Coat Care
 

What products do you use on your Show dogs? Where can one find useful info on the coat care and maintaining show coats when in between shows and when preparing for shows? Also being a show dog do these show dogs while waiting earn their Champion title get to act and play like normal pets? Meaning do they get to run around with the other Yorkies whom are not show dogs? Where do they sleep? Are they able to sleep with you in your bed or is it better to keep them in their kennel/crate? Should their bedding be made of satin to help keep their coat from tangling and what not?

I can only speak for myself and I am new to the "dog show world " I have one dog that I am showing and the other is a pet.They both live the same life.The coat is alot of care,but that's the fun of it for me...or the challenge. I use a variety of products and am always trying new products.My 2 have totally different coats and I use different products on each of them.
They don't sleep in satin beds,only because my boy is still in the destructive stage.Eventually ,yes when I can trust him they will be in satin beds.....satin is easy on the coat. They both go out and play and we have friends with other pet and show yorkies that they all play with.Ours sleep part of the night with us and the rest of the night in their bed beside ours.They live a normal and active life.I'd say the biggest difference is in the time spent on grooming, including wrapping the coat.

Here is a pic of the 2 of them,it's hard to pick out who is the show dog isn't it ?

wow they are lovely! and thank you for you input...i am hoping to hear more....i am trying to learn all i can about the Yorkie show world and what is involved...i am hoping to get into showing someday...and learning all i can....i am working with a show/breeder now on getting me a dog that will get me started in the show world...right now it all just seems so scary...lol...so i am hoping that my first show dog will make the transition a bit less scary...hehe...but until he comes along i will take in as much info as I can and go from there...hehe

Good plan to study. I hate to be repetitive but again Kirsten McGregor does have a series of videos out : one is on daily maintenance for your show dog(this one I don't have yet) but I have her other two, which I found very helpfull and welldone.

On the products to use, my best advice is first to go with what your breeder is using. Then as your pup matures you might like to branch out a bit. Another thing I learnt that as far as brushes and combs go it is best to get the best you can afford, care for them well and they will last you a lifetime. There are other threads on here that talk about brushes, what people like etc. Then there are threads about different shampoos and conditioners. You;ll find that Maximo and I love to try out different products. Its a lot cheaper on the wallet if you can just get sampler sizes to see what you like.

Razzle lives a relatively normal dog life, but he does live it in wraps right now. How-ever we go swimming, and walking, now that milder weather is coming we'll go hiking too. We do agility once a week.

There is alot of coat care required, plus all the other regular doggy care that happens with a short coated breed. But its so worth it, to see a beautiful, glossy coat.

Have fun with your studies.

Well said Gail :)
I want to get that new video too,I think it's just coming available now. I think it will be a great tool for people like us that are new to this wonderful and rewarding world of showing Yorkies.

I love to hear that other people have "show yorkies" that live normal lives.The biggest challenge in all of this is the coat,but living in wraps is a small price to pay to allow them to do every thing a dog with a short coat can do. Really they don't mind the wraps either,I think it's more of an inconvenience for us than for them.

I love trying new products to, I'm now waiting for an order that I placed a few days ago.The products are "Vellus" I've read a bit about them and it sparked my interest. I'll let you know how I like them.

Good luck with your studies xxmxaxrxyxx

The products used are different with each dog, depending on coat texture. Also, what you use on a puppy when it first goes in the ring is much different than what you use on it as an adult. But, remember the secret to growing a great coat is nutrition and cleanliness. I bathe show dogs every 4 days.

A must do is training it early on every aspect of the grooming process. Teaching it how to lay still for you on the table while you put up that topknot. How to stand while you trim their feet and iron it's coat.

Oh! back to the topknot....practice, practice, practice. I struggled with it until Marie Cordona gave a lesson. A good hairspray I use "CC" for spraying that tease to give it body, "IT" for setting the topknot and a must have is All Systems Invisible Hold, A real life saver is applying a good gel before drying.

Those are all great points Mary, it is soooo true about the topknots,practice,practice and more practice. Alot of people wait until show day and it can be a very stressful job to put a topknot in when you are stressed about the show itself.So preparation is vital !! It will save you time and make the whole show preparation experience less stressful and more enjoyable :)

* This is of course in my own experience , thus far *

I really try to get to the show site early, with enough time to potty and excercise before I begin the grooming. I allow myself 1 hour per dog for grooming. Ironing the coat is really nothing, but allowing myself enough time to put up the topknot 3 times. There is an art to it and each dog's head, earset is different.

Oh! and always allow enough time for those unexpected accidents.....Always have baby wipes, paper towels, self rinse and a blow drier.

thank you...i was trying to google for her video's and couldn't find any last night...so i will try again later...unless one of you have a link to where I can get them...hehe

thank you...from everything i am reading and hearing the main thing is the coat.....

besides just products you use on hair...what type of nutrition do you find best for the Yorkie coat....

Yes, the coat is the yorkie's shining glory. However, it's what is underneath that is more important.

Every exhibitor tailors their dogs nutrional needs to the dog. So many different things out there......You want to feed that coat, but if the dog's genetics aren't there you can beat yourself to death. You also want to make sure what you are feeding the dog is good for the dog's immune system, muscle tone and stamina building.

ok thanks..

