Show Dogs - Share some tips?
 

I was wondering for those of you who don't wrap the coats, if you do anything extra for the coats before you go to the competition?

For anyone who shows, what dog food do you feed your dogs you are showing? Do you use any vitamins or anything different than you would if you were not going to show?

I bet Pat or ( YorkieRose) would be able to help you.

I want to know too
:)

Me toooooo - GREAT POST !

Coat
 

I do show my dogs. I do not wrap the coat of any of my dogs and they drag the floor. Dogs are allowed outside and on the carpet and furniture.

What works for us is Mane and tail shampoo for bathing and cheap old suave conditioner. My handler is 62 years old and this is what she has used for a longtime and suggeted to all her clients when the kids are at home. We do not brush the coats dry- this breaks the coat. I bathe the dogs every three to four days- depending on the coat and how dirty they get themselves.

Male that we are currently showing has been in six shows( as of last week)
and we have won in 4 times against older mature dogs. This includes a BOb from the puppy class and a three point Major last week. This states something for the condition of his coat since he is just 13 months old.

I feed Iams, Science Diet, and eukenuba. Not every dog likes the same food.I have bowls down and let them choose. We do place some bacon grease on the food twice a week.

This is just what works for me and the handler that I use. This is how she keeps the other yokies, poms, maltese and pappys on her string in show coat condition. We try to keep it simple and uncomplicated.

You should check with some of the more experienced folks on the forum as to the techniques that work for them.

Villette what more can you do to those little beauties? Everyone wishes they had Cannel and Cheri.

Kathy, that's why I started this thread. Mr. Big's coat is so scraggly. I'm thinking of taking him in and getting about an inch cut off so it doesn't look so bad. I appreciate you taking the time to tell me what you do. Thank you, Sylvia

I have heard a lot of people useing one or the other of these that you mentioned. Mane and tail shampoo for bathing and cheap old suave conditioner. I have not used the main and tail yet But have tried the suave conditioner.

Thanks for the info. :) I will definetly give the shampoo/conditioner a try

In my earlier post I forgot to mention that type of coat (texture) that your dog has will make a differance when adding bacon grease to the coats. They get 1-2 tablespoons mixed in the dryfood.

With the sauve conditioner you have to rinse really good- it takes a little more time to get it out of the hair.

My handler ran a grooming salon for many years and the Suave is what she and the other owner ( also a handler) used there. They used unscented to avoid allergies.

I noticed that Suave does take a bit longer to rinse. I was using lavender, but i guess you are rite unscented is better. What about the Mane n Tail conditioner?

I have used the Mane and Tail- I/M/O is not quite as heavy as the sauve conditioner but close. Many folks might have difficulty in finding it. I have used it on the horses,dogs,cats and myself. Rinsing the conditioner out is key.

Of the two which one is better for cottony hair? Gucci's hair looks nice 2 or 3 days after a bath, then looks wirey. cant explained it. Im even using infusioum 23 cause she is getting matted. I dont like the MAgic Coat detangler.

I use the Suave on the two I own with the cottony coat. It is the nature of the beast that they need more upkeep. Mine do not look wirey though. Are you sure that you have a soft cottony coat? Is the coat dry and brittle - are you overdrying with a blowdryer? Could the coat be dry and you need to condition from the inside /out?

I dont use a blow dryer cause she freeks out. i towel dry her. The coat after a bath feels soft but after 3 to 4 days feels a bit dry. How i condition from the inside/out?
I add Missing Link to her kibble.