In order to grow and maintain a show coat for your dog, you must establish a definite routine of brushing, bathing, drying, conditioning and, most likely, oiling, and follow this routine conscientiously to keep the hair mat free. Please keep in mind that the coat maintenance suggestions that follow are just that—suggestions. Some coats mat very quickly, others do not.

Start with the information here, be guided by dog show handlers and exhibitors in your area and, eventually, you will find the routine that is correct for your dog’s particular coat type.

Puppies Up To 6 Months Of Age

Puppies of all varieties and all colors up to 6 months of age need to be brushed once or twice a week to keep their coats tangle free. They also need a weekly bath and blow dry to help encourage coat growth. You should not have to put a dog in oil at this age, but simply to apply a creme rinse or conditioner after the bath, working it well into the topknot, neck, shoulders and tail to prevent the hair ends from breaking.

Check the hair growth in the ears and trim the nails every week. Clip the feet, face and tail regularly to accustom the puppy
to the process. Start trimming the wispy ends of the coat with scissors every three to four weeks. As soon as the topknot hair starts falling forward and into the eyes, it should be banded to prevent the ends from snapping off, and to encourage growth. At this stage, using one or two bands to hold the hair in place above the eyes is all that is necessary.

Between 6 And 10 Months Of Age

Between 6 and 10 months, as the puppy grows, you will need to brush the coat more frequently between the weekly baths followed by a creme rinse or moisturizing conditioner like Ring 5 Hair Care, Bio-Groomm Super Creme Conditioner, or #1 All Systems Super-Rich Protein Lotion Conditioner.

During the brushing sessions, pay special attention to the hair on the neck and shoulders, the ears and under the front legs, as, at this age, these are areas that tend to mat quickly. You may wish to begin conditioning the hair with light oil in aerosol form.

A protein-enriched oil adds body, eliminates flaking, and helps repair damaged hair, rather than just imparting an attractive sheen for a few days. Such a conditioner can be applied during the brushing process at least twice a week. Keep the puppy’s feet, face and tail clipped and the nails trimmed short.

Because the hair is growing longer and starting to become more profuse, every three to four weeks, you can do a bit more all-over shaping of the coat. Trimming the hair also shortens the amount of time you will spend caring for the coat. The coat on the ears will also be longer now, and you will want to band the hair or to start wrapping the topknot and ear fringes to protect them from the ravages of normal wear.

Between 10 And 14 Months Of Age

During the coat change from about 10 to 14 months, the hair will most likely begin to mat excessively. Even after you thoroughly brush the hair, the mats seem to reappear like magic. Now you must carefully inspect the coat daily for mats and tangles. And you will find them!

White and light-colored dogs and dogs with cottony and fine coats seem to mat the most quickly, but at this stage, coats of all varieties, colors and textures are affected. As soon as you discover any clumps, break them apart into smaller sections with your fingers, then use the pin brush and the wide-tooth comb to work them out.

You will need to maintain your weekly bathing schedule until the coat change is complete. How you deal with the coat at this time depends on whether the dog is living as a house dog or in a kennel. If the dog is living in the house, often a heavier creme rinse or heavier Ring 5 Hair Care, Bio-Groom Super Creme Conditioner, or #1 All Systems Super-Rich Protein Lotion Conditioner treatment after the bath will help considerably to keep mats from forming.

These are mixed with water according to package directions before applying, and then poured over the hair after the shampoo is rinsed out and the excess moisture toweled off. Place a small plastic basin underneath the dog while he is standing in the tub. For best results, pour the mixture over the hair and work it into the coat with your fingers to help insure even distribution.

Concentrate on the mane, ears and topknot first, directing more of the mixture into the hairiest parts. Use a plastic cup to keep scooping up the mixture and pouring it over and over the coat, completely saturating the hair. Leave the mixture on the hair; do not rinse it off. Blot the excess moisture with a towel, then dry as usual. A little experimenting will determine the best dilution of creme rinse or conditioner for your dog’s coat. Check the hair daily and brush it as soon as you feel mats starting to form.

Using a Heavier Oil On The Coat

If the dog lives in a kennel and especially if you are conditioning several other dogs at the same time, many professionals use a heavier oil at this coat-change stage to help keep the hair from breaking and mats from forming. Oil doesn’t grow hair; it protects what’s already there and reduces brushing time.

There are several different coat oils to choose from that are very effective, including #1 All Systems Pure Lanolin Plus Skin and Hair Emollient and Wu Pi Magic. Although each brand of oil may differ slightly, all are mixed with water. How much oil you add to the water depends on the length and texture of your dog’s coat, the length of time between brushing sessions, and the climate.

Just like applying conditioner, as mentioned above, the oil mixture is poured over the damp hair after the bath and the final rinse. Blot the excess moisture from the coat with a towel. Place a small plastic basin (something about the size of a dishpan or a cat litter pan) under the dog while he is standing in the tub. For best results, pour the oil mixture over the dog.

Work it into the coat with your fingers (especially on the long mane) to help insure even distribution. Direct as much as possible of the surplus that drips off into the plastic basin, so you can keep scooping it up and pouring the mixture over and over the coat. Your goal is to completely saturate the coat, not just cover the top hair. Do not rinse off the oil.

Let it soak into the coat for a few minutes, then blot the excess moisture again with a towel. Dry the hair as usual with a conventional stand dryer. Try not to use a high-velocity dryer after oiling; it will only blow the mixture down and off the hair shafts.

A little experimenting will determine the most effective dilution of conditioner or oil for your dog. If the dog is being shown every weekend, you’re going to want a lighter and more diluted mix than on one that is growing hair and not going to be shown for a while.

If the dog lives in the house, you will have to use an even lighter dilution of conditioner or oil to keep the furniture and carpets from becoming stained. If you prefer not to pour any conditioner or oil mixture into the coat of a house dog, you can use a lighter oil from an aerosol can (Show Ring or Bio-Groom Mink Oil Conditioner, for instance). This can be applied while you are layer-brushing the hair. If you opt for the lighter oil in aerosol form, however, you will have to brush more frequently.

Putting an oil mixture into the coat over an extended time period causes certain problems. Oil attracts dirt and is extremely messy, so the dog must be bathed on a regular basis. The prolonged use of oil tends to soften all coat textures. In some cases, prolonged used causes the skin to flake excessively. If this happens, you must then take your dog out of oil until the skin condition returns to normal.

A medicated or antiseborrheic shampoo, followed by a non-oily conditioner can be used for relief. When you take a dog out of oil, pay very close attention to the coat. Traces of oil will ooze from the pores for a week or so after the shampoo and cause huge clumps of mats to form. You must examine the coat faithfully at least once a day and brush it when necessary.
If the dog is white or light-colored, sprinkling some grooming powder designed for soft textured coats (not harsh-textured or double coats) or cornstarch into the hair may help to absorb the oil faster.