Grooming Regimen for "show" dog

[K9Queen]

Do any of you who show, have a regimen that you follow?
When you are not planning on and upcoming show:
How often during the week do you do a full bush out? How often do you do ears and feet? How often do you bathe?

When you are planning for an upcoming show:
Special products used? Day of, week of? When do you scissor feet, ears, whiskers? When do you bathe?

I've heard different things and I am curious as to what those of you who are showing do both in daily life with your dogs and just before the shows.
Thanks!
(ps, no mentor in shelties to ask!)

 

[tofu pup]

No mentor?! First things first... you need to get that fixed! Your mentor will be able to help you WAY more than any of us will. I see you live in MO - I know there's a big Sheltie community in that state.

I'm certainly not the know-all of show grooming, and hopefully someone else can chime in and correct the details I've omitted or gotten wrong, but here's the basic routine for the week leading up to the show:

Sunday-Wednesday: Dog runs around in the yard, getting filthy.
Thursday: Evaluate dog's cleanliness. Does the dog (a) need a full-body bath, or (b) just the white parts washed?
IF A:
Thursday: Brush dog out completely. Line-comb to the skin. Pull out every bit of thatch/dead hair. Bathe dog, with special attention to the white parts. Towel dog...and brush, and brush, and brush, until the dog is dry. Trim head, ears, feet.
Friday: Try to keep dog clean by keeping in a gravel run. Re-bathe whites if necessary.
IF B:
Thursday: Dog continues to run around in the yard, per the usual.
Friday: Brush dog out completely. Wash white parts. Towel dry. Trim head, ears, and feet.

Saturday is dog show day.
- Continue to try to keep the whites clean.
- Drive to the dog show.
- Wash whites in a bucket, if necessary. Wash whole front with spray-n-wash, if the dog puked all over him/herself. Towel dry.
- Brush the dog again with water.
- Do any additional trimming necessary (trimming is never really done... you'll see new things in new light, and the hair does grow).
- Prep for chalk: Cholesterol on the legs, light cholesterol on the ruff, an even lighter type of cholesterol on the face. Brush all "greased" parts to open the hair and work the product in.
- Chalk: Stiff brush, in against the hair on the legs. Use baby powder (probably) on the ruff, brush in. Pack white chalk into face and layer colored chalk on top. Finish with white block on any white facial markings.

(are you getting tired yet?)

- Brush the chalk out of legs, ruff, and face - but not too much out.
- Fret about the ruff. Is it standing up? Is it standing up enough? Add some more product. Add some product that the lady grooming down the row from you is using. Add some of that product the guy at Cherrybrook said works great.
Time to go to the ring: bring a pinbrush, greyhound comb, and a spraybottle of water (nothing else, just water).
- Mist your dog down lightly. Brush. Repeat until it becomes a neurotic, self-calming ritual. Your dog will look grand (but will probably think you're nuts).
- Enter the ring. Continue to mist and brush when the judge isn't looking.

Sunday (Another dog show! You're not tired yet, are you?)
- Repeat as for Saturday, but evaluate whether the dog needs a going-over with spray-n-wash first, to give you a clean slate.

NB: Any and all of this can and will vary with
the weather,
the dog,
the dog's age, sex, markings, coloration,
the judge's preference about product,
the judge's nationality, and
the lighting where the dog will be shown.

Oh, and if it's puppy, add in some time to take ears down Saturday morning and put them back in again Sunday afternoon.

Sunday evening: Go home. Turn the dog out in the yard. Repeat.

Now... there are so many nuances and details here. You need to figure out everything from what products to use to how much chalk is too much chalk to how to actually trim a dog's head (it's really an art!). It isn't really something that you can learn online... I had the benefit of going to many shows with my mom, working for several years assisting a Collie handler, and getting instruction from talented people who were kind enough to give my mom and I tips. It takes time, and it takes practice, and it takes hands-on help from mentors, but you'll get there.

 

[tofu pup]

All of the above assumes that the dog is "in the program", which means that s/he will probably get a full brush and trim each week, whether or not there's a show. Dogs who aren't being conditioned up for shows usually go a bit longer between baths and trims (they aren't bothered by having fuzzy ears).

 

[Justicemom]

.
Sunday-Wednesday: Dog runs around in the yard, getting filthy.

Jamie calls this his daily mud bathes this time of the year. This is when we are glad he is so black. Overall, we do what Megan outlines above.

