Judges Weigh In On Grooming

[Podengo]

I think the whiskers are really prickly when they're growing back if they have been clipped off haha, like a beard :laugh:

[mirawee]

I can't believe how much trimming goes into some short coat breeds

Love my Kelpies who just get pulled out of the crate and my Lappies who only get a paw neaten up as needed

Washing is an interesting one. Having a breed who is meant to have a harsh outer coat washing definitely stuffs that up. So our Lappies don't get washed for every show - they just get a warm towel rub if needed. Like most Spitz breeds they aren't designed for constant washing. Saying that though I would bath if they were filthy!

[Blakbelgian]

I agree Mirawee, my spitz's only get a bath if they are filthy.

Supposed to have harsh coat but I know some that are soft due to over bathing.

Sway, Yes the hands are supposed to feel what the coat hides but many hands don't communicate with the brain that the coat on some dogs is hiding faults but they will put that dog up instead.

BB

[espinay2]

Try having a big white dog that is meant to have a good textured top coat.. LOL! With my breed you see both extremes from time to time in different places. Totally ungroomed to trimmed and over groomed. Coat is treated as very important in the breed (it is a working dog after all) and the top coat is meant to be harsh (traditionally 'the coat of a goat' as the French are apt to call it) with a thick weatherproof undercoat. Too much washing and the coat becomes quite soft and can be quite open (depending on the dog and the judge I will often wash several days or a week before if I think I can keep them clean in the meantime as it improves coat texture). Not a trimmed breed either, though usually feet are tidied. I love seeing clean nicely presented coats, but they shouldnt be puffballs.

On the whiskers, when I first started years ago with my Dally I trimmed whiskers ans at the time that is what was 'done'. Over the years I moved away from doing it and don't do it anymore.

Edited May 14, 2013 by espinay2

[mirawee]

On the whiskers, when I first started years ago with my Dally I trimmed whiskers ans at the time that is what was 'done'. Over the years I moved away from doing it and don't do it anymore.

I do wonder how much of a difference having whiskers removed really makes. In the horse world it is the "done" thing for the show ring. Yet I had a mare who hated having her whiskers removed and worked badly every time I did so I stopped - she still won at Royal show level in the breed ring!

I honestly don't notice if a dog has whiskers on or not (not that I am a judge)

[becks]

pet peeve for me when judging is over use of product. I don't want to feel a sticky coat with to much laquer on it instead of having texture to the actual coat. I don't want to see a cloud of chalk each time the dog shakes itself. I don't like the exaggerated lines groomed on american style dogs either.

By all means present a clean and tidy dog, just don't try to make it into something it is not (or a dog you would never recognise in its 'at home' state)

[WreckitWhippet]

Sitting ringside yesterday as several dogs of the same breed did a lap and the stench of perfume from their product was overpowering. The closest they got to us was about 6 feet away and on the move, I can only imagine how it smelt to the judge.

Less is more people's

[angelsun]

I was surprised to hear how much grooming goes on for a Dobe in the ring in the USA. The dobe forum I'm on had a grooming thread, they do the usual bath, nails teeth stuff.... Then clip the whiskers off the muzzle, clip down the backs of their legs to smooth them out, clip any whorls of hair on the neck, shoulders etc., trim the hair along the flappy bit of skin between the tummy and rear leg (name escapes me right now) and trim the hars along the edges of cropped ears.

I did that with my German Pinschers...wouldn't be caught dead in the ring without the effort. Quite honestly, I don't do it here as it's a far more relaxed way of presenting dogs here than it was in the US and Canada.

[Wyntervale]

As the saying goes, you can hid alot under coat!!!

It's also important to remember, you can hide the good as well as the bad.

[puppy_dawgs]

its unfortunate that ive often been told i 'over groom' my dog. when in fact all he gets is a bath, blow dry and a brush!!! sometimes a little hairspray to keep his top knot back as it falls over his gorgeous eyes. no straightening irons or products go near him. other than some potato flour and wonder wash if he gets dirty after a toilet walk.

theres nothing wrong with a well groomed dog. and i often find the ones who cant groom like to pull down the ones who can. but of course there are the shockers that just ruin the dogs natural coat/look with overuse of products

[SwaY]

My Pet hate is people who do not trim dogs tails and they have this messy "paint brush tail" thing happening..

[OSoSwift]

straightening tongs........well I have just been educated!!!!

[Trisven13]

My Pet hate is people who do not trim dogs tails and they have this messy "paint brush tail" thing happening..

Its a fine line to tread though Sway. With a Fauve if you were to trim a tail it can go negatively against you under a breed specialist - had it happen myself. Will confess to neatening them here in Australia but would ensure I didn't do it leading up to a specialist.

[SwaY]

Of course it would depend on the breed, however I still don't like it :laugh:

[Poodle Mum]

I am on the hunt for so e cordless hair straighteners!!!...lol...

Didn't want to tell the women in the shop it was for my Std Poodle!...lol

Sway...any ideas?

[SwaY]

They do a few types now - 240vlt and cordless, 12vlt and cordless, USB and cordless,

as for which type is the best I have no idea.

[Trisven13]

Of course it would depend on the breed, however I still don't like it :laugh:

:laugh:

[Rebanne]

Of course it would depend on the breed, however I still don't like it :laugh:

:laugh:

Sway is always at me to trim the greyhound tails, if she had a photo of them I am sure she would have put it up

[SwaY]

Of course it would depend on the breed, however I still don't like it :laugh:

:laugh:

Sway is always at me to trim the greyhound tails, if she had a photo of them I am sure she would have put it up

[Alyosha]

Ugh. Straighteners on borzoi coats. Lets not forget the standard says coat, "silky, flat, wavy or somewhat curly, but never woolly." So why on earth do people feel the need to use straighteners on it?? And excessive scissoring makes for blunt ends to hairs, losing some of that silky texture that is so vital. Same with sticky or stiff product. Yuck.

Edited June 3, 2013 by Alyosha