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An old and proud breed, the Bernese were originally brought to Switzerland by the Romans and worked the farms of midland Switzerland as draft & droving dogs. The standard mentions a lot of words portraying a dog of substance with a full body. The quest for the groomer/exhibitor is to maintain that silhouette and image of strength.
The coat is required to be thick, moderately long with either slight wave or straight, but never too curly. It should also have a bright, natural sheen, never ever dull, and must be black.
The key to an excellent Bernese coat is to use the very best products that are formulated to achieve the results and the correct breed silhouette. A good coat is made several weeks and months before the show and it’s best to put the work in long beforehand, rather than chase the sheen and try to cover a rusty black!
Shampooing any dog should start with the 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.
Creating the silhouette you want is key, by using the right shampoo in the right areas. The days of when we believed that one shampoo could do anything are over.
To build the bulk in the coat, use Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo diluted 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water) on the body. If your dog has a fuller look to the coat over the croup then simply don’t apply body building shampoo on that area.
Then go for ultimate shine with Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo with Henna on the topline. This can be used on the croup also. Again dilute 1:5 for easy dispersion.
Use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo on the whites also at 1:5. You can use the Whitening Shampoo which is a toning shampoo and not a lightening shampoo, on any rusty, brownish areas of the black part of the coat too. This will neutralise the unwanted warm tones.
For white areas needing extra whitening 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.
When your black areas need intensive rejuvenation, use Plush Puppy Black Opal Shampoo as a second shampoo after cleansing firstly with the All Purpose Shampoo. Leave Black Opal on for 5-10 minutes and rinse being careful not to get it on the white areas. The easiest way to remove Black Opal is to use a dry old towel and wipe the bulk of it off, followed by a damp towel, then rinse the remainder off. This shampoo is best used while the whitening shampoo is still on any white areas. Black Opal should not be your regular shampoo as the All Purpose will give you that beautiful sheen that is required. That is paramount. The coat should not get to the stage of needing a neutralising shampoo to get rid of brownish hues!
Next step is to moisturise and add healthy vigour to the coat without flattening the bulk of the coat by using Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil. This is excellent for maintaining the health 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. Dilute 1 tablespoon in 4 Litres of water (depending on coat amount and density) and work well through the coat with a large sponge. LEAVE IN. DO NOT RINSE. It gives incredible sheen and finish to the hair. We cannot stress enough the wonderful attributes of this product.
Now if you desire MORE bulk to the coat, add 1 tablespoon of Plush Puppy Volumising Cream in with the Seabreeze Oil mix and it is also left in and not rinsed off. This will give that extra hair look without stickiness or feeling of foreign substances. Great for out of coat situations or where you just want more bulk and who doesn’t? Alternatively use Plush Puppy Volumising Spray. This 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. 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.
Drying the coat quickly saves time and effort. Plush Puppy FAST Blow Dry Spray combines active ingredients to dramatically reduce drying time, adds moisture and conditions while protecting the coat. Apply a light even spray of FAST over the dog before drying.
Now blow dry using a strong cool turbo dryer to blast the water from the coat using the nozzle to lift at the root against the growth of the coat. If the coat is a touch too wavy, then use the Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush and brush on the diagonal against the growth till about 75% dry, working from rear to front of the dog. If needing to really relax that movement, then finish the dry with the Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush. This will add more pull on the coat to smooth it. Always use the Pin brush till mostly dry so as not to overstretch the hair as it is in a weakened state when wet. Otherwise, finish drying with the air of the dryer till 100% dry.
To further bulk legs, add Plush Puppy Puffy Dog+, a strong hold mousse that never goes sticky in humidity. Dry the legs up and as full as possible.
Once a month give the coat a full treatment with Plush Puppy Coat Rescue worked to a watery slurry by adding one cup warm water to approx 1/4 cup Coat Rescue. Leave on for as long as possible. You can, if they are outdoors dogs, leave this on the topline area for a few days and then wash off. At a minimum, leave on for at least 10 minutes and wash off. Follow with the Seabreeze Oil mix.
Maintain coat hydration by application of Plush Puppy Reviva Coat throughout the coat and apply at least every second day. This is a fabulous leave in moisturiser and gives amazing elasticity and hydration to the hair. Just the best – who can live without this?
For show preparation, follow the shampoo/oil/blow dry routine and Volumising Cream if required, and Puffy Dog on the legs. Next day, show day, give the feet a quick touch up clean with Plush Puppy Wonder Wash and towel dry, followed by a light application of Plush Puppy Coverup Cream applied with a barely damp sponge to the white feet. Dust liberally with your favourite white powder working well into the hair and leave till dry and then brush to remove excess powder or chalk.
Brush up the main body of the coat with Plush Puppy O.M.G. Concentrate Grooming Spray diluted 1:30 (1 part OMG Concentrate to 30 parts water) mixed in a Plush Puppy 250ml Spray Bottle. This amazing product is also available in “Ready to Use” formula of Plush Puppy O.M.G. Grooming Spray. 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.
Apply a fine mist to the hair, don’t wet it, just spritz it and brush again using the Pin Brush against the growth of the coat fluffing the coat with the dryer if available, for a few seconds. The OMG will reduce any static in the coat and allow the brush to glide through without undue stress to the hair. Finish the legs, feet and topline with the Plush Puppy Soft Ultimate Slicker Brush. This brush promises durability and flawless brushed results every time. A soft, flexible rubber air-cushion houses the strong pins that penetrate through the dogs coat without excessive pulling on the hair or scratching the skin. The Ultimate Soft Slicker Brush ensures a gentler, more comfortable brushing experience.
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.
For a final boost of shine and lustre, spray a light mist of Plush Puppy Shine and Comb 30cm above the coat and let the mist fall onto the coat. By keeping shine to the coat, you instantly give the appearance of deeper and richer colour as the light reflects off a smoother surface better than a rough surface.
Don’t forget to make him smell good too with the Plush Puppy Odour Muncher as dogs do get a kennel/crate smell after overnighting and I believe judges do use all their senses when judging.
You have effectively sculptured your dog without having to carve a shape with scissors. As undue trimming is discouraged, your ability to shape this dog without noticeable product and still get the silhouette is something to behold. You have achieved the correct shape to his outline and the desired sheen and vigour to the hair.
Your intelligent and loving Bernese can now look his best and show off his working gait, exhibiting good reach and drive. His wondrous strength and sturdy body gives confidence and trust to those that depend on his power and devotion to his duty and your quest is to show his full magnificence to all. Always a breed to watch in the group!
Plush Puppy Australia.
