Hi all I have a show tomorrow both my girls were shown last week so I haven't bathed them since, however, my girl slipped her lead whilst out on a walk today and ran to the nearest cow pat and rolled, and rolled......  If I bath her now she will go fluffy before tomorrow, do I take a chance and bath her or do I leave her to dry and then brush everything off, perhaps use some dry shampoo later on?  Any suggestions gratefuly received.

JanW

No  please bath her, you'll lose your money if she goes int eh ring like that.  Take your chances with the fluff.  Have you got anything to hand to counteract the fluff, doggy frizzease maybe or special shampoo (doggy or otherwise).

I bet she enjoyed her new perfume, ooh the joys of owning a dog.

Good luck.

p.s  I absolutely love this breed, have one here so know exactly how that happened.lol.  It used to be a weekly occurance, daily if didn't see her. Now I've seen the breed, use a weakened conditioner (human will do and preferable a detangle one) make sure you rinse out really well.

Fortunatley in the UK you would get away with leaving it to dry and giving a good brush, then go over with a damp cloth, after all they are a working breed.

Doesn't excuse it going in the ring dirty.  Its a gundog breed and in the show ring is not working as such.  Don't think the judge would like to feel over where poop has been removed then the next person exhibit is touched.

If on field/water trials then yes but the show ring is always clean.

Thank you Sunshine, as I typed it I already knew what had to be done, I have some dog shampoo but the weakened conditioner is a good tip I will get to it!

Yes she loved it and didn't just roll she was doing somersaults, if I wasn't so angry at the time I think I would have laughed she was really enjoying it.  As you say it's part of the breed make up, her mother much prefers to be a dirty, muddy brown colour than a pale gold!

I wouldn't dream of taking her into the ring dirty and spelling like that not fair on the judge but thought I might get away with a dry shampoo, oh well!

Thanks again.

Jan

That's ok.  Every day i used to go on the park and come off covered head to toe in mud.  i always seemed to be the only one like it and my girl had gained a reputationj with the other dog walkers (we were well known).  I couldn't keep her out of water or mud.  Like , rolling right in it.

Good luck.

Can you do a spot-wash on the mucky bit instead of a full bath?

After having a good look at her a spot-wash would be a full bath!!! 

It's everywhere and very fresh and staining her coat green so I think a bath asap. 

And I was just thinking I was organised for this show!

Jan

Sunshine, a 'good' brush and wipe with a damp cloth should take off any excess dirt. if smelly then baby wipes work a treat.  I woul never take a dirty dog into the ring, just a well groomed one. Even when working my dogs I like to have them well turned out, any dogs that I have who dont work or are not being shown still get the same grooming, and tiding up.

Sorry tadog, never implied you would.  But think poop needs a good clean.  would be nice to get away with it but 13 years of that breed and poop says we won't lol.

Once you have bathed her, rub a drop or two of olive oil on your palms and then go over her coat.  This will replace the oils she has lost without softening the coat and tame any fluffyness.  You can add a lttle lavender if you want her to smell nice :)

How did you get on at your show and the coat fluffies.

I like the idea of the olive oil.

Hi all, I gave Megan a bath and put on a little conditioner and when dried she wasn't too bad, because she is a well built girl I didn't want the coat to go fluffy as it would make her look too big.  Anyway the next morning she looked ok so we went off to the show along with her mum who had also had a little roll but had the sense not to come back until she'd been in the river!!  Megan's brother, Tindel also came along with us.  It was a lovely show with the rings perched on the edge of a huge lake (very nice if you don't have water loving dogs).  Tindel won his class Jeune (young) male, Ellie Megan's mum won her class too, Open female, and Megan came 2nd in Jeune all received an "Excellent" classification with Ellie getting her first CACS (best bitch), Tindel won best Jeune in breed. The judge said Megan had a great coat with excellent texture and good colour.  Good job I got rid of that green!!
Many thanks to you all for your help and some really good ideas for the next time - and yes I'm sure it'll happen again.

Thanks again
Jan

> It was a lovely show with the rings perched on the edge of a huge lake (very nice if you don't have water loving dogs).

Yes i know that one, lol.

Well done on your wins and so pleased your girls coat worked out ok.