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English Setter

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english setter

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The English Setter has been bred as a trained bird dog for over 400 years, and the breeds origins lie in evidence pointing to crosses of Spanish Pointer, large Water Spaniel and Springer Spaniel combining to produce a superb bird dog with a high degree of proficiency in finding and pointing game in open country.

Apart from his rather boisterous nature as a youngster, the English Setter is defined as being of medium height, clean in outline and elegant in appearance and movement with a keen game sense. He is nonetheless, intensely friendly and good-natured. Being an outdoors dog, we need to keep in mind the secret to a good coat and that is to keep it oiled and even shaded if in a hot climate to prevent damage.

Between shows oil this coat with Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil to add shine, hydrate and condition to the coat.  It is a truly beneficial blend of using extracts of Calendula oil, Wheat germ oil, and Evening Primrose.

Add 1 tablespoon to 4 Litres of water, then either sponge on or sluice well through the coat and LEAVE IN. DO NOT RINSE. Then use the oil undiluted direct from the spray to the areas around where they pee. This is a bad area for breakage. Keeping it oiled will help prevent the hair from getting brittle or tangled and will deter the accumulation of debris from the yard.

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 will maintain the texture and moisture in the coat and help protect from environmental factors. 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. We love the depth of colour it tends to add to the coat with continued use.

The head and expression is an important part of the English Setter breed. When washing faces 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.

The standard calls for the coat and feathering to be a long silky coat, flat without curl or woolliness. Best suited to the English Setter is Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo. This is a great toning shampoo for whites and indeed any faded colours.  It works brilliantly in reducing yellowing or warm tones in white coats or white area of the coat without bleaching or lightening. Herbal Whitening Shampoo is primarily derived from organic sources with Ginseng extracts, protein, and violet tone combined in a concentrated and rich formula. Use at a diluted ratio of 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water). This allows for easier and even dispersion.

Another clever stain reducing product is 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.

Follow after rinsing with Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner.  Dilute at 1:5 (1 part conditioner to 5 parts water) to keep the silkiness and required texture on the furnishings and featherings, not on the topline. Your topline will already be hydrated with the Seabreeze Oil routine.

Natural Silk Protein conditioner reduces static electricity and fluffiness in coats. It features an intensive formulation boosted with Silk Amino acids and plant extracts that bind keratin in the coat, strengthening whilst protecting against moisture loss. It assists in repairing the coat by using herbal extracts that are rich in natural antioxidants.  These are excellent for moisturising and strengthening coat, smoothing the cuticle, detangling the coat while soothing dry skin. Natural Silk Protein Conditioner restores hydration and vitality for a naturally softer, silkier more lustrous coat.

Now here’s where the hard stuff begins. In order to get that soft, draping fall to the lengths without wave, use Plush Puppy Swishy Coat. There are those who like to apply it undiluted but I always recommend dilution.  As you are working with a large dog, dilution allows a more even application and easier dispersion through the coat. Dilute at a ratio of 1 tablespoon to 750ml of water.  Depending on the texture you can dilute more or less, but this is a good rule of thumb for most English Setter coats. Sponge or pour thoroughly through the coat ensuring even distribution. Squeeze out any excess and blow-dry.

A little hint for show baths is to include a small amount of the Seabreeze Oil into this final rinse. I suggest 1-2 teaspoons, depending on the amount of coat and texture.  To save time, simply include this with the 1 tablespoon Swishy Coat into 4 Litres of warm water and leave in.

I always use the Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush for blow drying as you never want to overstretch or rip the coat at this point. When 3/4 dry, switch to the Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush which is an oval 1/2 bristle 1/2 dialon brush. This will give that smoother, straighter and glossier finish to your drying that the Pin Brush cannot do.

I also like to get in under the lengths with the brush and gently bend the ends around the curve of the brush. Never entirely dry with a top brushing action only. This just flicks the short pieces in the coat outwards and gives a flyaway look to the coat. We are after all wanting a polished professional look that once you have mastered, is just breathtaking.

Finish with a Plush Puppy Professional Grooming Comb, 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.

Should you have a coat that is too curly or wavy, use Plush Puppy Blow Dry Cream to help soften and flatten.  It will add weight to help tame a boofy or unruly coat. Add 1 tablespoon to 750ml of water.

If you have a coat that needs straightening and de-boofing, you can mix Swishy Coat and Blow Dry Cream in the same bottle and mix with water if you like.

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 that offers a UV filter to stop sun damage and protect against heat for the perfect finished look of the coat.

Plush Puppy OMG is a revolutionary grooming spray that lives up to its name. 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.

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 can also be used on topcoats and brush or polished in for that wonderful smooth and flatness to the coat.  It is also available as an OMG Ready to Use Spray at 20:1 which can also be further diluted if required.

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.

The trimming is relatively easy but does need attention and time. Stripping topcoat, trimming throat and ears. All excess feathering is to be removed from the feet but I am advised by an expert that the rear hock looks just wonderful if when trimmed.  You angle the line slightly outwards as you go upwards and then angle downwards from the top of the hock to meet the upward line already created. This gives the illusion of a really long line from the hip to the hock enforcing the requirements of the standard.

Now for Show Day touches.

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.

All senses come into play when judging and a good smelling dog is nice to touch. Plush Puppy Odour Muncher is sensational in that it kills the odour and leaves a pleasant scent behind without being too flowery or girly.

You can sneak in a tiny amount of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust. This will pick up glints of light especially in the sun, but you don’t overdo it. It’s meant to be subtle. If you can see it when you put this on, then you have gone overboard. It looks sensational but needs a wise hand.

Your English Setter is now ready to compete. You have not sold your soul to the devil in the process and the dog is showing himself as a true part of the gundog group in both form and function. Your dog is also groomed to perfection able to vie with all those glamour queens of the dog world and is second to none.

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