Hi, Jo Ann,
I'll be glad to honestly tell you what I do. Six months in advance I
am shedding out dead hair, bathing and conditioning. This includes hot
oil in cases in which it is needed. I adjust diet if coats seem dry,
etc. I try to bath show dogs every week or every other week as I agree
with George Alston and others who say "clean hair grows".
I trim nails when I bath; I file them as well. I also brush teeth at
that time. (We use oxyfresh in the water of those not being bred).
I'll assess a dog a couple of weeks prior to a show and decide how much
time I need to groom it. Thanks to Ellie Mordecai, I have those super
grooming coats which enable me to cut out a lot of drying time. They
also work wonders for that sometimes wavy back end.
I have been known to take a small thinning shears to a bad mat
especially underneath where it is tender. I will cut open the mat
lengthwise so that I can then tease out the rest of the tangle more
gently. I am guilty there if that is not allowed, but I can't bear to go
after a mat in a tender area (like groin) and end up with either
tortorously, long, slow grooming sessions or dogs who hate grooming.
This generally only happens when they are blowing coat. I don't
generally even trim the hair on the underneath (pads) of the dog's feet
anymore, as one judge accused me of trimming when I did that! (Which IS
allowed in our standard).
I once used a pumice stone on a bitch with a cowlick and got hell for
it. That was after I got hell the day before from the judge who
suggested I try it. <G>
I try to wrap the stifle of the dog so that I can show a nice turn of
stifle and despair when guard hairs won't wrap because I know what my
competition will do. <G> So, this is why I try to shed them out as much
as possible (using slicker and comb) in that period before they show.
I use a myiad of products depending on coat, mostly Vellus to tame
unruly bits and pieces. Their satin cream is useful for that but I use
it very sparingly if I'm showing and never on ears.
Anyone in this area can tell you that my dogs look like they are shown
naturally......because they sometimes have bad hair days. When Tyler
was put up as WD at Morris and Essex, the judge made mention to Gary
that Tyler was definitely having a bad hair day that day; it was
terribly humid and his profuse coat was not cooperating.
I honestly WISH that we could "neaten" up our exhibits, but judging from
what is already done (some to great extremes) if we were allowed even
that latitude, then the inch would become many miles. It *pains* me to
show a dog that I could fix up a bit with just a tad of hand stripping
on the head or just a little evening up of an ear, but I won't do it. I
am so aware of the really sculpted competition and how it could change
the breed forever. SOME of my dogs grow bell shaped ears; but most
don't! I suppose I'll get chucked by judges who wish my dogs looked
neater, (as I do!) but others will reward my efforts to make the most of
my dog in a natural way.
It really is a shame that human nature is such that many of us can't
follow rules or we COULD be allowed to "neaten" without trimming.
Suze
Jo wrote:
>
> Would everyone***** honestly***** tell me what they do to their dog to
> prepare for a show.
> Starting six months before the big day.
>
> > Actually, Dave,
> > I think I mentioned "handlers" in suggesting an ad meaning ALL
> > handlers. There are plenty of owner handlers out there trimming merrily
> > away. <G>
> >
> > Suze
> >
> > Dave Wagner wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > My response was to a subsequent post that said maybe we should
> distribute the
> > > letter to pro handlers.
>
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--
Suze at Llawen Cavaliers
"...I have seen that in any great undertaking it is not enough for a man
to depend simply upon himself." -Isna Ia-wica
"Thought comes before speech" Luther Standing Bear
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