The most often questions asked were how to get a flowing coat to sit - smooth and straight, from a vast number of breeds ranging from Yorkies and Maltese to Am Cockers, English Cockers, Springers, Setters, Beardies & Afghans and lots in between. It's always gratifying to be able to offer direct help and engage in problem solving. The people we gave advice to early in the show, got great results and passed on the info to others who then flocked to the Plush Puppy stand and ask

The never ending question of how do I get an amazing coat is the most common question we are constantly asked. For this the answer is easy, so easy that it seems to be forgotten my many. Bath and dry your dog weekly, not just for a show. The reason is that you need to hydrate and look after the coat in order for it to look its ultimate best. Your dog’s coat is the result of the love and care that you give it. Bathing and drying weekly allows the coat to be in its best conditi

Just what to do with those Terriers that are required to have a wiry harsh outercoat and a softer undercoat when it comes to ring preparation and presentation? A good many of the Terriers such as the Airedale, Aussie, Border, Cairn, Wire Foxie, Irish, Lakeland, Norfolk, Norwich, Scottie, Sealyham, Welsh and Westie standards require the outercoat to be hard or wiry and some even state to be presented in a natural way. However, none of the standards mentioned that the coats wer

Deciding just which breeds of dogs would feature on the Plush Puppy labels was probably the most dificult decision facing us when putting the range of Plush Puppy together. Of course as breeders of Siberians, a Siberian just had to be there and of course my sister has Pugs so one of those had to go on - but did it really matter? We have learned to be intrigued by all the wonderful breeds in the ring today and any good example of a breed is hard to go past. As hairdressers o

Balancing the need for a great show coat and the desire and sensibility of having a dog lead an active dog's life, is sometimes a dilemma for exhibitors. I have seen exhibitors keep dogs in crates or boxes for most of the show career sitting up like little Budgies in a cage, let out for supervised periods to do the necessary. Sure they have great coats and no staining on elbows etc but others like to let the dog romp and frankly, I for one, am forever dreaming up kennel suitu

It’s always interesting to talk to exhibitors and find out their problems and the things they avoid doing. Blow drying seems to be a big avoidance and if it is done it is usually minimal. It can and ought to be easy. The main negative for those with long flowing coated dogs is the tangles they get into. Some breeds have massive length on their coats and the question is how to tackle this with less fuss. Understand that the blow dryer has to blow in the direction that the

Owning a breed such as the Siberian which never is to be trimmed except for the feet and perhaps whiskers I had not delved into the intricacies of trimming or shaping a dog until required to assist others with breeds that necessitate such arts. Now, as a hairdresser with over 30 years experience, this was relatively easy to accomplish. Just show me the picture and I will do it for you. That’s what thousands of clients have requested over the years and it is second nature. A

The job of grooming for that all important event really starts before and between shows. Preparation, preparation and preparation are the 3 keys to successful coats. No point running around at the last minute in damage mode and getting the stress levels up. There's enough to do getting to a show without having to fix dramas. It must be so much easier living where climatic conditions are not as harsh though I believe no-one can afford to ignore condition and moisture in a coat

Most of the giant breeds shown here in Australia are from Group 6, the Utility Group, so I get to see most of them at some stage up close and personal. This is particularly so when I show at Erskine Park down in Sydney where you can't bring your vehicle right up to the ring and instead set up with brollies, tents etc. As a dog person I am always consumed by curiosity about other breeds. I cannot help but be awed by a good example of any breed. It would be nice to play Noah an

Whilst most of us enjoy the social aspects of showing, ultimately we go to a show to see how worthy our dog is of the various awards on offer. The competitive streak is within us all to some degree and reflects in how much work we are willing to put in to the preparation and exhibition of our dogs. I know that there are many things we need to do to get that dog to perfection - the 100 little things as I refer to them, that add up to the whole. The fine tuning and tweaking o