I agree, try to find someone to mentor you in person. Rachel has a couple. I stand beside her and try to take it in when she is grooming at the shows but I still find it a daunting task. I can brush a mean dog though. Don't ask me to trim a head.

 

[Ann]

- Fret about the ruff. Is it standing up? Is it standing up enough? Add some more product. Add some product that the lady grooming down the row from you is using. Add some of that product the guy at Cherrybrook said works great.
Time to go to the ring: bring a pinbrush, greyhound comb, and a spraybottle of water (nothing else, just water).
- Mist your dog down lightly. Brush. Repeat until it becomes a neurotic, self-calming ritual. Your dog will look grand (but will probably think you're nuts).

OMG I LOLed when I read this...it's me! Megan's tutorial is spot on and so helpful. I learned everything I know from she and her mom (except for the neurotic part--that came naturally). Although I'm neurotic enough that dog always gets bathed a few days before the show whether it's needed or not (and then fret for days about her staying clean) and whites redone the night before if needed. But I'm only showing one little dog so I have time. If you're showing a bunch, it's a different story.

My best advice: Print out Megan's instructions and commit them to memory! I actually took notes when I started showing on her mom's grooming instructions and I carry a copy in my tack box. I review it at every show ... it's my bible!

And yes, a mentor is a must. I do hope you can find someone you can follow.

 

[Lightplum]

OMG I LOLed when I read this...it's me! Megan's tutorial is spot on and so helpful. I learned everything I know from she and her mom (except for the neurotic part--that came naturally). Although I'm neurotic enough that dog always gets bathed a few days before the show whether it's needed or not (and then fret for days about her staying clean) and whites redone the night before if needed. But I'm only showing one little dog so I have time. If you're showing a bunch, it's a different story.

My best advice: Print out Megan's instructions and commit them to memory! I actually took notes when I started showing on her mom's grooming instructions and I carry a copy in my tack box. I review it at every show ... it's my bible!

And yes, a mentor is a must. I do hope you can find someone you can follow.

I also LOL'd at megans post...Megan when are you coming up to show!!!!!! its been ages since ive showed with you!!! Grooming with you and your mom always makes my show days fun and educational!

I agree with the mentor...there are just some things like grooming that you can read 100 times and one day you will see someone do something and go OHHHHHHHH thats what that means! I was fortunate to spend the 06 national watching an extremely talented breeder/handler groom dogs, and I was fortunate enough to have them share their tips on grooming with me. I still in the back of my tack box have their instructions written down...just incase I ever forget what order to do things but seriously after awhile it becomes second nature and you can carry on a conversation and groom at the same time!! Thats when showing becomes enjoyable when you are not making yourself a neurotic mess about omg did I groom this right? Too much chalk? not enough...aggghhhh the hocks arent straight and even

try to give yourself some trial runs on show prep. Ive learned some dogs have to be washed atleast a week ahead of said show, otherwise they are too soft, some are soo coarse coated they can be washed the day before. If showing for only 2 days I will the night before show prep the dog, to give them the build up in the coat. If its a 3 or more day show I will not do the night before because by day 3 of showing their fur takes on its own form

Show grooming and prep is a complete art form not for the faint of heart..lol..I look back where I started and go ooohhh I could have done this differently trimmed this to look like this..etc Its an ongoing learning process that is forever evolving...each show you will pick up a new piece of information, its up to you to decide what works and what doesnt.

 

[BarbV]

I'm a hobby groomer only, not a show groomer, but I do know grooming 101. For sure you need a mentor.

There are books that can help you, but you actually have to see it done to really get a handle on it. If you don't have a mentor (ideally, this would be your breeder), then I have to wonder why? Does your breeder not show (if the breeder doesn't show, why not? ) Too far away? etc.

Contact your closest Sheltie organization for help. You really can't do this by book learning.

And if your breeder is unavailable to help, I have to ask: Is your pup truly show quality? Purebred does not mean show standard. I just have to throw this out there.

 

[tofu pup]

hehe, I'm glad you all got a kick out of my post... I wrote it right after coming home from a crazy day at my internship, so it was fun to crack jokes and think about the silly things we do to make our dogs presentable.

I also LOL'd at megans post...Megan when are you coming up to show!!!!!! its been ages since ive showed with you!!!

I'm pretty sure I'm doing Tri-State... I think Tri-State is somewhere in the Mom Contract.

Show grooming and prep is a complete art form not for the faint of heart..lol..I look back where I started and go ooohhh I could have done this differently trimmed this to look like this..etc Its an ongoing learning process that is forever evolving...each show you will pick up a new piece of information, its up to you to decide what works and what doesnt.

