Harsh Coats
Keep the Harsh Firm Desired Texture and Still Have a Clean Dog
Much is said about conditioning
and softening dry coats but there is not a lot of info on what to do with those
breeds that need to have a harsh texture to their coat. Typical of this are most
of the Terriers which are required to have a wiry harsh outer coat. Labradors
are required to have a fairly hard feeling to the coat as are Wire Haired
Dachshunds and German Wirehaired Pointers etc. There are a number of breeds that
call for that harsher feel to the coat.
One assumes the dog in question
has a correct coat to start with or as close as one can get and that the aim is
to maintain and keep the correct texture for ring presentation.
I often see these breeds
unwashed. I often hear they have been dry-cleaned if cleaned at all - meaning
that they are powder cleaned or dust and brushed. I can just envisage all that
powder lying close to the skin causing heat and irritation to the dog. Maybe
this is why a lot of the Terriers appear to have skin problems. Let the skin
breath free! It can be done - one can wash and clean and still have texture.
I never subscribe to the old
belief that this is the way it has always been done and this is the way it has
to be. Heavens! We dont sit and listen to crystal radios anymore either. Life
moves along and progress presents new opportunities to do things better. Quite
often tradition is just bad habits passed down the line. Who knows if those
before us knew what they were doing? Maybe they just did the best they could
with what they had?
The trick is to cleanse without
softening and as we all know that conditioners soften , make sure you dont use
one if you want to keep harsh texture. You see, conditioners are acid balanced
and that flattens down the outer cuticle layer of the hair making it slippery
and smooth. They also contain softeners and that is not what you want in this
scenario.
Cleanse without softening! You
now need to use a cleanser that doesnt have a high foaming action. High foaming
action gives you a lot of froth and bubbles and means a lot of static and fluffy
coat. Great for those coats you want to boof up and look soft and fluffy. Not
good for coats that have to be wiry, coarse, harsh or flat lying. The quest is
for a shampoo that has low foaming action and small bubbles. Wow! A Claytons
shampoo, the one you have when you arent having one!
We use the
Plush Puppy Hydro Bath & Bath Wash.
This is low foaming and almost a non shampoo. Frankly, if you can see a lot of
bubbles you are using too much. I recommend 1 desert spoon to a gallon/4.5
litres of water. You can either use this in your hydrobath tank e.g. 1 dspn to a
tank or use as mentioned prior in a bucket and sponge through the coat. You can
also add to a bathtub if that is the preferred method.
You ought not to see lots of
froth. It is almost as if there isnt any shampoo being used. However, it will
still cleanse and refresh the coat -without softening or causing static and
fluffiness. This is a great technique also to prevent over washing or
dehydration of a coat. Now just rinse out as best as possible without fussing
too much. It is not necessary to rinse out entirely. Handy for those who are on
tank water and where water is precious.
If you are a purist and like to
cleanse your no nonsense dog a few days earlier to the show, then by all means
do so but make sure you do give him a hot wet towel and rub a dub before the
show. Really, you dont have to resort to that, you can wash using this
technique a day before the show. Its a matter of settling the coat to behave
and have correct texture. Those with soft coated and flowing coated breeds know
that one has to groom to get high performance from their coats and this is what
you do with those harsher coated breeds.
Give it a light oil. Not a
greasy yukky heavy mechanics type oil - just a light spritz onto the hands with
the
Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil.
This is light, water soluble and smells great. It is an old Ayervedic recipe and
contains Calendula Oil, Evening Primrose Oil and other goodies. Now work it
lightly through the coat. You dont need to over do it. I like to add a dspn - 1
tbspn to a bucket or hydrobath tank and whoosh it through the coat and leave in
as a final rinse. This ensures a good healthy coat without softening.
I am also an advocate of using a
dryer to rid the coat of unwanted loose hairs. I even blow dry those short
coated breeds such as Weimeraners and Dobermans. Get that dead hair out! Make
sure you use a cool dryer but one that has a bit of oomph. Not those little
putt putt dryers please. They do nothing and one could die of old age waiting
for them to do it.
The dryer is useful for
those full headed looks on some of the breeds such as a Westie etc. Lift and sit
it up so it frames the face. Cairns look brilliant with a fuller framing too.
Now one needs to use something to give the coat that texture and help the coat
to look kind of grungey again but still be clean. You also want some substance
to the coat. We have just released our new
Plush Puppy Ruffy Tuffy Coat Spray.
Yeah! I have been asked for something like this for so long and have at last got
it for you
Ruffy Tuffy
adds texture. Boy does it ever! Yet it does it without feeling sticky. Did you
ever have surfy/beach hair? Well, thats kind of like what it feels like. That
harsh, dry feeling to the hair is what you will get with this. It strands the
hair out, individualising the hairs without drying hard or sticky. It is
different from anything you have used before. It is not like the old bodifiers.
Just spray it in on damp hair or dry hair and let it dry or use a dryer. Use it
to style the coat into a full framed head or just to lay down the coat or
separate the hairs and give definition and texture. It is water soluble and
therefore will not build up.
You can use your
Plush Puppy Sit N Stay
to piece out the coat still or use the
Ruffy Tuffy. The
Sit N Stay is
creamier, stickier and heavier. Dont forget to spray with
Plush Puppy Odour Muncher
and a light spray all over with the
Plush Puppy Shine & Comb.
Not too much. Just a light spray for low level shine.
I really love these outdoorsy
dogs. They bristle with attitude and vigour. They appear fearless, fiesty and
very no nonsense. One could be fooled into thinking their presentation is no
nonsense too. Wrong! There is just as much work goes into the preparation of the
hand stripping on a Terrier to shape the silhouette as there does in the eternal
blow drying and smoothing of an Afghan.
I know some of the older
exhibitors like to powder a harsh coat and use all sorts of things to do this
but that is another story and frankly, with the styling products of today, one
can achieve the desired outcome and do so cleanly and efficiently. Lets hear it
for some glam on these outdoor boys and girls. No-one ever said you cant be
titivated and no-nonsense at the same time. No-one ever said you cant look as
special as those hairdo breeds either. Maybe we need some Queer Eyes for the
Straight Guys for the dogs too?
CHERYL LE COURT
