Show Grooming 101

About the Plush Puppy Shampoos:

            The Plush Puppy Shampoos are designed to be mixed together, so that you can make just the custom shampoo for your dog.  In general, you will mix according to the instructions on the concentrate- it takes very little shampoo when you use the Plush Puppy Products correctly.

Herbal Whitening Shampoo is used on all white areas on the dog- dilute per instructions.  Herbal Whitening can be mixed with any of the other shampoos for use on Blue Merle’s

Deep Cleansing Shampoo is used for stained, dirty coats, or can be mixed with the Herbal Whitening for those dogs who live where they get clay stains in their whites

All-Purpose Shampoo is used for dogs with a softer coat. 

Natural Conditioning Shampoo is what I use when dogs are blowing coat, or if the coat is sun damaged, dry or brittle

Body Building Shampoo is used on dogs with sparse, flat coats, or dogs that have blown coat and lack undercoat.

Before you start bathing and grooming, you need to get the rest of your products together:

Crown Royal- The Crown Royal is a conditioner, moisturizer and a coat polisher. It will help a flat coat look fuller; a fluffy coat lie flatter, and bring out a healthy glow- without alcohol or glues or other harmful ingredients.  I keep Crown Royal diluted on hand at all times, and brush it into the dogs’ coats at least twice a week to maintain that healthy glow.  It helps to repel dirt on most coats.

Crown Royal is generally diluted 15:1- That is 1 part Crown Royal concentrate to 15 parts water.  You can use a heavier dilution (10:1) if the dog is blowing coat and you are trying to encourage regrowth for an upcoming show; the healthier the coat is, the faster it will grow in.

Pixie Dust/Cornstarch- There are a lot of “fancy” and expensive chalk products on the market.  Nothing works as well as this combination.  Cornstarch is non-toxic, non-bleaching; The Plush Puppy Pixie Dust gives a nice finishing glow to the whites, which really make them stand out.

In a Tupperware container ( I prefer a fairly flat round bowl with a well-fitting lid) you are going to put the cornstarch in first- depending on the size of the container- When I mix, I mix in large amounts, and use 1 ½ boxes of Corn Starch to one container of Pixie Dust.  You don’t want too much pixie dust, or your dog will glow like an alien.  In a small container, I would say something like 1 cup of Corn starch to 2 tablespoons of Pixie Dust.  Mix well with a tongue depressor and keep it dry and closed until needed

Plush Puppy Volumizer Crème- I only use this on my specials, or a young dog that needs more chest coat “umph”. 

Dilute the crème in a small spray bottle; I use two teaspoons of the crème to about 2 cups of HOT water initially.  Mix well by rolling the bottle (don’t shake it- it will foam!) until the solution is pretty well mixed (it never mixes perfectly)

Before The Bath:

1.      Grind nails to the quick

2.      Completely brush out coat with the Slicker Brush and follow up with the comb.   Don’t forget the pants and the tail!

3.      Clean ears with cotton balls and either Witch Hazel or Alcohol

Bath Time:

1.      Assemble together all your shampoos and two large older bath towels

2.      Wet the entire dog down to the skin

3.      Scrub your whitening shampoo mixture into the whites on the legs; face, big and tail- don’t forget to scrub the belly very well.  Allow to sit on the dog while you shampoo the rest of the dog.

4.      Use your preferred custom mix on the body of the dog- work it in well, do not use too much shampoo. 

5.      Leave all shampoo on the dog no less than 5 minutes.  Continue working it into the coat.

6.      Rinse thoroughly- I start at the muzzle and spray back wards.

7.      Blot dry first with towel, squeezing as much moisture out of the feet and tail as possible.  Then dry with second towel.

8.      Let your corgi get some run and rub time in…

Drying/Finishing:

1.      When the dog has air dried to just damp, spray the entire coat with Crown Royal.  Back brush into the coat and down to the skin.

2.      Using a hair dryer on cool, or a power dryer on low, use the Silver Bullet brush to lay the top line coat down flat- pay close attention to the “duck butt curls” at the base of the tail. Brush up the bib and pants and lay the sides down.

It’s Show Time!!!

** I have a rule of thumb- I must be at the show site a minimum of one hour before ring time.  It doesn’t take nearly that long to groom a Cardigan, but I need that time to set up, walk around, get the dog ready and find my ring and number.

Pre-Grooming:

1.      Scissor the pads of the feet with scissors for a nice neat paw- do not take any hair from the top of the foot or up the leg

2.      Use the Wonder Wash spray and spritz all the whites on the dog- then scrub any surface dirt off the dog with an old towel. 

3.      Use a very small amount of Kolestrol (dime size) rubbed between your hands, and then rubbed into the hair on the legs only.

4.      Open the chalk mix, and using the shoe shine brush, brush chalk deeply into the coat over the Kolestrol only. (Legs only)

5.      Lightly spray the body coat with Crown Royal and back brush into the coat

6.      Put the dog in a crate to rest; go get your number, set up your chair, etc.

Finishing Touches:

1.      Using the cat brush- brush all traces of chalk out of the dogs’ legs- brush up, then down, then back up again.  You may have to wipe off the nails with a bit of paper towel; the dog cannot be shown with any chalk at all on his body ( foreign substance)

2.      If needed, lightly spray the Volumizing diluted mixture into the bib (chest) and pants.  Using the slicker brush and a dryer, blow dry the coat straight away from the body.

3.      Lightly spritz the body coat with plain water on a mist setting.  Using the Silver Bullet brush, lay the body coat down flat as possible along the top line, rear quarters and down the sides.  Brush the tail out and down for the correct fox-like brush.

4.      Use a baby wipe or bit of damp paper towel to wipe the face, eyes, and inside of the ears—

5.      Off you go!