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The German Short Haired Pointer is an all-purpose field dog descends from judicious combinations in breeding and has acquired keen scenting power and high intelligence. The breed is a versatile hunter, proficient with many different types of game and sport in both field and water, including trailing, retrieving, and pointing.
The overall silhouette is that of an aristocratic, well balanced, symmetrical animal with conformation indicating power, endurance and agility. He gives the impression of medium size, with a “short back, but standing over plenty of ground”. Symmetry and field quality are most essential.
A dog of noble and balanced appearance, his coat should be taut, short and the texture ought to feel tough. Underside of tail and back edge of haunches is a bit longer. Coat should have good vigour and shine. Whilst hair on head and ears will be softer, the overall body hair must not be long.
The GSP standard for coat and colour states colour can be solid brown, without markings, or brown with white or flecked markings at chest and legs or dark brown with brown head, brown patches or specks, or light brown roan with brown had and patches/specks through to white with brown head markings and brown patches/specks or black with same nuances as the brown and yellow/tan markings are permissible.
When washing faces always use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It Shampoo. 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.
For maximum body coat shine use Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo with Henna . We call this the ‘Shine’ shampoo as it features natural Henna stalk extracts that impart a beautiful gloss and shine to your dog’s coat. All Purpose Shampoo is primarily derived from organic sources and also features Alpine and Lichen herbs. It is wonderful to use on normal to slightly dehydrated coats. Use at a ratio of 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water).
On any white areas use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo again diluted at 1:5. This shampoo is primarily derived from organic sources with Ginseng extracts, protein, and violet tone combined in a rich formula. It works brilliantly to whiten whites and intensify darker colours. It DOES NOT lighten or bleach but instead tones with optical brighteners. It reduces yellowing or warm tones in white coats or white areas of the coat and will negate unwanted tones from sun fading or reddening in the coat. Similarly for darker colours, it will reduce any warm tones to intensify the depth of colour by revitalising any lost cool tones.
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.
As your standard states the coat should be short, dense, rough and hard to the touch, we must avoid fluffy coats for this dog! So, scratch any ideas of using a conditioner as that produces fluffiness in the coat texture. I recommend instead, that you keep the focus of shine in mind and use Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil as a rinse after shampooing instead of conditioner.
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 without the worry of build-up. Dilute 1 tablespoon in 4 Litres of water and work well through the coat with a large sponge. LEAVE IN. DO NOT RINSE. It gives incredible sheen and finish to the hair. This also helps keep any scurf at bay and leaves the coat smelling delightful. We cannot stress enough the wonderful attributes of this product.
Blow drying using a force dryer. It’s amazing what a force dryer will do to blast all the dead hair out. This “rolls” the coat and keeps it regenerating without the holes one associates with coat shedding. He will shed, but it won’t be a moth-eaten finish – it will be even as you are regularly getting out the dead hair allowing the new hair to grow. You will have a good even surface to work with and complying thoroughly with your standards requirements to the letter.
An amazing product that not only speeds up drying time but protects the coat is Plush Puppy FAST Blow Dry Spray. FAST dramatically reduces drying time, adds moisture and conditions while protecting the coat. It contains Australian Native Flame Tree extracts that are known for their shine and hydration properties. It also protects the coat from damage from sun and heat. FAST is amazing on short coats for a brilliant shine. A light spray to a wet or damp coat, then brush through before drying. It may sound strange to use this on a short-coated breed however the results are amazing!
There are varying degrees of grooming from some under coat stripping to neatening up of underlines.
On show day apply Plush Puppy Coverup Cream which is a great cover for stains or discolouration. Excellent on “red” area on worn elbows and to the white on the muzzle. When you really need to cover stains your whites or intensify white areas, Cover Up Cream will do the trick. Apply with a barely damp sponge using a small amount. Build up coverage as required layer by layer.
Then use powder or chalk as required while the cream is drying. Brush off excess when dry. Add a tiny bit of Plush Puppy Chalkestral with your fingertips to the white legs to assist holding the white powder you apply. You need something to help grip and to protect the coat from abrasion. Best of all is Plush Puppy Fairy Frost. This ultra-fine and bright white powder that is more effective and innovative than the usual methods of white chalking and adding powder to coats. Fairy Frost will create the brightest white tone that clings all day. Plus, it covers all coats without creating harshness. Fine and easy to use, our formulation means a little goes a long way. Fairy Frost is naturally sourced and contains no chalk or talc. Use this product instead of chalk or mix with your usual white powder. This product is best for glamorous, perfect whites as it never gets clumpy, even when wet. This stays on the coat well and will last the day till washed off. Apply with the Plush Puppy Ultimate Powder Application Brush. Work well into the area where required for enhancing whites and cover. The absolute best for glamorous perfect whites.
Spritz now with a spray of Plush Puppy Shine and Comb about 30cms from the coat and allow the mist to fall. This gives wonderful lustre to the coat. Spray again just before ring time.
I also like a spray of Plush Puppy Odour Muncher for a nice clean smelling dog. It literally deodorises and gives a pleasant fragrance to the dog negating most odours with ease.
Keep on hand Plush Puppy Wonder Wash for those last-minute emergencies too as this will clean up the whites, pronto. Just spray, foam with the fingers and towel off. Just what you need for show times when the dog makes a mess of the beautiful grooming you have spent time on.
You can step it up a further notch if you are ready for it, with a light dusting of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust. Apply it sparingly and brush well through, allowing the powder to settle and the shimmer to stay behind on the surface can look very glamorous. Don’t overuse and abuse this stuff. It is not the aim to turn the dog into the glitter fairy – just to make him shine and shimmer for all to see that wonderfully balanced body of a dog all sleek and clean and shiny.
Add also a light mist of Plush Puppy Shine and Comb just to the topline held at a distance of 12 inches/30 cms for a last-minute sheen.
So, there you are on show day, in the show ring with the judge taking in the overview of this fabulous dog and his capability to move without wasted motion and his great sense of nobility. That is a great hallmark, to have a dog that is capable of working hard but looks regal when he works. Show him to his best – his great endurance, his smart, animated attitude and with good handling, good presentation and your good dog – what else can beat that?
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