Grooming a Show Dog
When it comes to grooming a show dog, the grooming process is considerably different than the techniques needed when grooming non-show dogs. Obviously, it is necessary for show dogs to represent all of the best qualities for their particular breed. Proper grooming is one way to allow these dogs to enhance their quality features and put their “best paw forward”. Even a minute change in grooming can make the difference between winning and losing.
Groomers and Their Preparation for the Dog Show
If you ever get the opportunity to go behind the scenes at a dog show, you will see that just getting the dogs ready for the ring is a major feat in itself. There are portable grooming tables that have been set up, tack boxes filled to the brim with every kind of grooming supply that you can imagine and crates everywhere.
Groomers basically have two responsibilities which are to achieve perfection in the appearance for the dog’s particular breed, and to keep the dog looking perfect during the entire show. You will see show dogs wearing coats to keep their furry coat clean, topnot pillows around their neck to maintain the puffy head hair-do, like a poodle’s, and booties to keep their paws clean.
Groomers for show dogs must have lots of supplies on hand, which are usually kept in a tack box. A tack box will have all of the grooming supplies organized and within easy reach. Necessities are shampoos, conditioners, nail trimmers, finishing sprays, eye and ear cleaners. You will also need scissors, clippers, a hair dryer and a variety of combs and brushes. Other items that are nice to have available are hair bands, chalks and powders to brush through the coat to remove any dust or dirt and good old reliable petroleum jelly that is used to make any nose seem moist and shiny.
The Grooming Process
Beginning with the show dog’s head, you must remove any whiskers from the cheek areas, the area above the eyes, the chin and the muzzle. These unwanted whiskers need to be clipped extremely short with scissors so that the judge will not feel any stubble. Clean around the eyes and inside the ears thoroughly. Use baking soda to clean any stains that are on the teeth. Depending on the type of coat that the show dog has, you will sometimes find cowlicks appearing on various parts of the body such as the chest. These need to be made less obvious and can be hidden by using thinning shears. If the groomer finds any stray hairs on the body, these must be trimmed one hair at a time. Be very careful when using clippers near the genital area.
Now move on to the tail area. Once again, look for any stray hairs and clip them. Never trim the top area of the tail unless you find stray hairs, which are to be clipped one at a time. About 10 to 14 days before the show is to start, use clippers on the underside of the tail making sure to run the clippers in the same direction as the hair growth. When it’s time for the show to start, the new hair growth on the tail will have a natural look.
Time to start on the paws. Trim the nails very carefully using the two step method. The initial cut should be blunt as near to the quick as possible. The second cut should be made at an angle. Use a nail file to smooth out any rough edges. Trim between the pads using scissors, and then trim around the outside edge of the paws while the dog is standing.
Grooming a Show Dog for the Perfect Look
Many of the cool haircuts that you see during a dog show were actually done ahead of time. The required haircut varies among the different breeds and all of them will need frequent touch ups. When you have all the grooming supplies and tools with you, your dog is going to appear picture perfect.
It is said that if a show dog looks good, he or she knows it, and this feeling looking perfect will follow them into the show ring. Haven’t you noticed how these dogs prance around the ring? It does seem that these dogs know they look good and that they’re showing off to the spectators. It’s almost as if they’re saying “Look at me, I’m perfect!”.