Pekinese
Not Just of Ball of Fluff
Having lived with a Peke firsthand the quest was on to find the perfect way to
groom this adorable little breed.
The general consensus was that one did not
bath the Peke - rather one just talked and brushed with the occasional spray of
men's hair tonic (Pinaud) and water. Where this notice came from is anyone's
guess but I have since found it is not the case anymore.
There is no need to have a cloud of powder
greet you every time you lift or place the Peke. Nor is there any reason to have
matted wads of undercoat with a smooth overlay.
Whatever philosophy one subscribes to, one
should never ever take a dirty Peke to a show. Now just how often to wash
depends on the coat and of course if it is beginning to blow, then one would
tread likely.
The Peke has a double coat with a soft under
coat which does come out easily - so gently Bentley! Best to allow a week before
the show of the coat tends to softness as I an told by higher authority that
Peke coat textures vary, though a harsh outer coat is correct and more
desirable. Then a judicious cleanse on the nether regions before the show and if
necessary, bath again after the show. That's the routine of one of the best Peke
kennels in the U.S.
Bath very gently and just squish the diluted
shampoo (Plush
Puppy All Purpose Shampoo) through the coat or if more coat is needed (Plush
Puppy Body Building Shampoo). Don't rub! Then rinse and condition with
Plush
Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner broken down 10:1 and apply to skirts and
tail only. Dry gently and spray of needed with
Plush Puppy
Reviva Coat - a tablespoon full to
300mls warm water in a water spray to prevent tangling.
Now the grooming regime - train your Peke to
lay on its back. Now, judicious trimming, under pads, keep toe fringes neat not
chopped and boys get a trim around the willy.
Brush if you must with powder through I
never saw a skerrick of powder on top U.S. Pekes. Preferably spray lightly with
Plush
Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner and water (3 squirts to 500ml) or the
Revivacoat mixture. Brush with a soft pin cushions brush #1 All Systems upwards
towards the head - if matted use a Collie comb. Attention please to the
underarms and where legs join.
Turn over and do front. Work head to tail
with upward motion till completed. Then switch to a Mason & Pearson brush or use
a = bristle = nylon oval cushion brush (available from Plush Puppy). Delicately
work on tail, pants and ears.
Never poke or prod a Peke ear. Wipe gently
inside with metho on cotton wool and apply 5 drops Leo's Ear Cleaner and then
massage.
Now, the face. With warm damp washer, wipe
under eye and in wrinkle. Add Eye Brite drops 1 per eye if powder has been used
in the grooming. Now the tricky bit. Lift the fold of the wrinkle upwards and
open fold - use tiny Blunt end scissors and remove all unwanted hair in the
wrinkle. Any unwanted hair over nostrils use thinning shears to tidy - not a
blunt look, please.
Now dog on all fours and rebrush upwards and
outwards around the head. Use a small knitting needle and make a small part base
of the tail 2 inches up the back. Part coat. Spray with
Reviva Coat
or Silk
Protein Conditioner mixture and "throw" tail into the part. You are striving to
achieve a lion shape or Pear body so proceed to flare the tail to the head in a
fan shape over the body.
Now the controversial part. To trim or not
to trim. Is there a question? I saw trimmed skirts in the U.S. and they did look
good and the dogs were not tripping over absurdly long trailing wisps of skirt.
It's up to you.
Lastly, look at your dog. No apple heads please. Nice flat rectangle shapes,
thank you, with width at the sides.
Now spray with something nice -
like Plush
Puppy Odour Muncher (smells divine), lightly mist over the coat just
before going in the ring with the Revivacoat or Silk Protein mix. Exhibitors of
old would wear damp white gloves to keep the coat from static fly-away.
What a dear little breed and how
gorgeous and grand he can look too.
CHERYL LECOURT
