The smiling happy face of the Samoyed is one that lights up the ring as someone said “with the face and heart of the spirit of Xmas the whole year through”. His traditions as the companion, shepherd and sled dog to the nomadic Samoyedic people gave him the unique traits of the happy endearing personality these people possess too. He is a double coated breed, his longer guard hair stands straight out from the body with the undercoat soft and abundant like thick close wool. His colour ranges from white to white and biscuit and cream and should be free from curl and never droop. Bitches have a softer texture but all coats must be weather resistant and the standard calls for ‘well groomed’.
This is a very pretty and endearing breed, the quest to maintain that coat in top show condition at all times is a challenge. Double coated breeds shed coat and when they do it is a snow storm. Lessening the aftermath of the ‘blizzard’ and the frequency is possible, if one adheres to a rigorous routine.
The hard work for this coat starts well before the show – in fact it is a non-stop job. Double coats are quite easy to maintain as long as you do it regularly. It has to be part of disciplined routine. The major thing for keeping and extending a double coat is to bath, oil and blow dry – every week, and in fact when needed, twice a week.
So the routine has to be, bath in the appropriate shampoo for the situation e.g. Plush Puppy Whitening Shampoo for toning the unwanted warm tones, Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo to boost the body in a coat when there isn’t enough coat OR mix both together for the tone and extra body. Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo is excellent for a deep clean.
Use all shampoos diluted at the ratio of at least 5:1 i.e. 5 parts water to 1 part shampoo and up to 10:1. The shampoos are all concentrated and designed to work best and easiest diluted.
For the face area I recommend Plush Puppy Let’s Face It, a unique face shampoo the dog showing world has needed for a long time. Let’s Face It is a hypoallergenic, sulfate-free, low foaming, no-fragrance, no-tear shampoo designed specifically for faces. Containing high-quality Blue Cypress extracts, Panthenol and Pro Vitamin B it will clean, sooth, add moisture, aid healing and offer anti-inflammatory benefits. Apply a small golf ball sized amount directly to the face and eye area will allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. Safe to use in and around ears. Its low foaming design allows easy rinsing yet complete cleaning.
For those coats that require complete conditioning or conditioning in select areas use Plush Puppy TLC Leave-in or Rinse-out Coat Conditioner, an easy to use spray-on conditioner. A highly concentrated formula just without added thickener. Simply spray on and if required rinse out. Can be applied and left in for dry coats. A truly remarkable product.
If you have to deal with bad elbow, hock or pee stains etc. use Plush Puppy Wonder Blok which will help to maintain a white stain-free coat – it’s not a bleach and contains no harmful chemicals. Containing naturally sourced vegetable surfactants and glycerine this product is designed to gently remove unwanted warm/red tones on the coat. Best used on a damp/wet coat, gently rub into effected areas, allow time (5-10 minutes) and rinse. For maximum effects repeat or allow a longer time for the product to work. As with all products take care around eyes. For those deep and stubborn stains we suggest dampen the area, apply Wonder-Blok and leave-in the day prior to show bath – this works amazing!
The Samoyed coat should stand straight out from the body and not fall flat, use Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil to hydrate and protect the coat by diluting at 1 tsp. to 1 bucket (4lt/1gal) water. Saturate the coat through to the skin by applying with a large car sponge and leave the mix in the coat – do not rinse-out. Force dry against the growth of the coat from the bum to the head, pushing the coat forwards using the nozzle of a cool force dryer to dry right through to the roots. It takes time to dry well but it must be 110% dry if anything. For extra body and oomph to the coat for show bath, add 1 tbsp. Plush Puppy Volumising Cream to the bucket of oil mix before sponging through the coat. Alternatively you can use Plush Puppy Volumising Spray, a ‘Ready to Use’ formulation for quicker, easier and fuller coat results. Perfect either before blow-drying or used to fluff-up the coat at the show. A light even spray, brush in until dry or use a dryer. Produced for easy use and scientifically balanced for all coat types. This is a hair thickener to add volume – not a hair stiffener, therefore it is not easily detectable and leaves the coat with a naturally fuller look and feel.
Apply Plush Puppy Puffy Dog+ to the legs and ruff if these are a bit coat challenged. Puffy Dog + gives a lot of lift but you will feel this slightly in the coat. Perfect for those really out of coat situations.
By using the Seabreeze Oil you will get a beautiful silvery sheen to the tips of the coat as it will have all the healthy vigour that comes from the Evening Primrose and Calendula Oils. These are the very best quality extracts that money can buy, nothing works as well to give wonderful sheen and condition to the skin and coat. You won’t get dry flipped up ends that tend to curl if the coat is dry and brittle. It does take regular use and application and blow-drying out religiously every week will keep most of the coats ‘rolling’, resulting in just a fluff out rather than the huge coat dumps that one generally gets. If you get the loose coat out constantly, the new coat will come back in quicker and you don’t end up with felted messes and having to overwork those wrists with unnecessary brushing.
This is your basis for this double coat. Stick to the basic routine and do it well.
Re-capping: Shampoo, Seabreeze Oil and Blow-dry. Show day: Shampoo, Seabreeze Oil, Volumising Cream and Blow-dry, it’s that simple!
If in good coat, then use Plush Puppy OMG a revolutionary grooming spray that lives up to its name. A light spray of OMG and brushing in allows this product to refresh the coat leaving it feeling wonderful. Using OMG can be a one-off at shows or during the drying process after bathing. An amazing product for disentangling and moisturising during regular brushing also. OMG never builds up and never goes stringy. A true necessity for the tool kit.
Brush against the growth of the coat with a Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush for maximum lift and to fluff-up the ruff. Minimise stained areas with Plush Puppy Cover Up Cream, a great cover-up on short coated areas such as face, feet, inside ears or elbows. Apply to a barely damp sponge and dab lightly, layer upon layer, until desired coverage is achieved. Don’t apply in a big dollop – it is like white makeup for dogs, gradually apply light layers.. Then apply a dusting of Plush Puppy Fairy Frost Regular, a super white powder with superior clinging ability that won’t clump in wet conditions. Allow to dry and then brush.
Plush Puppy Fast Blow Dry Spray combines the latest active ingredients together to drastically reduce drying time and protect the coat while adding moisture and condition. FAST is probably the most technically advanced formula in the Plush Puppy range.
Use Plush Puppy Powder Puff Regular for quick-dry cleaning in between shows, over a long weekend or to clean up spills and messes. This is non-toxic, naturally sourced and is not talc. Plush Puppy Wonder Wash is another wet no-rinse alternative for quick cleaning, an easy spray-on that you simply rub through then towel and brush or blow dry.
Now, SHOW TIME! Your wonderful working dog with his alert dignity should stride around the ring with reach and drive, purpose and grace, looking a million bucks! His loyalty, independence and intelligence are all the traits you know him for but his ring silhouette is what the judge will see in the short time he has to make decisions. Adhering to good routines of grooming will ensure your beautiful breed fits the standard’s requirements for coat and texture while giving you the opportunity to fill that required silhouette.
Simon Briggs – Director of Grooming, Plush Puppy Australia