Ok i know here on YT many are against like RC and Eukanuba for the quality of their food but when I go to like some show/breeder website i noticed that is what they feed their puppies because that is what is included in their puppy package...with that being said how does that work...

i myself feed my furbutts Blue Buffalo which is ranked 100% up there...being it is a Holistic food...

so i guess my question is how would i know what would work? i think i just confused myself...lol

Each breeder is different. However, most don't feed a one size fits all. What is being fed is very dependent on the dog's needs/digestive system/and what you are attempting to accomplish; build muscle tone, stamina, add or reduce weight, etc.

ok i guess i will have to look more into this...i think after i do learn most of it i could be some sort of specialist in some areas...just kidding....for every response i am beginning to wonder what am i thinking about getting myself into....but i am one who loves to learn so we will see how far i get with this...

This is a long slow learning process, things you will learn up front and others things you will pick up along the way. Nutrition, genetics, canine behavior, training, studying pedigrees, breeding, whelping take along time to learn......
It's a continual learning process.

What I strongly suggest, is doing what you plan to do, go to shows, let people get to know you......lend a hand....exhibitors can always use help from someone that is willing.....this will also help you in determining the type yorkie you like

Next, if you're really serious, start studying pedigrees, looking for that great breeder/exhibitor's line, where you want to get your show dog from. Remember this person will/should be your mentor.

Next, before you get your dog, start purchasing your equipment, it'll be less painful that way....remeber the cost of the dog is going to pinch that pocket too.

oh thank you for all the info....

i am thinking since i am 29 years old right now...that when i am near my 40's i will be ready to go...lol

Oh good too bad we weren't closer then we could "share" the new video. :)

I have used vellus and I absolutely love the antistatic spray and the cream. In fact after I used up my sampler sizes I got more of those two products. So far for Razzle's coat and wrapping I do his facial furnishings and top knot and chest hair with the satin cream and use the organic coconut oil on his other parts. Their shampoo I find doesn't create very much of a lather...and that feels somehow wrong to me. Next week I'm just going to use only their shampoo and conditioner and see how his coat turns out. Another product I love for everyday bathing is the leave in Drape, because you need very little other product then to wrap coat with.

Kirsten uses the Vellus antistatic spray when she is ironing the coat. Okay for show days, to get that Dazzle in Razzle's coat (lol) my final conditioner is Pantene Ice shine. It does a wow factor to his coat. Leave on for 2 minutes at least. I massage the Razz when I leave in his conditioners. Play with how much you need. Razz has a very fine silky coat, so I don't use a lot and I rinse until there is still a "slippery" feel to the coat. Just slippery not greasy.

Because the Razz loves to lay over the hot air vents - this is drying to his coat - I float his coat in heavy conditioner mixed with very warm water for five minutes. Now very warm is warm to my skin. The coconut oil is also very good for his coat.

Sorry for the run on response. I just love to experiment with this stuff!

Mary is there a special kind of baby wipe? I've heard about them before, I always have the self rinse too, but when I've used the self rinse at home it is really heavy on his coat and I would be scared to use it at the show. Will the baby wipes be okay to use on his hind end if we have an accident in that nether region?

I don't know of any reputable show breeder that tells people what kind of food they use on their website.


Are you sure these are reputable? Most don't even have websites.

I use baby wipes that have no scent.

The only self-rinse I use is Show Off by CC....it doesn't leave a heavy residue, leaves it very silky.

WOW Carl!!! They are the same size already.They are gorgeous and so is their coats, you've done a wonderful job taking care of them :thumbup:

Thanks Max's Mom :p

Wow, this is great Gail,I really can't wait to get my Vellus products now.I was wondering if that was the anti static spray that Kirsten was using with the flat iron.
I am going to try the Ice Shine...I'm a product Hog LOL
Thanks for sharing your ideas :)

I love Vellus, too! And Drape. Those are my favourites and I always go back to these products.. And I've tried many different brands!

i just ordered the show preparation dvd...wow pretty pricey...hopefully i get tons out of it...hehe...and get my moneys worth...

Let me tell you what i use LOL...I feed EVO from Innova and it's grain free and I use coat handlers shampoo 15 to 1 and I use Summerwinds Protect A Coat Oil I wrap Radar and he sleeps with me at night and runs in the yard has free run of my house I bathe him once a week change wraps when needed. I use Vellus Satin Cream sometimes and I've just started using Pure Paws finishing spray when I iron him and love it but I use Vellus Anti Stat spray...I've always used Coat Handlers on all my dogs and it seems to be the one I always go back too after trying so many and I love Summerwinds...
I usually change my dog food every year but I make sure it's corn free and I really love the grain free of EVO but I don't feed all my dogs that because some have to have certain foods due to weight and some senstive stomachs...I feed one of my dogs cottage cheese with pumpkin and rice...just depends on the dogs..
All my show dogs are my pets first and show dogs second...they all run in the yard and have free run of the house unless I'm not home and they aren't supervised.
this is how I do ;)

Donna

thanks Donna....seems like everyone has their own way of doing things that work for them from what i am reading...

I am going to look into this Vellus Anti Stat since a few have mention it...

I guess it will be hard for me to really find my own technique since i don't have my "show" one yet...lol...but i guess i can always practice on my other 3....well probably just Mei Ling since she is the only one left with her coat....well that is probably because her coat is heaven to care for...doesn't take much to care for it since it rarely mats and even when it does it is easy to work it out...i am sure i have her good breeding to thank for that...hehe

I learned 20 years ago and then quit for a time and now I'm back in and I used Coat Handler back then, now the formula has been sold and possibly changed from it's original formula yet I still find that I like it. I have very fine silky textures and I like Summerwinds and Coat Handler for this type of texture. Each coat is so different as mentioned before. Keeping the coat clean and matt free is very important as well.

is this the coat handler shampoo that you guys are referring too?

PetEdge: Coat Handler 15 to1 Clarifying Shampoo Concentrate

Not everyone uses the same one. Some use the 5-1. This is the one that I use, probably the one most use.