I was at a show recently and noticed that some of the Shih Tzus were being prepared using a CURLING TONGS to curl the hair in the topknot   What the H*ll was that about??  I've never heard of actually curling a dog's coat before :rolleyes: What's next, perms for Poodles who don't have tight enough coats?

Well straighters are used on yanks....

Why do people have to trim, style and shape a coat?  It just makes everyone follow to have a chance at winning :(  What happends to a quick brush and that's it!?

I've never understood why poodles coats have to be so perfect...I know the pompoms are their from working days but did the owners then spend 3-4 hours grooming the dog like that? :D

yes some use curling tongs ther breeds use other aids to make the most of your dogs best points...be it either hair products  or other tips or tricks others use to enhance the dog..even may i say humans style their hair to make themselves look better as long as it is not extensions or products  to change the texture of the hair why not... poodle owners as well as other breeds have been know to use hairspray etc...as long as it is permitted why not it does no harm to the dog and is pleasing to the human....

Hairspray isn't permitted, though ... ;)

Mine are easy just wash,n go shepherds, except when they are casting like now then its stay at home time and just keep on brushing and on and on and on..............

I don't think it looks pleasing one bit.  I've even seen people in shitzu's putting mascara on and that's here in the UK!

I'm sorry but a dog is a dog.  You can make it look good without putting products and using curling tongues!

Maybe because I have a breed that should be natural I feel this way.  But even when I used to show Pom's. I never put anything on there coat.  If it doesn't fall the way it's supposed to naturally then there's something desperately wrong with the coat.

Havanese should have normal coats but look how they are shown in this country to.  It really annoys me.

Same here :D

Same here, that's partly why I prefer my Cavs - there's a breed shown utterly naturally, just wash and dry and brush, in theory! :-) And they should be shown on a loose lead and free standing too!

Ahhh the loose lead...I ahve a always been stacked breed so can't say about the freestanding...but oh the loose lead, where has it gone!? :D

I show my Pom's and SWD's on a loose lead, but not many other people do and boy does it spoil their dogs movement. Half the time their front feet aren't even touching the ground!

I love watching dogs that move ona  loose lead, and it is nicer to run them.  I have two pictures of one dog being moved on a loose lead and one strung up.  The leads and handlers have been removed from the picture.  The strung up dog looks un natural where the loose lead dog you wouldn't think she was on a lead in the ring when the picture was taken.

I am suprised about the SWD's not being on loose leads though....

Same here, Bedlingtons are almost always shown on a loose lead ;) possibly the only terrier breed that is :(  the ones that aren't on a loose lead, it's usually a pup playing silly beggars :) and the owner's end of the lead is loose ;)  Dogs move so much better on a loose lead :)

I can't help feeling that if the owner is using special treatments on the coat (colour shampoos, hairspray etc) or straightening/curling tongs, they aren't very sure/confident of the quality of the dog :(   I knew someone who used to use shine/conditioning sprays on their German Shepherd :(  The dog's coat was dull and coarse and rather than improving the feeding and condition of the dog they used the sprays :(

I too show my SWD's on a loose lead, and had an argument at a ringcraft club one night where the "trainer" was telling me to string them up, needless to say I didnt go back there again.
Dont you think that some are strung up to hide some defect in their movement though, I can think of one or two !!!!

We must have gone to the same class :D  All the dogs were to be strung up - including mine one more customer lost ;)

I can't believe Ringcraft classes where telling you to string dogs up!!!! That is disgraceful! :( No wonder so many people are doing it! :(

I handled a Terrier at crufts in her breed class, moved her on a loose lead like a dream.  She was also being used in the handling class by a lad who strings all his terriers up.  She would move and sat down half way though the movement.  At first everyone put it down to her being tired/stressed however she had one more breed class after the handling, went straight from ring to ring, changed handler and again moved like a dream on a loose lead!  I just found it so funny! :)

I know Ice Queen, I keep watching the Cavs being shown, even in the 3 years since I started, and there are more and more being strung up. :-( Even with my Yankee, as long as I keep a slight tension on the lead so he can feel I can pull his head up if I choose to, I can then walk him with a slightly slack lead, not strung up!

oooh got told off by fiona (f.a.brook) for running her yank loose! came to a comprimise of lead above the head but loose!!!! :D  No way was I strangling a dog.

I sometimes show that way of lead straight up but it's never tight but their for control if I'm handling a moody male!