by Lisa Correia, Certified Master Groomer
With all our forced downtime, there are things that we can
do now, in anticipation of dog shows resuming, to make our dogs’ coats ring
ready. This blog will be the first in a
series of getting and keeping your dogs ring ready.
Coat maintenance starts with a good weekly bath. Now is the perfect time to get the coat
healthy and growing. Even terriers that
require harsh coats benefit from moisturizing shampoo and deep conditioning to
restore the hair after all of the harsh chalking done to it. The key lies in
choosing the right shampoo and conditioner for your coat-growing goals. To determine the correct combination, assess
your dog’s coat. Is it fly-away and
dull? Is it frizzy with breakage? Is it
shiny but lacking in length and fullness? Does it have length but no
brilliance? Here is how to solve these
issues.
Coats that are fly-away and dull need some light
moisturizing. Generally, this is due
to an open cuticle. Moisturizing shampoos with their corresponding conditioners should do the trick. These products work by adding moisture and
sealing the cuticle, locking it in and adding brilliance.
Coats that appear frizzy and have breakage need to be
handled with care. These coats will
benefit the greatest from deep moisture shampoos, conditioners, and masks. Look for products that mention the words
“deep,” “intensive,” and “rich.” These
products add moisture under and around the cuticle, protecting it from daily
stresses and enriching the coat for a more extended period than their simple
moisturizing cousins. Following the
instructions on the label is imperative to reap the most benefits from these
products.
Coats that are shiny but lack length and volume can benefit
significantly from leave-in conditioners.
Conditioners with keratin, proteins, and argan oil can add resilience to
the coat and prevent breakage. Dehydrated coats snap easily when stressed.
Hydrated coats bend with stress, making them resistant to damage. Conditioners with keratin will add moisture
to all coat types. Argan oil products
add weight to drop coats. If you are
looking to add volume to a soft coat, look for leave-in products with proteins.
Moisture is excellent for building and growing all coat
types. Know that one product does not have to be the only one that you ever use
on your dog. Your goal is to get your
coat to optimal condition. Once that is
achieved, back off of heavily moisturizing products and maintain with an
excellent ph-balanced shampoo and conditioner combination created for your
dog’s particular coat type. A good
shampoo and conditioner combination will not dry out or damage the coat. The
right combination adds brilliance and life. Weekly bathing will get your dog’s
coat ring ready and growing beautifully.
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