Grooming the poodle for a show is 100% proof that what you do during the week will determine what your Poodle will look like on the weekend at shows. The poodle is a product of care and a strict grooming regime.
Firstly I feel the most important part of looking after a poodle coat is the mid-week care. I would suggest that you bath, depending on colour as to your routine. For example whites, creams, silvers, blues and blacks I would use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo with Ginseng. This shampoo tones unwanted red tones from the coat thus making whites – whiter, creams – removing warm tones, silvers more silver and even in colour and the same with the blues and blacks. I recommend a mixture for mid week at 1 part shampoo: 10 parts water
For your reds, browns and apricots I would use Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo with Henna at a mixture for mid week at 1 part shampoo : 10 parts water. This shampoo will give you great shine and healthy vigour to the coat.
For your Blacks that need intensifying in depth of colour I would suggest Plush Puppy Black Opal Shampoo. This is the very latest in enhancing black coats and tones that brown/red overtone from the coat. The more you use it the better the coat looks. If a little bit of black is good, then a lot is even better – this is the blackest black in the business. I recommend applying the worst areas directly and massaging in – then mixing at 1 part shampoo: 1 part water (50/50) in a mixing bottle and work through the coat and leave for 10 mins before rinsing. This works best by repeating the process over a few weeks.
When the dog has been busy getting extra dirty and needing a clarifying shampoo use Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo with Seaweed and Green Tea. This deep clarifying shampoo cleans extremely well and great for that re start process. Use at 1-part shampoo to 5-parts water.
After shampooing, rinse clean and then apply as your final leave in rinse, a mixture of 1 dessertspoon Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil, 1 tablespoon of Plush Puppy Swishy Coat and 1 tablespoon of Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner. All this is to 4 L of warm water. The Seabreeze Oil will hydrate the coat and skin plus reduce matting; the Swishy Coat will reduce the amount of grooming midweek and also reduce matting and the conditioner will close the hair cuticle after the weekend’s punishment at the show from the Top Knot preparation.
At times you may have a dog with a damaged coat. This could be either from lack of care, skin problem or sun damage. For damaged coats, I would add to the final rinse, 1 tablespoon of Plush Puppy Coat Rescue. As the name suggests, this will rescue that damaged hair and help rebuild the coat. Has everything known to man that is good for a coat in this recipe and all naturally sourced.
Remember that due to the essential oils in Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil, bands breakdown quickly. I prefer to wrap and hence no band breaking.
Some coats are better suited to Plush Puppy Reviva Coat when banding. It all depends on the individual dog and coat. When banding add a golf ball sized amount to your hand and work through the coat, then band that area. This gives the coat needed hydration and reduces stress to the coat. A truly wonderful product. Can also be used on the front poms to reduce pee staining on boys.
For dogs going through that “oh so fun” coat change period, increase the amount of Seabreeze Oil and Swishy.
Now show prep. My truly favourite shampoo for all Poodles (especially if you have done your mid week shampooing homework) is first of all I always bath the face area. For this use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It is what the dog showing world has needed for way too long. Another one of the famous Plush Puppy products that with the latest of technology and the highest amounts of naturally sourced ingredients has developed a product that is a must! This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed for faces. It’s no tear formula with the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, soothe, adds moisture, aids healing and anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. Can be used in and around ears also with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows easy of rinsing yet complete cleaning. The eyes and expression of a poodle are extremely important and after been freshly clipped care must be taken. Apply a few pumps of the foam shampoo to the face and lather. I don’t rinse until after I have finished shampooing the dog to provide continued protection.
The staple shampoo is Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo. It gives you the profuse, dense coat that the breed standard requires. I would use at a 1 part shampoo: 5 parts water breakdown.
After rinsing, ask yourself a few simple questions
(1) Do I want more coat?
(2) What is the condition of the coat? (I.e. too dry and brittle)
(3) All is good?
Same as with the difference in shampoo for the different colours you can add then to the Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo. I.e. add Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening with Body Building.
