Should I bother to groom?

M

Mom2Melli

Forums Enthusiast
I know this is AR but....
Granted my dog is always combed & tangle free with usually a butt trim. When we compete in rally should I bother to have her groomed professionally? She has the wild ears and feet going. Would I be perceived as more professional by judges and dog folk there for all breed or sheltie specialty show if she were groomed properly? Bad enough she is chubby. Would a judge subconsciously score better someone dressed well and a dog groomed well even for rally? Would I be accepted better on the grounds? Seems like a stupid question but not really. There is presented nicely and presented well and on some level I think it might matter? There is a show groomer in our city recommended by sheltie person/dog trainer. Should I spring for it a week or two before competing? Or wash her at home like normal? She will hate professional grooming and it will be traumatic but if it is worth it I will. Advice?
 
First, I have to say I don't know anything about Rally protocol. So I can't answer on that level.

As a general rule and point of pride though, I always prefer to see dogs looking basically groomed. They don't have to be show groomed, but the ears and feet should be trimmed and not looking shaggy or with great, flyaway wisps. Clean and brushed, of course, but you already do that.

I think a well-groomed dog always presents a better picture to judges, competitors and spectators, and is taken more seriously. Why not do just a visit with your Sheltie groomer and have her show you how to trim ears, feet and hocks so you can do it at home and it won't be a trauma? That's really all you need other than a good bath and brush to make her look really spiffy. It's not hard (if I can do it, trust me...anyone can!) and then you'll be able to keep up with it yourself.
 
For Rally I've never seen a judge doc points because a dog/handler didn't look like the perfect picture of a Sheltie and I've competed at our local Sheltie Specialty show. A Rally or Obedience judge is supposed to judge you on the performance of the exercise NOT how pretty you look.

That said, I have to echo Ann's statement that it is a point of pride to present a nice looking dog. The dog doesn't have to be perfectly show groomed with all the product conformation folks use. I like seeing a nicely groomed Sheltie with the "kitten paw" feet, clean ears and nicely brushed out.

With all that, you do brush your dogs out and bathe them. You can learn how to trim them easily enough. That should be simple enough to do. The breeders here can point you toward books and shears (DO NOT use standard paper or sewing scissors) to help you.
 
I agree with the others while I am not sure about judging Rally it just gives off the impression of pride in your dog if they are neatly trimmed to both the judge and the spectators. I am not saying they have to be conformation coiffed. But feet and ears trim and tidy goes a long way!
 
They should be clean, brushed out and neatly trimmed. Show grooming level is not needed. They don't have to be but it presents a picture of respect and care for your dog.
 
I'm in agreement. Show grooming is not necessary, but for the sake of the dog, regular brush out, nail, feet, ears is a must! ANC of course the poop chute......
 
If i could learn Persians this can't be too bad. I would say ears and toe tufts would clean her up well. She has a short coat so not much to do there. Combing and bathing is no biggy for me. We handle nails and she is learning to trust us on that. I get a sense she was just butchered before by the way she reponds. It is far beyond tantrum it is fear and screaming to the point of almost a seizure. Thanks for the advice. It is the unspoken judgement I want to avoid but I don't want to traumatize her either.
 
Gosh -- picked up a vid on ears. Groomed pretty much like I did the old Persians so -- I cleaned up her feet and her ears. I

Count that one easier than I expected. Probably not perfect, but a lot tamer than before.
 
I always bathed and brushed out Colonel Underpants before a Rally match. His nails were trimmed and his feet neatly groomed. But that is the extent of it -- no show foo foo powder/chalk, no whisker trimming, no ear trimming. I just wanted him neat, clean and professional looking -- and I did it all myself.

Oh, and yes, he brought home the titles. :wink2:
 
I don't judge based on ears, but I do silently judge on coat condition and feet. If the dog has tufts falling out, or the coat is greasy and clumpy, and the feet look like rabbit feet with long toe nails, yeah, I'll remember that.

So yeah, trim toenails, knock some hair off the feet, and get the clumps out. :) No need to show groom.
 
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