Sparkles, conditioners, and stains. Oh my!

[tofu pup]

The White-on-White (or any of the blue whitening shampoos) is good stuff... our show dogs run the yard all week long before getting bathed Thursday night for the weekend, and the WoW really gets them white. The trick is that you have to follow the directions - scrub it really well into the legs with your fingertips, and leave it on for the full 15 minutes.

Talcum on his legs would be good, too. Don't bother with chalk; it's messy and tricky and if you aren't at a dog show, not worth it.

As to conditioner/creme rinse, I won a bottle of Tropiclean Kiwi-Coconut conditioner many, many years ago... we use it on the oldsters (makes them smell extra-yummy and I think makes them feel even more special when they get their "spa treatments"). It makes the coat feel softer, which isn't what you want for a dog show, but would be fine for home.

oh, and sparkles... I think the show dogs would be mortified!

 

[Caro]

I dont bother with normal conditioner anymore. It just adds another step in the long process of washing the dogs. But I do use the coat rescue sometimes on Deska's coat (that's an intensive conditioning treatment - leave in fro 3min then wash out), and I always use the sea breeze oil, just wet down their coat with it before finishing as it doesnt need to be washed out. I only use a small amount of oil on Tully as her coat is already soft, but Deska gets a bit more.

While they were adolescents and their coats not full length I did use conditioner. I found their coats got a little bit unmanageable as they were growing. Cheryl from Plush Puppy does not recommend conditioning the sheltie coat (unless it is in poor condition) as its mean to have the slightly ruffled look, not too soft.

Personally - I love the pixie dust. All the show people here use it and their shelties positively glow!

 

[romeosangiovese]

I use a conditioner coz I like soft fur and Romeo's coat ain't long at all!

I second Caro's Coat Rescue -every 2 or 3 weeks depending on the coat condition I will use it. It rocks! When I took Romeo to the beach and the sea water dried up there were massive tangles. I squirted Coat Rescue directly onto the tangles and worked them out easily. It doesn't flatten the coat too.

For the whites I use an evening primrose oil whitening shampoo. Think it's called Isle of Dogs? Romeo stains his bib when he eats his raw food and this takes it out nicely.

Never tried Pixie Dust but am tempted - a blinged dog!!