Siberian Huskies & Alaskan Malamutes - Part 2
Grooming Double Coated Breeds
Following on from the last part, your dog is now washed and dried
according to the present state of the coat. Now look at what else
can be done.
I have road tested numerous brushes and combs and find that my
ultimate favourite are a large slicker brush, an oval pin cushion
brush (no knobs on the end of the pins), an oval 1/2
bristle & 1/2 plastic Porcupine Brush (available from
Plush Puppy), a wooden handled poodle comb and a metal one inch
toothed comb that has wider spaced teeth at one end. Lastly a good
flea comb for inside and outside the ears and the fine hair on the
face and legs.
Even though I use a cattle dryer and slicker when drying the dog,
I now go over section by section with the oval pin cushion brush and
then once again with the Poodle comb for the longer hair and the one
inch toothed comb for the shorter hair working from right down at
the skin through to the ends and combing the coat towards the head.
I don't like to see any matting whatsoever at the base of the hair.
Then you must attend to the hidden areas such as the inside of
the back legs brushing upwards, the bullocks area and the willy and
not forgetting right up under the armpits. It is important these
areas including the inside of the ears are well dried otherwise you
tend to get red staining. A good puff of ear powder doesn't go
astray either. Don't forget to wipe and dry well between the toes.
Now out with the scissors and though we don't get to play
hairdresser with these breeds, we do have to trim the long hair
between the pads. Some dogs hat it and others will tolerate it. None
like it. They also hate toenails and dewclaws if present being done
too. A really simple trick taught to me by my sister, a pug
exhibitor, is to cover the dogs eyes. Voila! Works well when the dog
has to have a blood test too. My vet is impressed. For cutting nails
I prefer the guillotine type but held back to front. Ask me to show
you sometime if I am at your show and I do popup all over the place.
I am constantly asked about red elbows and what to do. As it
appears to from lying in water or wet concrete we paint our kennels
with two-pack paint. My dogs never use a bed - they eat them
instead. They eat everything! If really drastic measures are needed
then you may have to bleach the elbows using a good advice from
someone that knows how - or email me. The alternative is to cover
the red areas with PP
Cover Up Cream which is applied with a small damp piece of
kitchen sponge and then chalked with loose chalk to dry. Works
brilliantly and won't rub off.
Now the day of the show grooming. Lightly spray the coat with PP
Quick Fix Conditioner or PP
Reviva Coat if the coat is dehydrated at a ratio of 1
tablespoon to 3/4 cup of warm water in a spray bottle. Plush Puppy
have Measured
Spray Bottles and ratio is 1 tablespoon to 200 mls. If you
need more coat then use PP
Volumising Cream at the same ration and use neat when blow
drying. Makes 3 hairs look like 3000!
Comb through the flat areas with the Poodle Comb lifting upwards
all the way through. Use the one inch comb for other areas. Finish
brushing with the 1/2
bristle 1/2 plastic Porcupine Brush and a light comb through
both sides of the ears with the flea comb. Spray with PP
Odour Muncher for clean fragrance and apply PP
Cover Up Cream if needed to stained areas and do any
chalking. Some judges detest chalk left in the coat so make sure it
is done well in advance to eliminate this problem. Chalk blocks all
work well. I use a chalk block on the face and inside the ears but
loose chalk on the rest applied over PP
Sit and Stay which will hold the chalk on the legs etc. Dust
lightly with PP
Pixie Dust for shimmering finish and sift a tiny bit through
the topline to grab the spotlight.
For ringside emergencies - males tend to pig root when having a
pee - use the PP
Wonderwash and lather up and towel off. Instant clean. Oh
and I don't trim whiskers. This seems to be an old show thing and
not generally done anymore. I like the character it gives to the
dogs when left natural.
Now spray the coat with PP
Shine & Comb and your dog is ready to strut the ring
with the very best of them.
Cheryl LeCourt
