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The Bedlington – the little “lamb chop” of the Terrier group is quite the wolf in sheep’s clothing! Never one to pick a fight, he will nonetheless, not walk away from it either. As with most Terriers, he originated as someone’s fancy for ratting or vermin catching and grew to family living status and also recognition with a breed club back in 1877 in England.
The distinctive Bedlington coat is one of a kind amongst the Terriers. Their coat is thick and linty, standing well out from the skin. It is not wiry but crisp and tends to twist, particularly on head and face.
The Bedlington coat is all in the preparation. Get that coat bathed and dried correctly and your job of trimming and finishing is easier. This is not an easy coat to master. Having said that, once you have the routine down pat and do it correctly the results show, you never forget! The trick is to bath and dry it properly so that the coat stays in place giving you a better surface to work on.
The greatest hallmark of this bred is its unique head. For this 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.
Best shampoo for the Bedlington is Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo to give correct lift for the coat to stand out from the skin as the breed standard requires. Dilute this 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water).
At times, you may wish to add Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo which is not a lightening shampoo but in fact a toning shampoo that neutralises unwanted warm yellow or red tones in the coat. For that, mix 1/2 and 1/2 Whitening Shampoo and Body Building Shampoo together and dilute 1:5. This will give that required lift to the coat and at the same time mellow out the colour. You get to do two things in the one procedure.
For those requiring a bit more crispness to the coat try Plush Puppy Texture + Shampoo. This is 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.
After shampooing and fully rinsing, don’t use a conditioner for this type of coat as it will just make the coat fluffy and lose the texture. Use instead Plush Puppy Reviva Coat worked well into the coat and then rinse off. We usually don’t rinse Reviva coat out but in this case, for this coat, you do. You want texture – the correct texture.
If you feel you must use a conditioner then dilute Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner. Dilute 1 teaspoon into 1 litre of warm water and sluice through the ear tassels and maybe part of the body and rinse thoroughly and I mean thoroughly. Reviva coat is the better option every time and I only mention conditioner if you have a very dry coat that needs remedial help. The Reviva coat is a non-greasy moisturising mousse that hydrates and adds moisture but doesn’t alter texture like a regular conditioner will. Just perfect for a Beddy.
Like many breeds, the Bedlington too will undergo various coat stages.
At times you may wish for more coat and if your dog is out of coat or you just want a thicker appearing coat, there are 2 Plush Puppy products that will suit this situation. Plush Puppy Volumising Spray is a ‘Ready to Use’ spray for quick and easy 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. Produced for easy use and scientifically balanced for this coat type. This is a hair thickener to add volume – not a hair stiffener and not detectable as it leaves the coat with a natural thicker look and feel. A light spray, brush in and dry as normal.
The second product to use is Plush Puppy Puffy Dog + which is a firm hold mousse but a water soluble one that won’t dry sticky or turn sticky in humidity. It can be applied directly after the bath as a mousse or diluted. To dilute mix 2 golf ball amounts into 500mls of warm water into a Plush Puppy Water Spray 500ml Bottle. Wet the coat with the mix and then dry thoroughly. This is perfect for the head as it helps maintain that topknot that is such a distinctive part of the Beddy. You may just wish to use this mix on the head and legs. This will give it that little more stand off from the skin in look and touch. Wonderful for getting that just so finish when scissoring. Use by applying to one coat area at a time and dry, then move to the next area for best results.
Use the Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush to start the drying. This allows you to get into the coat without damaging or dragging too much on the coat. Any lost hair on a Bedlington when drying or dragging knots or kinks out or otherwise, results in the new hair growing through dark as when a puppy and spoils the overview of the finish of the dog. It eventually tones down but we will all know you have been heavy handed when grooming won’t we? Finish with the Plush Puppy Ultimate Slicker Brush and a Plush Puppy Professional Grooming Comb for a proper finish. Remember, the finish you end up with is totally controlled by the drying that you do.
Always have on hand Plush Puppy Powder Puff Regular, an all naturally derived dry cleaning powder for those accidental moments (dog pee) that can be applied direct to the coat and brushed through, leaving a clean fresh smelling coat. The last thing you want is to have to wet the dog and start again. Apply the powder using a Plush Puppy Ultimate Powder Application Brush using just a small amount and brush well into the area. Brush the powder out and problem solved!
The scissoring is an art. If the coat has been correctly textured with the right shampoo and lift when drying, then it will be easier to trim. It is the most difficult breed to scissor but don’t be intimidated because everything can be learned – just don’t make the task harder than it has to be. The head, topline and legs must be correct and spend the time to get them right. That back must show an arch over the loin with a definite tuck-up of underline. The head must have the characteristic no stop and narrow skull, covered with profuse topknot, with length on body hair not exceeding an inch but leg hair length slightly longer.
At the show you do need to spruce up the dog but must avoid over wetting that lovely blow dry you have done getting the kinks and coils out of the coat. Use Plush Puppy OMG Concentrate. For this coat type where you still wish to retain texture, use at a higher dilution of 1 part OMG Concentrate to 40 parts water. Mix into a Plush Puppy Water Spray 500ml Bottle and set on a fine mist spray. The mist this delivers is not too heavy and sprays nicely and evenly without too much when misted at finest setting.
This will 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. Use this to brush and then comb with a Plush Puppy Professional Grooming Comb to reduce static and for easy brushing and combing. Wonderful product!
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 infused with organic extracts of Witch Hazel Leaf, Linden Flower, Birch Bark and Nettle. It protects the coat with a UV filter to stop sun damage and protect against heat.
A small spritz of Plush Puppy Odour Muncher to eliminate any dog trailer odours acquired overnight or in transit. It eats any nasty odours leaving a good fresh smell that will certainly please the judges, and not offend the dog.
Final piece of pizazz is a light sprinkle of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust just to leave a delicate shimmer to your masterpiece. Simply add a light sprinkle onto the brush and apply a light dusting over the dog’s topline and legs to bring out the glints and highlights of the coat.
So, now your Bedlington who is capable of everything from a gallop to his distinctive light, springy action is a point of attention for all and sundry with his super glam appearance oozing all the attributes and hallmarks his standard calls for. His spirit and confidence, his lovely pear shaped head right down to his scimitar tail is a picture that tells you this is no ordinary terrier. He is truly one of a kind in the Terrier group – glamorous but able to cut the mustard as well as any Terrier – and don’t we all know that! One of the truly outstandingly stunning breeds in our show rings when prepared well.
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