| Subject: |
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Re: Grooming tips |
| Name: |
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Gail S. Dash |
| Date Posted: |
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Jun 8, 06 - 2:35 PM |
| Email: |
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kuvasz@pacbell.net |
| Website: |
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http://casablancakuvasz.com |
| Message: |
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I prefer my dogs, even the show dogs, to look as natural as possible, so I keep grooming to a minimum. Anything you do to the coat with tools and products is going to break down the natural oils and textures, so keep that in mind.
In the show ring you will see big poofy coats that are trimmed like topiaries! The wavy coat is nowhere to be seen and the wiry/crispy protective top coat is ruined, made soft by all the products or just trimmed so close to the body it can't possibly do its job. How I wish judges would award the natural wavy coats instead! After all this is Canis familiarus undulans hungaricus, the "Hungarian wavy-coated dog."
First decide your goal... clean healthy natural coat or over blown show coat. I'll assume you just want your dog to have a clean, healthy, natural coat. You don't need to bathe your dog at all. As far a brushing, my opinion is less is more. In fact, don't brush...rake.
Try and find a rake with long, rounded, widely spaced teeth. The perfect one, the "Oliver Slant Tooth Mat & Tangle Comb" doesn't exist anymore. Here's photos of the one I've had for almost 20 years:
http://hbalaw.com/casablanca/images/P9290006.JPG
http://hbalaw.com/casablanca/images/P9290012.JPG
BTW, if you know anyone who would reproduce it, I have detailed photos of the parts and the patent is on-line. I haven't be able to locate the inventor/manufacturer George Oliver.
Don't use a bristle brush. Don't use a slicker brush. A pin brush with round or plastic coated tips is OK. A wide tooth comb is OK. Your goal should be just to get any debris and tangles out of the coat.
If there are mats behind the ears or inner thighs, it might be kinder to the dog to cut them out then brush or comb them out. If the mat is large and close to the skin, be VERY careful with the scissors because you might not be able to see where the hair starts and skins stops. Best solution is to check for mats every day so they don't get big enough to have to cut out.
I trim "eye brows" so the hairs don't curl into the eyes. Some people don't. Keep nails as short as possible. I like using a dremel to grind the nails. It takes some time to get the dog used to the noise, but they tolerate it better than nail clippers. Here is a way too detailed explanation, but worth reading anyway:
http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merensjp/doberdawn/dremel/dremel.html
If you can't take the tufts of hair that seem to spring up from nowhere on the dog's back behind the shoulders and on top of the butt, use a thinning shears to even it out rather than just chopping it off with a scissors.
Check between toes and in the pads for pebbles, twigs, and tangles. You can usually pull this stuff out with your fingers, but cut it out if needed.
Clean the ears, kiss your dog, and you're good for another week! |
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