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A well groomed Afghan Hound is truly a sight to behold. There is the question of how much one does to present a breed such as an Afghan. This is one heck of a glamorous breed with a great air of arrogance required.
Most times the Afghan can be bathed with Plush Puppy Natural Conditioning Shampoo with Evening Primrose Oil at a dilution rate of 1:5. For extra shine use the Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo with Henna at 1:5, and to minimise rusty tones on a black coated Afghan use the Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo with Ginseng diluted also 1:5. This shampoo will not lighten or bleach but adds a tonal effect to the finish, deepening and reducing the unwanted overtones.
Presenting some challenges to exhibitors are the old fashioned Black Masked Golds and sometimes the Blues when out of coat. They benefit from bathing in Plush Puppy Natural Body Building Shampoo at a ratio of 1:3 (1 part shampoo to 3 parts water) and an application prior to blow drying of Plush Puppy Volumising Cream at a ratio of 1 teaspoon to 1 cup water. Use the whole of the mix. You can adjust this to be stronger or more diluted depending on desired results. For easier use try Plush Puppy Volumising Spray ‘Ready to Use’ for quicker, easier and fuller coat results. Perfect either before blow drying or used to ‘fluff-up’ the coat at the show. A light even spray, brush in until dry or use a dryer. This is a hair thickener to add volume, not a hair stiffener and not easily detectable as it leaves the coat with a natural fuller look and feel.
Plush Puppy Wonder Blok is an innovative approach to traditional stain reducing and is made from naturally sourced vegetable surfactants and glycerin. Wonder Blok is perfect for those with creams, whites, and cream or silver feet in B/T. It helps to maintain a white stain free coat. It is not a bleach and contains no harmful chemicals. This product is designed to remove gently unwanted warm or red tones to the coat. Best used on a damp or wet coat. Gently rub into the areas required allowing 5-10 minutes and rinse. For maximum effects repeat or allow a longer time for this amazing product to work. As with all products take care around eyes.
Afghans every so often need Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo at a dilution ratio of 1:5 to remove all unwanted build-up on the hair. This will help bring the coat back to virgin status and allow you to start with a new playing field.
The Afghan with those far seeing eyes and oriental expression use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It. This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed just for faces. It’s no tear formula features the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, soothe, add moisture, aid healing and have anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. It can also be used in and around the ears with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows ease of rinsing, yet complete cleaning.
Each hair should appear light and individual without being clumpy or ‘pasted’ down, the coat must bounce and lilt. You want it to swirl, swing and float with the dog’s movement and then fall exactly back into place. On show day Plush Puppy Protein Coat Balm smoothed through from the mid lengths to the ends with an extra onto the very tips of the coat will allow this illusion to be a reality.
To achieve the holy grail of Afghan coats, the final rinse for a show bath is the ultimate secret. Do not condition the saddle, ever, as it dulls the coat and gives rise to scurf. You can add conditioner such as Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner lightly to the ears and top knot and rinse well. After shampooing the body of the coat, add a mixture of ¼ to 1/2 a cup of Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner (depending on coat amount) with 1 teaspoon of Plush Puppy Swishy Coat to 4 Litres of water and sponge through thoroughly – DO NOT RINSE OUT – LEAVE IN. You can adjust the proportions slightly as some coats will vary in texture. However, this is a starting base and appears to suit the majority.
We like to share one great point with you for the Afghan – it is to MEASURE, DILUTE and make a RECORD. Having worked out what works, you will want to be able to recreate it again. Measuring allows you to do it each time or be able to adjust slightly from time to time.
The reason we do all the application of products at final rinse stage and do not rinse it out is because it is easier to disperse the products evenly through such a lot of coat, rather than spraying as we dry. If you do a 2 step or 3 step routine such as conditioner, rinse and apply a drying product, then you can never gauge just how much conditioner to rinse out or how much has been left in. Consequently, there is an uneven amount left throughout the coat. The recommended method I have given is simple, quick and accurate in its even dispersion.
For maintenance bath, use 1 – 2 cups of the Conditioner and 2 tablespoons of the Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil as a final rinse and leave-in to prevent matting. You can use Plush Puppy Coat Rescue at this point also and add 1 tablespoon the same mix.
Seabreeze Oil is excellent for maintaining the healthy vigour to the skin and coat and is all plant sourced from Evening Primrose and Calendula Oils. It is non greasy and totally water soluble making it easy to apply and remove each time without build-up. It gives incredible sheen and finish to the hair.
