Preparation: First, make sure you have on hand all the equipment that you require before starting: towels, shampoo etc. All pre-bath work should be done at your grooming station. It is important to keep to a regular routine, which will make you and your dog feel more secure about the process.
Check the ears to see if they need cleaning. Use an ear wipe if necessary and then plug each ear with a cotton ball to stop water from getting in. (And remember to remove the cotton balls afterwards.)

• Make sure that you have given a thorough brushing through this thick, dense type of coat, paying special attention to the areas around the ears, the backs of the front and hind legs, the tail, the tummy and the shirt front. Use a quality, all-purpose shampoo unless another type of product is required. Get your fingers deeply into the coat, making sure you massage the shampoo down to the roots of the hair everywhere, and especially the areas mentioned above where the hair is particularly dense. Rinse off.If the dog is very dirty, perhaps half rinse off and reapply shampoo to the very thick areas, thereby making sure you have really got the dog as clean as possible. Thoroughly rinse until squeaky clean. Apply conditioner generously to very thick areas of coat to help with drying, and less generously to the body coat. Rinse again.
• Towel dry vigorously and start drying with a hair dryer. You will get quite a lot of loose hair with this coat type. Dry in the direction of coat growth. Using a firm slicker brush will make sure you get down to the skin and it will help to remove stubborn dead coat and tangles and let you progress through the job efficiently. After drying is finished, groom through with a comb.

1. This type of coat will absorb quite a lot of water so it will benefit from a brisk toweling before the dryer is used.
2. Start at the head and then work back down the body to the hind quarters and tail. Also towel dry the furnishings and legs, chest and underside.
3. Now turn on the hand dryer. Set it to a warm temperature, not too hot, and a high speed. Work over the coat ensuring that the airflow lifts the coat so that warm air penetrates through to the base of the coat and the skin.
4. Take care using the dryer around the ears and eyes.
5. Use a slicker brush on the coat in conjunction with the dryer. Brush in the direction of hair growth and right down to the roots to get rid of loose hair.
6. Brush through the thick hair behind the ears and around the ruff.
7. Hold the muzzle to keep the head still and protect the eyes while you dry the chest and under the neck.
8. Finish off with a gentle combing through the coat – job done.