For you whites you can use Plush Puppy Wonder Blok. Plush Puppy Wonder Blok this product is one of our proudest achievements in helping to maintain a white stain free coat. It’s not a bleach and contains no harmful chemicals. This product is designed to remove gently unwanted warm/red tones to the coat. Best used on a damp/wet coat. Gently rub into the areas requiring allow time (5-10 minutes) and rinse. For maximum effects repeat or allow a longer time for this amazing product to work. As with all products take care around eyes.
For more coat I would once 75% dry use Plush Puppy Volumising Spray lightly on the area and brush in and dry as normal. The area is normally the poms and tail.
For Dry and Brittle coats, I would use 1 teaspoon of Plush Puppy Blow Dry Cream to (4L or 1 gallon of water). If all is good, then dry as normal. Dry as normal. I always suggest using a Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush to start. This gets through the coat and has less drag on the hair. I always finish using a Plush Puppy Ultimate Slicker Brush and long toothed comb. Poodles must be dried 110%. The precision to which you dry your dog denotes the finish when scissoring. Hence time and care must be taken.
At this stage of the finishing process, one can also help to further improve the appearance of the coats. For instance, I suggest using Plush Puppy Puffy Dog + which is a firm hold styling mousse but is totally water soluble and doesn’t build up or get sticky in humidity. This is great for those poms that just don’t want to stand up. Same for those tails that lack that full and textured look. This can be applied directly to the area and worked into a coat that is 75% dry. Then finish drying as normal Poodles for shows must be 110% dried!
At the show the best grooming spray is Plush Puppy OMG. This is not called OMG for nothing – Oh My Goodness, it works!!! This is a concentrated grooming spray that can be made at any mixture strength or purchased as a 500ml spray Ready to Use. It can be used on knots at 1-part concentrate to 20 parts water.
The great thing is it allows you to brush out the top knot without damaging the coat. A light spray and use the Plush Puppy Ultimate Pure Bristle Brush. The bristle is much kinder on this delicate area. Remember lightly spray and lightly brush – repeat and repeat. Best results use a warm dryer as you brush. Don’t over wet the coat as drying.
For those the bath out top knots and neck hair. Once you have finished showing apply, a light spray of Plush Puppy TLC. A revolutionary innovative spray on ‘leave in’ or ‘rinse out’ coat conditioner specially formulated with a lower viscosity to be sprayed without compromising concentration or richness of ingredients. Plush Puppy TLC has the unique ability to dissolve hair spray and allow it to be much easily bathed out. A light spray over the area and leave.
The best hair spray is Plush Puppy HOLD. HOLD is a strong sculpting spray scientifically formulated for shaping all types of coats on Show Dogs. The quick drying formulation won’t become sticky and will not build-up. HOLD can be removed with ease by simply shampooing the coat. HOLD contains Pro Vitamin B5 to improve elasticity, moisture retention and flexibility in their coat hair. We recommend using and storing at normal room temperature for a perfect mist spray. Optimum spray distance is approximately 30cm (12 inches). Can cause a slight dulling effect on darker coats if overused or worked once dry.
For those that don’t or can’t use a traditional hairspray for topknots we have Plush Puppy Stuk Up. This is a non-aerosol texture/holding spray. Lightly spray to an area & keep reapplying to the coat/topknot until you have the shape you desire. Wonderful stuff that gives you hold where you need it without using a hair spray. Please note it does take slightly longer to dry when applying.
Now the show has ended and you are home so don’t forget to start again with your mid-week regime. The work at home determines the finish you get at the shows and with PP not only will you get the results you want but save valuable grooming time also.
This is a breed that effort reflects results. A grooming routine is key to achieve the coat and finish that we all desire. Plush Puppy has wonderful products that have proven results with top breeder, exhibitors and winners the world over.
Simon Briggs ~ Director of Grooming. Plush Puppy Australia.