Coat Rescue’s naturally blended essential oils and pure plant extracts help restore strength and elasticity to dehydrated and tired coat hair. The treatment is exceptional on coat hair.
You should wrap the ears using the Plush Puppy Reviva Coat with a golf ball sized amount on your hands and gently working into the area to be wrapped, then use a plastic wrapping sheet to wrap and band. As Afghans like to dunk their ears into water bowls, an old hand trick is to have a loose collar with two elastic bands attached at the rear of the collar and once the ears are wrapped, attach the ends of the wraps to the collar elastics. Voila, no more chewed ear wraps or wet yucky ears.
For the all important blow drying, add an application of Plush Puppy Volumising Spray. This ‘Ready to Use Spray’ gives you quick and easy fuller coat results. Again, it is perfect either before blow drying or used to ‘fluff-up’ the coat at the show. A light even spray, brush in until dry or use a dryer.
You can also add Plush Puppy Blow Dry Cream at a ratio of 1 teaspoon to 1 cup water to flatten the coat, when blow drying.
This is a breed that obviously requires dedication and lots of hours drying. When drying use the innovative Plush Puppy FAST Blow Dry Spray that combines clever ingredients to dramatically reduce drying time. It adds moisture and conditions while protecting the coat. It contains Australian Native Flame Tree extracts known for their hydrating properties that help make a dry or old coat feel and look perfect. It also protects the coat from damage from sun and heat. It contains a slight hold ingredient for better coat management and a special active ingredient that eliminates static electricity and stops the fly-away’s. A brilliant blow drying spray that halves the drying time.
When drying for show day, use a Plush Puppy Ultimate Long Pin Brush. I avoid slickers like the plague with any long-coated breed. They are an Afghan’s worst friend. Never brush a dirty coat or knots out of a dry coat at all – if it’s dirty or it’s knotted – bath it! Always blow dry with your Pin Brush till 7/8 dry at least then switch to an oval cushioned Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush. This is at least ½ dialon and ½ bristle to allow you to get that smooth finish.
Finish with a Plush Puppy Professional Grooming Comb. The lightweight oval shaped spine combining fine and coarse pins made of hardened stainless steel with anodic oxide finish that reduces drag and static to the coat. Perfect for use for this breed of dog.
For puppies, brush legs up and body coat down. For adults everything gets directed down. At times due to various reasons including the weather static electricity can create flyaways. If this occurs use Plush Puppy Anti-Static Coat Control. This is a lightweight spray using the latest technology is infused with organic extracts of Witch Hazel Leaf, Linden Flower, Birch Bark and Nettle. It also adds to the protection, include a UV filter to stop sun damage and protect against heat strength for the perfect finished look of the coat. This amazing product is idea for this breed and a must for your tack box.
The hardest coats to maintain as puppies will be your Blacks or Black and Tans. They can appear dehydrated before the golds and creams so may need extra assistance such as an application of Plush Puppy OMG. This is a fantastic product to minimise matting, tangling and static on your Afghan’s coat. OMG won’t leave a greasy residue or build-up, it’s just perfect. A light spray and can be repeated as it doesn’t build up.
Plush Puppy OMG is a revolutionary grooming spray that lives up to its name. OMG is the perfect product for this coat type. A light spray of OMG and brushing in allows this product to refresh the coat leaving it feeling wonderful. It separates the coat and leaves the most amazing finish. Use the concentrate form at 1:30/40 (1 part OMG to 30-40 parts water). The stronger the mix the stronger their effects. Available in Concentrate or a Ready to Use Spray.
Now it’s just the final titivating touches such as smelling good with Plush Puppy Odour Muncher, a light and judicial dusting of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust for subtle shimmer on the mid lengths and perhaps the saddle, and for some who are a little too aloof in the ring, at least an early morning dose of Plush Puppy Apprehension Drops. Can be used the night before as well. 4 drops night before, morning and 1 hour before showing is recommended.
Your Afghan is the King of Dogs – the rest of the world according to an Afghan is insignificant and no grovelling, eager fools need apply. To watch this dog’s signature movement around the ring with a smooth springy lift with coat lilting and swinging and his elegantly curved tail raised for the action, it is no wonder we mere mortals collectively gasp in envy. This is a true-blue blood of the dog world.
Plush Puppy Australia.
