Registered with the Kennel Club London

Registered with the Kennel Club London

These notes are provided as an aid, particularly for novice groomers and are based upon the experiences of the UK show scene in respect of show grooming and ring presentation. Readers should be aware that continental variations might apply, particularly with regard to ring presentation and grooming preparations. There are many ways of grooming the OES and clearly everyone adopts their own style as they gain experience over the years. I have indeed been fortunate to learn from several fellow exhibitors over my 19 years of experience with the breed, which I now hope to share with you through the following hints/tips.

For convenience I have divided the notes in to 4 main sections covering:-

1) Puppy grooming and hygiene tips

2) Pet grooming

3) Show grooming

4) Ring presentation

Hopefully by dividing the notes in this way you will be able to extract the relevant section to suit your needs. Diagrams have been included to help illustrate the techniques described, and I am grateful to Bertie Pennie for drawing them.

GENERAL COMMENTS:

Dogs should be taught from an early age to lie down whilst being groomed, both for their own comfort and that of the groomer. In preference a grooming table should be used, although any table top with a non-slip surface or cover would suffice. Alternatively, if this is neither practical nor convenient the dog should be taught to lie on a blanket on the floor whilst being groomed. Grooming sessions are better if they are shorter and perhaps more frequent rather than too prolonged, in order to prevent frustrations and rising tempers if a lot of grooming is required.

PUPPY GROOMING AND HYGIENE TIPS:

Perhaps rather obviously, in the early stages of puppy development it is particularly important to ensure that the coat is kept clean and free from knots. Additionally, it is helpful to accustomize the puppy to being washed and dried so that it is part of their normal routine.

From personal experience, I have found that regular combing of the puppy’s coat has had a twofold benefit. First and foremost, this regular combing process helps the puppy to become used to a slightly heavier grooming session than just brushing, whilst ensuring that the coat is completely “knot free” to the skin. The second benefit is that the regular combing process helps to remove the older puppy coat and stimulate the growth of the coat generally, as well as helping the change towards the next stage of coat change which is commonly recognised as the “Junior” coat. Some years ago, I focused more upon the dark coat for this combing process as that is where the change is seen, but again on a personal basis, I have found that by “total” combing of both the dark and white coats, a balance of coat growth is achieved across the whole of the puppy’s coat.

During these early familiarization processes, the puppy should also start to experience some of the regular hygiene processes that will continue throughout their lives. The coat should be carefully trimmed around the anus and genital areas, taking great care not to cut the puppy (rounded end scissors are best, not sharp pointed ones!). The trimming around the anus should not be excessive and should be proportionate to their size, with an adult dog requiring approximately one inch (25cm) of trimming around the anus. The hair between the pads should be carefully checked and combed to ensure that there are no knots between the pads and the hair either trimmed flush with the pads, or trimmed out completely depending upon personal preference. Whilst working on the pads, the nails should be checked and when necessary cut and filed to an appropriate length. The attention to the nails is particularly important during the puppy period due to the limited exercise and the sharpness of the young claws. Next, you can check the ears to ensure that they are clean, carefully wiping the flap with a moist tissue but never inserting anything in to the ear canal. In the event of excessive build up in the ears, or a strong smell developing, you should consult veterinary advice. Finally with regard to the ears, as the fine brown hairs begin to develop in and around the ear canal, you should begin to pluck them, taking great care not to pluck too much (only a few hairs) at a time until the puppy becomes used to the procedure. A final aspect of hygiene that should not be overlooked is that of the teeth, which should be regularly cleaned to avoid the development and build up of tartar.

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