Schnauzer Mini
GETTING THE MAX FROM A MINI SCHNAUZER
This little Mr Smarty Pants of the show ring always reminds me of a gentleman of
old with his top hat, tails and spats, just because he is always so bandbox
smart. Well, at least he sometimes does and frankly ought to be.
Again this is a breed
where the purists tend not to want to do anything with shaping of the coat and
others go gung-ho. If you follow the English standard, it doesnt say a word
about whether you can or cant shape the coat, whereas the AKC standard
specifically mentions stripping and trimming. I am of the belief that if the
rules dont mention it and dont say you cant, then it is fair enough to do it.
It does take talent to
shape a good Mini Schnauzer. However, it can be learned and once you have the
picture in your head of what is to be done, then all else follows readily. Basic
trimming and stripping skills can be mastered and all it then takes is patience
and a will to put the effort in.
Whatever you set out
to do with his shaping, remember that your standard calls for correct
conformation being of more importance than colour and beauty. So be mindful that
your shaping should enhance his conformation and dont just follow what someone
else does to their Schnauzer whose shape is likely different.
I like to bath this dog. I am aware that the
body of the coat ought to be harsh and wiry so the trick is not to soften the
coat but simply clean it and keep the coat from exhibiting buff or reddish
tones. Use the
Plush Puppy
Hydrobath and Bath Wash which is very low foaming and ideal for Terrier
type coats. I like to only spritz clean this coat so use at the ratio of about 6
squirts to the gallon/4litres. You will hardly see any foam and thus keep any
static or fluffiness to a minimum. For the legs and furnishings use the
Plush Puppy
Whitening Shampoo at just 5:1 i.e. 5 parts water to one part shampoo. No
conditioner please as we dont want to soften. Use instead for shine and good
health and vigour to the coat, the
Plush Puppy
Seabreeze Oil at 1 tbspn to 1 gal/4 litres of water straight after
bathing and soak well through the whole coat and leave in.
Dry the head with
Plush Puppy Blow
Dry Cream - 1 tbspn to 1 cup water all through the beard and eyebrows
too to keep the coat straight and flat. Once dried you can even use
straightening irons on the eyebrows if necessary and apply P.P. Sit N Stay
warmed through the hands and smeared onto the brows. This will help hold them in
place.
Dry the legs upwards and full using a cushion pin brush till almost dry and
apply Plush
Puppy Cover Up Cream with a damp piece of kitchen sponge and then pack
full of loose chalk and blow dry out again. This gives nice white, full legs.
Spray with hairspray to hold.
For the body when blow drying, apply
Plush Puppy Ruffy
Tuffy Coat Spray to keep the harshness to the coat and keep reapplying
as you dry till required texture is achieved.
Now for the shaping -for those who are
dedicated enough to do it and for those whose standard says you should. Hand
strip all over the main body including tail, shaping to a V at the neck. This V
extends up the ridge on the side of the neck to just immediately behind the
ears. This area is clipped with a #10 Oster blade. Head and ears are hand
stripped.
The head shape is achieved by leaving length on the eyebrows and scissoring to
shape from the outer corner of the eyes to a point reaching the tip of the nose
so one has created a triangle.
This gives the correct shape to the head. One then follows with the facial hair
being left long from the outer corner of the eye in a line extending down to
just the corner of the mouth and then to the couple of dark whiskers under the
chin. Length of the beard to suit the length of the individual dogs head.
Clip around his butt from inner leg to just inside the swirls on the butt and
down to the turn of stifle and then scissor blend into leg lengths. You now have
to create a flared column of the legs. Dont trim the legs evenly all the way
down as you are shaping for the perfect straight front view and you have an
opportunity to get this dog perfect with the trim. A flared column means less
off the bottom of the leg than the top which will often be trimmed a bit closer.
Just view your dog and what he needs. Trim his furnishings and his underneath to
suit shape.
Clip under his feet and around the edges of the front to create that nice cat
like tight foot as stipulated.
Dont forget to whiten his face with the
Plush Puppy Cover
Up Cream and finish it off with a dusting of loose chalk or chalk block
which is easier to apply to the face than the loose stuff.
I do dislike seeing reddening around the beards. A tspn of Apple Cider Vinegar
in his food each day seems to help prevent this and you can also use
Plush Puppy Deep
Cleansing Shampoo if already stained. Use undiluted and work into the
stained area and leave in for 10 minutes and rinse. Repeat as often as needed.
Keep your salt & pepper, black & silver or your solid black from sun fade with
the Plush
Puppy Sunshade. I use this 2 or 3 times during the week on coats.
So you now have a perfectly turned out Mini Schnauzer. All you need to do now is
spray him with the
Plush Puppy
Odour Muncher for that wonderful fresh smell and a light dusting of
Plush Puppy
Pixie Dust onto your cushion brush and worked lightly through his rear
area, topline and front.
Finish with a light spray of
Plush Puppy Shine
& Comb for that finished look. The Pixie Dust will give you a fabulous,
light shimmer and the Shine & Comb a healthy lustre.
Your Mini Schnauzer is a smart and stylish little person. His free, balanced
little gait striding out with good reach and drive combined with your input for
snappy grooming for him makes him a formidable opponent in any ring. He is one
good looking little dog.
CHERYL LECOURT
