Should you wash your rough collie before a show

If they are dirty!

Seriously I would ask your breeder what is normally done. If a dog has a harsh outer coat it will tend to shed dirt and dust from its coat, and regular grooming will keep him nice.

My own breed has a double coat, and unless they have gotten into something vile don't really need many baths if at all. I hardly bathed the dogs in the past at all, only when they first started shedding their under coats to hurry on the moult. that would be twice a year.

My young bitch who has been doing awfuly well gets a bath about every other month, just before an important show (to brighten and freshen her up, but actually I think it makes very little difference, but it makes me feel I am making more of an effort to turn her out well!! :D). I always leave it at least 4 days be3fore the show to allow her coat to settle, but she does have a crisp correct coat!

Hi,

Unless you have a major disaster that requires serious work with a bucket, you should bath your Collie at least a week before a show, to allow the coat some time to return to its normal harsh texture as bathing will soften it. A bit of dampening on the day of the show, and some talc rubbed in - which must all be brushed out before they go in the ring - will normally bring the 'white bits' up nice and clean.

Before I lead you astray, you don't need to do this before every show, just when your dog is looking dirty. As 'Brainless' says, a double coated breed should not require bathing too often, as regular grooming will keep them clean.

Have just spent the day bathing my Rough Collie pup and her Mum ready for shows next weekend, not something I'd want to do every week!!

Good luck with showing, how old is your Collie and where did you get him/her?

M.

Used to breed them years ago i used to use tac on them picks up dirt and brushes out bugger on the tris!! corn flower on white bits