please can anyone tell me what chalk powder is used for.

It can be used as a dry cleaning powder although it is often used to make white coats look whiter, predominantly in the terrier breeds, but this is against KC regulations.

Jesse

To make whiter bits whiter & make the coat look more than it is. If chalk is used, no trace of it must remain in the coat when showing

mmmmmm i find this very interesting as why use chalk to make the white bits whiter when you have to remove it for showing - me personally don't need my dogs white bits to look  whiter when i'm taking them thro the woods in the mud!!!!!!!!! bearing in mind while walking around the boxer exhibitors at crufts i was almost choked by the chalk in the air and on the dogs legs, how on earth do they remove all trace of it when they are applying it just before going in the ring!!!!????????

Chalk is a dry cleaning powder as is talc, when we were kids we used it between shampoos, as chalk was not on ration.

I've heard of a Boxer that has a half mask but goes in the ring with a completely flashy face!!

Jesse

Chalk powder is also used as an aid when hand stripping a dog.  To stop the fingers slipping on a greasy coat.

The purpose of chalk powder is to really p*** off the people who are set up next to you at shows...as you cover all of their stuff with the white powder.  I have this happen all the time, and its very annoying.  Why can't dogs be chalked outside when at shows, well away from other people's dogs and equipment?

If you think the Boxers were bad you should visit the bull terriers, I saw a whole tub used on just one dog last summer - and brushed out????  not on your nelly!  it was walked straight into the ring.  I also saw clown paint put all down a bull terriers face to hide the fact he had no hair on it can't understand how the judge didn't notice :rolleyes:

Monygalll I've often wondered how it would stand if the dog was tested and found to be chalked even tho it was the dog next to it was the one with the chalk tub (don't know if that makes sense??)

Why do you chalk Boxers?

Its done to make the white, particularly on the face, look really white. They also use eyeliner to even out the black markings round the eyes or on wrong coloured noses etc!!

Jesse

Jackie, Boxers have always been chalked on there feet mainly, For some reason it is prone to go pinky so chalk will make it whiter.  Also on the chest and chin where all the drool goes it turns a funny colour so Chalk on their aswell.  Must admit I always used to have talc handy but that was to dry the mud and brush it out, now I use a towl and brisle brush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rox

It seems from a letter in a breed publication in the USA t6hat our breed (Elkhounds) are one of the worst offenders for chalk, sad really as here we show them totally naturally with just a wash when needed and brush and comb for the coat.  Of course nails need to be checked and shortened occasionally. 

It is one of the things I like about showing my breed, at a pinch a dog in coat could be groomed at home, benched and taken straight in the ring untouched.  The only equipment actually needed at a show are show lead and collar, benching chain/crate, brudh and comb and a towel, and a flannel/washleather/wet wipes to remove any mud spatters or what have you.

Brainless
I'm a bit gobsmacked!! If chalk is for whitening and elkies are supposed to have no white markings ,why would they chalk them?????
Must admit,like you ,the fact that elkies are shown totally 'au naturale' was a HUGE plus when looking at breeds.
Nikki

If you look at pictures from the USA I would be suprised if they were not trimed and backcombed too.

I've read that they're trimmed ..not that you have to be told....just have to look at the photos.Chalking though???the mind boggles!!
Archer 

All part of the hair dressing ethic I supose. Have owned an Elkhound who would be improved by a tin of chalk even more by a tin of paint, do you think the judge would notice?

Paint?? Don't give people ideas Jackie...it might catch on LOL
Nikki

Going to have to check the AKC standard on our breed, may be it says that the hound should be black and white, the UK one says any shade of grey with black tips to the outer coat and nothing that says the undercoat should be white or silver, just pale so one would think any shade of pure pale grey. Know we all like the look of a silver and black hound but it is no more correct than it's less striking brothers. Mind you when you read critiques that say 'the correct silver undercoat' and 'correct almond eye' it is no wonder we get confused. 

Good morning Jackie!! Someone else up nice and early...no sunday lie in for us eh!!
Maybe your right...maybe it is the AKC standard wording?? As you say can be a bit confusing when a critique praises something which is non standard but then I suppose its what you should learn to 'accept' if you go under a non breed specialist...would be less pleased if the judge were an elkie person!!
Nikki

Oh dear Nikki ;) it has been know to happen

Think we all need to accept that there is no such thing as a 'correct example' or a 'perfect example' of the breed standard, and if we judge we should look at the standard frequently to make sure our personal preference is not making our judgement unfair to examples of our breed that may not be to our personal liking but are still within the breed standard. This is easier said than done but we should at least try if we are to be fair and judge with an open mind. I try to only let personal preference rear it's head if I have 2 dogs I can't seperate by thinking of the breed standard and I am sure I have said in a critique that something was not to my taste but I would not have let this effect my placing, well I hope I would not.

Dill

I have no idea on what might happen.  It's just so irritating.  It can take ages to get the chalk powder off my black kit bag, my clothes and the dog rugs, as well as having to change the water bowl as the water has a film of chalk dust over the surface etc.  I have white coloured dogs too, but I am satisfied with the results of a good whitening shampoo...;)

The spray chalk is very popular with Min Schnauzer people. I had my dogs & myself covered in it at Driffield. They were using it in the open even though the KC rules state it is not allowed. When I questioned them as to why they were breaking the rules I got a mouth full of abuse & was told to mind my own business

Ahh Moonmaiden :(

Trouble is if you win and then get tested it becomes your business, and where do you stand then??  I can understand using a LITLE chalk/talc to help remove dirt/mud from the walk into a show but what I don't understand is the need to use a whole tub of the stuff and cover everything in sight :rolleyes:  If it were me being accused and not in the wrong I'd be very tempted to go around with a video cam ;)

I always have a camera on hand & took some lovely mini digicam clips of them chalk spray & lacquering their dogs(one got the ticket too)

When they take tests they have to take them from where the clipping will not be visible can you imagine a lump of coat being taken from the visible coat of a cavalier whose breed standard doesn't allow for any trimming except of the underneath the pad hair. On the three occasions my beardie was tested they took clippings from her belly hair which was blue(yep she got tested randomly on the three occasions she won the CC & BOB !!!! hardly random)Again a breed where the breed standard allows for no trimming(at all in the beardies case)

Boxers are my breed and you don't see many who dont have their feet and facial markings drawn on with chalk. It's quite funny seeing the places some people choose to apply it, including right in front of the judge lol.

Jen