Following on from the last
part, your dog is now washed and dried according to the present
state of the coat. Now look at what else can be done.
I have road tested numerous
brushes and combs and find that my ultimate favourite are a large
slicker brush, an oval pin cushion brush (no knobs on the end
of the pins), an oval 1/2
bristle & 1/2 plastic Porcupine Brush (available from Plush
Puppy), a wooden handled poodle comb and a metal one inch
toothed comb that has wider spaced teeth at one end. Lastly a
good flea comb for inside and outside the ears and the fine hair
on the face and legs.
Even though I use a cattle
dryer and slicker when drying the dog, I now go over section by
section with the oval pin cushion brush and then once again with
the Poodle comb for the longer hair and the one inch toothed comb
for the shorter hair working from right down at the skin through
to the ends and combing the coat towards the head. I don't like
to see any matting whatsoever at the base of the hair.
Then you must attend to
the hidden areas such as the inside of the back legs brushing
upwards, the bullocks area and the willy and not forgetting right
up under the armpits. It is important these areas including the
inside of the ears are well dried otherwise you tend to get red
staining. A good puff of ear powder doesn't go astray either.
Don't forget to wipe and dry well between the toes.
Now out with the scissors and though we don't get to play hairdresser
with these breeds, we do have to trim the long hair between the
pads. Some dogs hat it and others will tolerate it. None like
it. They also hate toenails and dewclaws if present being done
too. A really simple trick taught to me by my sister, a pug exhibitor,
is to cover the dogs eyes. Voila! Works well when the dog has
to have a blood test too. My vet is impressed. For cutting nails
I prefer the guillotine type but held back to front. Ask me to
show you sometime if I am at your show and I do popup all over
the place.
I am constantly asked about
red elbows and what to do. As it appears to from lying in water
or wet concrete we paint our kennels with two-pack paint. My dogs
never use a bed - they eat them instead. They eat everything!
If really drastic measures are needed then you may have to bleach
the elbows using a good advice from someone that knows how - or
email me. The alternative is to cover the red areas with PP Cover Up Cream which
is applied with a small damp piece of kitchen sponge and then
chalked with loose chalk to dry. Works brilliantly and won't rub
off.
Now the day of the show grooming. Lightly spray the coat with
PP Quick Fix Conditioneror PP Reviva Coat
if the coat is dehydrated at a ratio of 1 tablespoon to 3/4 cup
of warm water in a spray bottle. Plush Puppy have Measured Spray Bottles and ratio is 1 tablespoon
to 200 mls. If you need more coat then use PP Volumising Cream at the same ration
and use neat when blow drying. Makes 3 hairs look like 3000!
Comb through the flat areas
with the Poodle Comb lifting upwards all the way through. Use
the one inch comb for other areas. Finish brushing with the 1/2 bristle 1/2 plastic Porcupine
Brush and a light comb through both sides of the ears
with the flea comb. Spray with PP
Odour Muncherfor clean fragrance and apply PP Cover Up Cream if needed to stained
areas and do any chalking. Some judges detest chalk left in the
coat so make sure it is done well in advance to eliminate this
problem. Chalk blocks all work well. I use a chalk block on the
face and inside the ears but loose chalk on the rest applied overPP Sit and Staywhich
will hold the chalk on the legs etc. Dust lightly with PP Pixie Dustfor shimmering
finish and sift a tiny bit through the topline to grab the spotlight.
For ringside emergencies
- males tend to pig root when having a pee - use the PP Wonderwash and lather up and towel off.
Instant clean. Oh and I don't trim whiskers. This seems to be
an old show thing and not generally done anymore. I like the character
it gives to the dogs when left natural.
Now spray the coat with
PP Shine & Comb
and your dog is ready to strut the ring with the very best of
them.
