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This hardy and active working dog ancestry tells you his coat has to be able to withstand a fairly rigorous and cold climate. The Beardie Collie has a double coat with a soft furry undercoat and a close, harsh textured flat outer coat. It ought to fall naturally to either side and the length and density to provide a protective coat to enhance the dog without obscuring the natural lines of his body. No trimming allowed.
Regarding the preparation of this coat between shows is of great importance to maintain the health of the coat lengths and you can go no further than the Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil to do just that.
Add 1 teaspoon to 2 Litres of water, then either sponge on or sluice well through the coat getting right down to the skin and LEAVE IN. DO NOT RINSE. This is quite a unique product in that it is not greasy and totally water-soluble. It gives an outstanding healthy vigour to the skin and coat. It won’t soften the coat but will keep it protected from dehydration and maintain the elasticity of the coat. This is an active working dog so he will tend to be an outdoorsy dog if he is allowed to be himself and this will ensure minimum wear and tear.
Use the oil at this dilution rate after shampooing for a show. Again leave in and do not rinse. You will get a nice healthy sheen on the coat with this routine.
For show preparation, start with the Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo for all your blacks and blues as this will not soften but will tone any unwanted warm tones keeping that nice blueish, silvery overtone to the coat. It DOES NOT lighten or bleach but instead tones with optical brighteners.
For the browns and fawns use the Plush Puppy All Purpose with Henna with Henna for shine and good depth to the light reflect on the hair.
Neither of these will soften the coat and you should dilute for easier dispersion at 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water).
Should you have any colour fade on the blacks or blues, use the Whitening Shampoo for tonal effect to deepen the colour slightly.
For greater whitening or stain removal use Plush Puppy Wonder Blok. It helps to maintain a white stain free coat. It is not a bleach and contains no harmful chemicals but high amounts of naturally sourced vegetable surfactants and glycerin. 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.
For dogs with a soft coat that requires more texture use Plush Puppy Texture +Shampoo. Texture+ is formulated to retain and improve coat texture. This shampoo thoroughly yet gently cleanses and deodorises the coat of Terriers and other wire, harsh or coarse coated breeds without softening or compromising texture. It’s ideal for boosting body and coarseness in coats of all colours and coat types. Formulated to be pH controlled, it can create or maintain texture, is low irritant with a subtle apple fragrance and is easy to rinse out. It is full of beneficial and powerful extracts from the Gentian Root, Juniper Fruit, St John’s Wart Leaf, Hay Flower, Lemon Balm Leaf and Arnica Flower that combine to nourish and vitalise the skin. Use diluted up to 1:10 or apply undiluted directly to areas requiring intensive cleansing. Rinse thoroughly.
Around the head and face always 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.
In your final rinse water, add 1 tablespoon of Plush Puppy Blow Dry Cream and 1 tablespoon Plush Puppy Swishy Coat to a bucket of water and liberally apply, saturating the whole of the coat. The Blow Dry Cream will flatten the coat and the Swishy will help eliminate the wave and assist with reducing the fly away effects of static. Should the coat be really too voluminous or a puppy coat which doesn’t sit flat, then a bit more Blow Dry Cream can be added to the mix.
If the coat is really dehydrated use a light touch of Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner. Simply add it to the above mix as also. I tend to avoid any conditioner on this type of coat as conditioners will soften the texture, however the smallest amount if very dehydrated will help. Natural Silk Protein conditioner features an intensive formulation boosted with Silk Amino acids and plant extracts that bind keratin in the coat, strengthening while protecting against moisture loss.
Now work into the mid lengths and ends, a good handful of Plush Puppy Reviva Coat. This is a wonderful foaming mousse for rehydrating the hair and adding moisture while retaining texture. It never gets greasy and is great for your breed.
You can also use Plush Puppy Coat Rescue as an “in between shows” treatment should the coat need that bit extra. This won’t soften but will re-hydrate and strengthen the coat. Dilute 1 tablespoon of Coat Rescue well into a squeeze bottle with 500ml of water. Apply to the dehydrated area of the coat with a large sponge and leave in. Do not rinse. Treat as a mid-week treatment.
When hair is damaged or dehydrated, the outer layer of each hair opens up or has gaps in it. Coat Rescue is like applying a filler to the individual hairs and helps to put some lost structure back into the hair.
When drying use 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 and will also protect the coat from sun and heat damage. 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.
Never use a bristle brush to work through a wet coat. It will stretch and snap the coat over time. The coat is at its most vulnerable when really wet.
Once you can readily work the comb through the coat, section up the top part of the coat and start blow drying the underneath lengths with a cool dryer and a Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush. This won’t give you the ultimate in straightening, but will be kind to the coat until it is ¾ dry.
Then switch to your Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush with 100% black boar bristles and dialon porcupine pins. Due to its superior anti-static properties, we use Dialon instead of nylon. This brush will give you the smoother finish you require.
Plush Puppy Professional Grooming Combs are built for absolute ergonomic comfort in various sizes. 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.
Plush Puppy OMG is a revolutionary grooming spray and perfect for a Bearded Collie coat. 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. OMG is available in a Concentrate that you can dilute to your individual requirements or a Ready-To-Use Formula. Use the concentrate form at 1:30-40 (1 part OMG to 30-40 parts water). The stronger the mix the stronger their effects.
Using OMG can be a one-off at shows or during the drying process after bathing. This is also an amazing product for regular brushing as it hydrates the coat reducing stress and coat loss. Its active ingredients smooth the cuticle and protect the coat. For this coat type where you still wish to retain texture, use at a higher breakdown. It will still allow you to brush the dog and refresh to coat without over softening. OMG never builds up and never goes stringy. A product that took years to develop using amazing technology for maximum effects. A true necessity for the tool kit.
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 lightweight spray 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.
Plush Puppy Wonder Wash for last minute clean ups and always keep that blow dryer handy. I know it is a lot of time consuming work but this dog is sensational when presented beautifully and if you want to win the big stuff then you have to do big stuff to get there. Wonder Wash is a no rinse wet instant shampoo for “those show day” last-minute emergencies as this will clean up anything, pronto. Just spray foam with the fingers and towel off.
For coat lift and hold use Plush Puppy Puffy Dog+ Apply approximately one tennis ball amount to your hands and work through all the coat of the top of the head from root to end. Brush up and against the growth till 3/4 dry and then lightly comb into place without flattening. You want the illusion of putting air into it for fullness and height, allowing you to see that lovely Beardie eye and expression.
You can further hold in place by applying Plush Puppy Sit N Stay – a pliable dog coat shaper for shaping small areas and keeping styles in place. Just a touch to the fingertips, warmed through by rubbing together till tacky and then applying at the roots by grabbing down into the coat and clenching the fingers and dragging up to the mid lengths.
For more coat use Plush Puppy Volumising Spray a ‘Ready to Use’ spray for quick 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.
To calm the fly away ends at shows use Plush Puppy Protein Coat Balm. Simply apply to both your hands and wipe down the mid lengths to the ends, clumping your hands to a fist with a touch extra of the balm to the ends to add a little weight to the hemline.
Now you have prepared your Beardie to their very best. This breed is always a brilliant contender in the ring.
Plush Puppy Australia.
