Grooming for Beginner Puppy competition

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blaiseshimmer

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Hi everyone - My puppy Kel is entered into the Beg Pup class in three weeks...wow...time does fly. He is quite happy terrifying me by blowing his puppy coat so all I see are LEGS and while he's already at 14+", he hasn't grown any taller...(sweating bullets here). He also seems to have a strip of soft black hair along his spine but that's where he first started blowing that puppy coat.

Honestly, he's just a mess. But so happy about it.

Because his favorite pass time is slurping the water bowl before mauling and getting mauled by his Shiloh best bud, Kel is usually filthy but he does get bathed once a week and I brush him out almost every day. Nails are trimmed, ears are still bouncy, but he doesn't rip out the braces anymore.

I understand that considering his age, (hopefully) his coat, or lack thereof, will not be a penalty at this time, but I was wondering just how much more do I need to do or am I doing too much. I started trimming his whiskers so he can get used to it, and his ruff is managing to poof up a little bit. His paws are trimmed nice as well, and while I can't get him to lie down for a nice session of line brushing, he doesn't wiggle too much when I comb and brush him out.

But I have a question about trimmings. His forelegs look bowlegged because he has a heavy amount of fur that makes him look not bowlegged, but like Hans and Frans pump-you-out. Should I trim the forelegs and his hocks just enough to 'straighten' the look? And should I trim around the ears or leave them in their baby-puppy-poofy stage? I'm not going to bother to chalk him since I have ZERO clue how to do this, though I will poof him with baby powder just to be sure he smells clean.

Am I overthinking this and just show up with at least a clean puppy (and remember to release the ears from glue and tape)?
 
It's good practice for you and for Kel to do some show grooming for the competition. The odds are your competition will be show groomed. I would not trim his front legs but do comb out his back hocks and trim them so they're even. Be careful not to take too much off...you want them to look full....so just even the line down the back of his hock.

Yes, I would also trim his ears. Get rid of the flyaway stuff behind his ears and tufts inside as well. Do not trim anything in front of the ears. You will need a pair of thinning shears and a pair of 5 inch straight shears for this. This video will help you get started:

Other than that, make sure he's clean and his nails and feet are trimmed. No hair between the paw pads! Use some moisturizing cream such as Wella in his ruff, and sprinkle in some baby powder. That will get you started!
 
Thanks! I already have this video^ downloaded onto my 'SHOW' folder on my computer, and have the grooming supplies. I taught myself (thanks to a scotty breeder who prepped a book similar to Ms. Ross') how to trim scotty ears, so I at least know the basics, but will need to tire out that little windstorm when I work on his ears.

The dog show is Allbreed, but I still want Kel to look his best. I have the Barb Ross book as well and the reason I asked about the forelegs is because he does look like he's doing a musclehead look-at-my-guns pose even though when he's soaking wet his legs are nice and straight. I really don't want to overtrim him at this point, but I will neaten up everything around his feet so he doesn't look like he's covered with tufts everywhere.

I've been trimming in between the toes for all three of my dogs for a while; it gets blisteringly hot here (south TX) and this is a way for them to cool down. And so Kel doesn't skid all on the tiles when he rushes throughout the house.

As for the Wella...do I add/dilute this into a spray bottle and use that as a spritzer when I brush and comb him out, or just for the ruff? Sorry for all the questions; his breeder is wonderful, but she can't show anymore and has a professional handler campaigning one of her dogs on the east coast, otherwise I would have picked her brain for all the secrets of having one's dog look pretty.
 
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You use the Wella/Queen Helene Cholesterol (look in the "black ladies' hair" section at the beauty store) both ways: diluted and straight.

Any time you add chalk or baby powder, you use it straight. Take a small amount on your fingers (small! you can always add more, but you can't take it away) and rub it between your hands. Then work it deep into the fur of the ruff - don't just stick it on the ends, get your fingers down to the skin. Ditto for the legs: get it in deep. Then brush it in (pin brush for the ruff, slicker brush backwards on the legs). Then add your chalk or powder - again, get it in deep! Wait a few minutes, then brush out the excess.

It takes some practice to know how much cholesterol and how much powder to add. Frankly, it depends a great deal on the dog, the coat, and the humidity of the environment. Too much cholesterol and you will have a gunky mess; too little, and nothing will stick. It is worthwhile to practice chalking/powdering at home (even if you aren't going to chalk him at this show). Again, make sure you brush out the excess - in other words, when you brush him, the powder/chalk should not be puffing out.

You can also use cholesterol diluted in a spray bottle, as a general conditioner while you brush, yes.
 
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