It's amazing how you pick it up, when you really start doing it. You get to where you can do three or four in a day - or three or four Collies! - and you feel rather accomplished when you have them all looking nicely turned-out.

 

[BarbV]

No mentor?! First things first... you need to get that fixed! Your mentor will be able to help you WAY more than any of us will. I see you live in MO - I know there's a big Sheltie community in that state.

I'm certainly not the know-all of show grooming, and hopefully someone else can chime in and correct the details I've omitted or gotten wrong, but here's the basic routine for the week leading up to the show:

Sunday-Wednesday: Dog runs around in the yard, getting filthy.
Thursday: Evaluate dog's cleanliness. Does the dog (a) need a full-body bath, or (b) just the white parts washed?
IF A:
Thursday: Brush dog out completely. Line-comb to the skin. Pull out every bit of thatch/dead hair. Bathe dog, with special attention to the white parts. Towel dog...and brush, and brush, and brush, until the dog is dry. Trim head, ears, feet.
Friday: Try to keep dog clean by keeping in a gravel run. Re-bathe whites if necessary.
IF B:
Thursday: Dog continues to run around in the yard, per the usual.
Friday: Brush dog out completely. Wash white parts. Towel dry. Trim head, ears, and feet.

Saturday is dog show day.
- Continue to try to keep the whites clean.
- Drive to the dog show.
- Wash whites in a bucket, if necessary. Wash whole front with spray-n-wash, if the dog puked all over him/herself. Towel dry.
- Brush the dog again with water.
- Do any additional trimming necessary (trimming is never really done... you'll see new things in new light, and the hair does grow).
- Prep for chalk: Cholesterol on the legs, light cholesterol on the ruff, an even lighter type of cholesterol on the face. Brush all "greased" parts to open the hair and work the product in.
- Chalk: Stiff brush, in against the hair on the legs. Use baby powder (probably) on the ruff, brush in. Pack white chalk into face and layer colored chalk on top. Finish with white block on any white facial markings.

(are you getting tired yet?)

- Brush the chalk out of legs, ruff, and face - but not too much out.
- Fret about the ruff. Is it standing up? Is it standing up enough? Add some more product. Add some product that the lady grooming down the row from you is using. Add some of that product the guy at Cherrybrook said works great.
Time to go to the ring: bring a pinbrush, greyhound comb, and a spraybottle of water (nothing else, just water).
- Mist your dog down lightly. Brush. Repeat until it becomes a neurotic, self-calming ritual. Your dog will look grand (but will probably think you're nuts).
- Enter the ring. Continue to mist and brush when the judge isn't looking.

Sunday (Another dog show! You're not tired yet, are you?)
- Repeat as for Saturday, but evaluate whether the dog needs a going-over with spray-n-wash first, to give you a clean slate.

NB: Any and all of this can and will vary with
the weather,
the dog,
the dog's age, sex, markings, coloration,
the judge's preference about product,
the judge's nationality, and
the lighting where the dog will be shown.

Oh, and if it's puppy, add in some time to take ears down Saturday morning and put them back in again Sunday afternoon.

Sunday evening: Go home. Turn the dog out in the yard. Repeat.

Now... there are so many nuances and details here. You need to figure out everything from what products to use to how much chalk is too much chalk to how to actually trim a dog's head (it's really an art!). It isn't really something that you can learn online... I had the benefit of going to many shows with my mom, working for several years assisting a Collie handler, and getting instruction from talented people who were kind enough to give my mom and I tips. It takes time, and it takes practice, and it takes hands-on help from mentors, but you'll get there.

And this is why I will probably NEVER have show dogs! I'm exhausted just reading your post!

 

[Gina]

Tofu pup's list is pretty much your standard routine, give or take, but do keep in mind that every dog is different. I can pretty much bathe my dog whenever I want before he actually shows, but I like to do it 3 days to a week before the show. I feel that when he is too freshly bathed for the show, the product doesn't seem to hold as well. And during the long circuits when you HAVE to bathe him because his hair feels gross, I'll just bathe him and then put some product in him so that it sits overnight. Not too much though, just a bit.

As everyone else mentioned, you NEED a mentor! Even if in the end you don't follow exactly everything they taught you, you can take the bits you do like and do it your own way. Whatever works for you!

I could sit here and write my own list of things that I do, but I think I'll pass on writing a novel, lol.