Plush Puppy TN Grooming Products

The Siberian Husky

The recent Siberian Husky of America Nationals in Sth Carolina, brought many questions and as it has been about 3 yrs since I last did an article on the breed, it's perhaps timely that I update the procedure to include new ideas.
So many exhibitors are now putting in the hard yard and the standard of presentation has been kicked up a notch or three. The old days of a quick hose over the dog and a drip dry grooming technique, has long gone.
Grooming the Siberian is ever a challenge with the seasonal shedding of their coats. The coats always appear to be either coming or going and that brief period of the perfect coat is a blessing. So, the coat has to be looked at in each of it's stages and handled in a different manner.
Easiest stage of all is the "just right coat". At this point we look for good health and vigour to the coat with a degree of shine plus I like to bath once a week and blow dry thoroughly. This keeps the coat rolling and rids the coat of any dead hair. I also get to part the coat to the skin with the strong cattle/turbo dryer and check for any skin conditions or fleas/ticks - heaven forbid!
I personally use a hydrobath - this is a surge hose bath that recirculates the water from a tank/reservoir, getting right into the double coat with quite a good deal of force. This appears to be an uniquely Australian machine and does come in double tank variations. I bypass the tank with dual taps for hot and cold water directly into the input hose and simply empty and refill the one tank. I just prefer it - the single tank variety has a larger tank which I find I need for a larger breed.
Of course any system that works for you is a good one. This just happens to be a good one for me and the fibreglass unit has high walls with a removable door for access. I stay drier and the dog stays in! It's also better on my back. However any bath unit will work too.
I start with a squirt of Plush Puppy Hydrobath & Bath Wash into the wash water to negate any static on the coat and lightly spritz clean the main body of the coat. If I am bathing weekly, then the coat doesn't need a heavy duty clean. I also don't like dehydrating the coat more than is necessary. Texture is important and I endeavour to maintain it. The Hydrobath Wash is a light bathing alternative but the Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo can be used instead for extra shine - again just a light squirt to the water. Roughly ½ tspn to a gallon just to get the cleansing action happening.
Then mix the shampoo 10:1 i.e. 10 parts water to one part shampoo in a jug or squeezy bottle and apply to the coat where needed. I rarely need shampoo on the main body of the coat with the above technique.
For the whites, I use the Plush Puppy Whitening Shampoo at around 3:1 for that pearly, white finish. This will not lighten or bleach but instead tones with optical brighteners. Should a more creamy white be desired, then use the Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo which does have a mild clarifying action.
I don't use a conditioner. Conditioners flatten and soften and I like to see a fuller look to the coat. I do need to hydrate the coat and maintain that texture and shine and use instead the Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil at 1 tbspn to one gal/4 litres water. After shampooing and squeezing the excess moisture from the coat, thoroughly saturate with the oil mixture and leave in - do not rinse out. This is wonderful on the coat and skin giving fabulous shine and texture to the coat without being greasy. I show the dogs with this in their coats.
For out of coat situations use the Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo at 5:1 for extra assistance and for a dry old coat, use the Plush Puppy Conditioning Shampoo with Evening Primrose at the same ratio. If the coat is burnt, faded or has rusty tones, use the Plush Puppy Whitening Shampoo at 3:1 to tone and kill the unwanted warm tones. Use the Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil as instructed above.
Next step is to blow dry. I mix 1tbpsn Plush Puppy Volumising Cream to 1 cup/250 mls approx of water and apply thoroughly to the coat. This gives the illusion of 3 hairs looking like 3,000! I used to just apply this when the coat had shed and we needed to make it to the show with some coat to look presentable. However, we liked the effect so much, we use it all the time. You won't feel this in the coat and it does give extra volume.
New on the scene in the next few weeks, is the Plush Puppy Puffy Dog - a strong hold mousse that does have a lift effect if you want that extra outline to the dog, especially around the ruff area. You can use this on top of the Volumising Cream for more coat and more lift. Great for most coats where extra lift is needed.
If the coat is overly dry and looking too puffy, use the Plush Puppy Blow Dry Cream 1 tbspn to 1 cup water and apply thoroughly. This will instantly flatten and soften those dry, brittle areas, especially on the toplines that tend to frazzle with flipped ends when older.
Use the Plush Puppy Pin Brush to blow dry. I avoid using a slicker as I find they rip the coats to bits when wet and I like the effect of getting right to the skin with the pin brush when the coat is dry. I then get into the coat and line comb with a metal Poodle comb. I hate anything that just fluffs over the top of the coat. Blow dry with the brush and hands pushing the coat forwards towards the head for maximum lift. It will settle down over night and follow the outline of the dog as required.
Show day - use the Plush Puppy Cover Up Cream - a small amount dabbed lightly onto the legs, face, inside ears, elbows etc with a barely damp sponge. Dab lightly and allow to dry and then reapply in layers hitting it with a bit of loose chalk if the weather is damp. This will dry it quicker - just brush or blow out the chalk afterwards.
Brush up the main body of the coat either with an extra mix of Volumising Cream for more coat, or Plush Puppy Revivacoat mixed at 1 golfball amount to 1 cup water for more moisture to the coat. This is an excellent non greasy moisturiser and can be applied either direct or diluted. I prefer diluting it for more even distribution to the coat.
Snip off the shaggy hair around the underneath of the feet and trim whiskers if you wish - I don't. A good spray of Plush Puppy Odour Muncher for that extra attack on the judge's senses and a dash of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust sprinkled judiciously onto the pants and topline for that hint of a shimmer and finish with a light spray of Plush Puppy Shine & Comb for a final bit of shine and glamour.
Now it's up to the handler and judge on the day. Your dog looks good, he hopefully knows what is expected of him and you have attended to all the 100 little things that make a winning dog. It's hard work to groom a dog to this level each and every week. You can't shortcut it and have the dog look his best - ask the Standard Poodle people or the Afghan exhibitors! A Siberian Husky can and should look beautiful. I don't recollect reading anywhere that I am to show an ugly dog. I know he is not a hairdo dog but he is a regal and noble breed who can look as good as any of them. His grace and elegance and hard working attitude with a glamorous presentation makes him a breed that gets a lot of notice - for all the right reasons.

CHERYL LECOURT

Plush Puppy TN - 15424 Hotchkiss Valley Road, Loudon TN 37774

Phone: 865-988-9889 Fax: 865 988 5665