Having lived with a Peke
firsthand the quest was on to find the perfect way to groom this
adorable little breed.
The general consensus was
that one did not bath the Peke - rather one just talked and brushed
with the occasional spray of men's hair tonic (Pinaud) and water.
Where this notice came from is anyone's guess but I have since
found it is not the case anymore.
There is no need to have
a cloud of powder greet you everytime you lift or place the Peke.
Nor is there any reason to have matted wads of undercoat with
a smooth overlay.
Whatever philosophy one
subscribes to, one should never ever take a dirty Peke to a show.
Now just how often to wash depends on the coat and of course
if it is beginning to blow, then one would tread likely.
The Peke has a double coat
with a soft under coat which does come out easily - so gently
Bentley! Best to allow a week before the show of the coat tends
to softness as I an told by higher authority that Peke coat textures
vary, though a harsh outer coat is correct and more desirable.
Then a judicious cleanse on the nether regions before the show
and if necessary, bath again after the show. That's the routine
of one of the best Peke kennels in the U.S.
Now the grooming regime
- train your Peke to lay on its back. Now, judicious trimming,
under pads, keep toe fringes neat not chopped and boys get a trim
around the willy.
Brush if you must with
powder through I never saw a skerrick of powder on top U.S. Pekes.
Preferably spray lightly with Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner and
water (3 squirts to 500ml) or the Revivacoat mixture. Brush with
a soft pin cushions brush #1 All Systems upwards towards the head
- if matted use a Collie comb. Attention please to the underarms
and where legs join.
Turn over and do front.
Work head to tail with upward motion till completed. Then switch
to a Mason & Pearson brush or use a ½ bristle ½
nylon oval cushion brush (available from Plush Puppy). Delicately
work on tail, pants and ears.
Never poke or prod a Peke
ear. Wipe gently inside with metho on cotton wool and apply 5
drops Leo's Ear Cleaner and then massage.
Now, the face. With warm
damp washer, wipe under eye and in wrinkle. Add Eye Brite drops
1 per eye if powder has been used in the grooming. Now the tricky
bit. Lift the fold of the wrinkle upwards and open fold - use
tiny Blunt end scissors and remove all unwanted hair in the wrinkle.
Any unwanted hair over nostrils use thinning shears to tidy -
not a blunt look, please.
Now dog on all fours and
rebrush upwards and outwards around the head. Use a small knitting
needle and make a small part base of the tail 2 inches up the
back. Part coat. Spray with Revivacoat
or Silk Protein
mixture and "throw" tail into the part. You are striving
to achieve a lion shape or Pear body so proceed to flare the tail
to the head in a fan shape over the body.
Now the controversial part.
To trim or not to trim. Is there a question? I saw trimmed
skirts in the U.S. and they did look good and the dogs were not
tripping over absurdly long trailing wisps of skirt. It's up
to you.
Lastly, look at your dog.
No apple heads please. Nice flat rectangle shapes, thank you,
with width at the sides.
Now spray with something
nice - like Plush Puppy Odour
Muncher (smells divine), lightly mist over the coat just
before going in the ring with the Revivacoat or Silk Protein mix.
Exhibitors of old would wear damp white gloves to keep the coat
from static fly-away.
What a dear little breed
and how gorgeous and grand he can look too.
CHERYL LECOURT
Many thanks to Tony Rosato (Morningstar Pekingese USA) and Denise
King (Chindara Pekingese Brisbane) for their powerful insight
and experience.
