them back within 3 treatments of the Plush Puppy Seabreeze
Oil to a practically new looking coat.
The oil is an old Ayervedic
recipe based on Evening Primrose Oil, Calendula Oil, finest grade
Sesame Oil and other wonderful goodies. It calms, is restorative
and gives an overall look of well being to the coat. Great on
those frazzled, flippy ends.
The whites on the coats will glisten with an appearance of good
health and the darker colours will shine like no tomorrows. And,
the extra benefit is that it won't flatten the coat as a conditioner
or regular acid based treament would.
You can use this same mix for an in between show protector to
the coat. It won't attract dirt as many of the oils do. This is
a totally radically different style of oil to anything you have
used before. I love it!
You can also spray direct
onto the coat if you wish if the coat is to endure harsh treatment
such as some of the Border Collies that live on properties and
undergo swimming therapy in the local dams! Good for muscle tone
those country homes but sometimes wicked on the coats.
I have had many good results using this oil and many terrific
reports from people with Afghans and the more butch, guard type
dogs. I don't know whether I imagine it, but it appears to deter
the ticks. We have awful problems with bush ticks here in East
Brisbane from the many possums that inhabit the mango trees. I
haven't had a tick on the show dogs since I started using Seabreeze Oil each
week on their coats. I know the ticks are there as the 7 week
old puppy had a massive fat tick on her ear but she was not being
groomed with the oil. She is now. I would not use this as a preventive
as I haven't road tested it long enough to ensure the veracity
of this but it does appear to have some effect.
Please let me know how
you use it and on what breeds as I value all your input. I do
enjoy the dog show world - it is a constant source of interest,
energy and unlimited learning.
CHERYL LE COURT
Plush
Puppy Seabreeze Oil