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Grooming the Siberian is ever a challenge with the seasonal shedding of their coats. The coats always appear to be either coming or going and that brief period of the perfect coat is a blessing. So, the coat has to be looked at in each of it’s stages and handled in a different manner.
Easiest stage of all is the “just right coat” of course! At this point we look for good health and vigour to the coat with a degree of shine plus I like to bath once a week and blow dry thoroughly. This keeps the coat rolling and rids the coat of any dead hair. I also get to part the coat to the skin with the strong turbo dryer.
You will note that we recommend diluting all the shampoos and preparations especially for arctic Siberian Husky coats, to get the total richness of effect to the coats right through from skin to tips. No point just applying to the ends of the coat if the underneath hair is not doing the same thing.
For the show ring you could conceivably use up to 5 different shampoos to sculpture that perfect silhouette. Depends on which dog and at what stage the coat is at. Also what parts do I wish to lift and which parts to lie down? A Siberian coat cannot be trimmed and therefore all sculpturing has to be cleverly done at the bath and drying stages.
For the white areas use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo at a diluted ratio of 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water). This will not lighten or bleach but instead tone with optical brighteners.
Should more white be desired, which is great for white areas on the red dogs, then use Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo diluted 1:5. This has a clarifying action and is good for an all round quick clean up to mildly stained areas.
You can also use Plush Puppy Wonder Blok which is an extremely effective stain reducing pure organic solid shampoo that is mild yet works amazingly well on those stubborn stained areas. 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.
Use Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo diluted 1:5 for the topline for shine. 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.
For a coarse tail or pants that can sometimes tend to clump, try Plush Puppy Natural Conditioning Shampoo at 1:5. This is a nourishing shampoo, helping to increase hydration while slightly softening your dog’s coat. Derived from organic sources with a strong emphasis on Evening Primrose extracts to boost skin and hair regeneration.
These are tools for the serious exhibitor who wants to tweak the silhouette to perfection. They are outcome oriented and do what they are meant to do.
When washing faces 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 that clean, 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.
Don’t use a conditioner, they flatten and soften and you want a fuller look to the coat, especially for those not in full coat. The coat also requires texture, not that of a softened texture. You need to hydrate the coat plus maintain the texture and shine, so use Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil. Dilute 1 Tablespoon into 4 litres of water. While the coat is still wet after shampooing, thoroughly saturate with the oil mixture and LEAVE IN – DO NOT RINSE OUT. This is absolutely wonderful on the coat and skin, giving fabulous shine and texture to the coat without being greasy. Use it all the time even when just doing maintenance baths to protect the coats mid week. It allows you to bath weekly without dehydrating the coat and gives incredible gleam and vigour to the coat.
For out of coat situations, use Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo at 1:3 for extra body or on those areas needing more fullness and lift. For a dry, old coat that is felting or clumping and needs resurrection, use Plush Puppy Natural Conditioning Shampoo with Evening Primrose at the same ratio. If the coat is burnt, faded or has rusty tones, use plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo at 1:5 to tone and reduce the unwanted warm tones. Rinse and follow with Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil as instructed above.
Next step is to blow dry. Mix 1 tablespoon of Plush Puppy Volumising Cream to 4 cups of water and apply thoroughly to the coat, saturating it. Don’t rinse, then dry. This gives the illusion of 3 hairs looking like 3,000. It doesn’t feel foreign in the coat and will give oomph and extra fullness without feeling sticky. You can add this in with the Seabreeze Oil mix to save time. Or try the Plush Puppy Volumising Spray. A ready to use formula; simply spray on, brush and dry. Use after bathing or at shows.
If the Siberian Husky coat is overly dry and looking too puffy or felted, sometimes just before shedding, use Plush Puppy Blow Dry Cream 1 tablespoon to 1 cup water and apply thoroughly and evenly with a sponge. This will instantly flatten and soften those dry, brittle areas, especially on the toplines that tend to frazzle with flipped ends.
For extra attention to a dry frazzled coat, use Plush Puppy Coat Rescue. We apply this mid week diluted with water to a runny mix and slathered all over the dehydrated areas. Leave the dog if you wish in this for a couple of days or 10 minutes or whatever, and then rinse off. It won’t soften the coat and will add lots of protein and moisture.
Use the Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush to blow dry. I avoid using a slicker on a wet coat as I find they rip the coats to bits when wet.
Blow dry with the brush and hands, pushing the coat forwards towards the head for maximum lift. It will settle down over night and follow the outline of the dog as required. You can finish the drying for a smoother effect with the Plush Puppy Ultimate Slicker Brush for the coat when perfectly dry and for fluffing up on show day.
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.
Show day finishing; use Plush Puppy Coverup Cream, a small amount dabbed lightly with a barely damp sponge onto the legs, face, inside ears, elbows etc. Dab lightly and allow to dry and then reapply in layers hitting it with a bit of Plush Puppy Fairy Frost. If the weather is damp, this will dry it quicker – just brush or blow out any excess powder afterwards. Fairy Frost is super white, less abrasive and clings unbelievably well. For the true connoisseur as a way better alternative to chalks or talcs.
Brush up the main body of the Siberian Husky coat use Plush Puppy OMG. It is one of the best overall grooming sprays available. Use at anywhere from 1:25 (1 part water to 25 parts OMG Concentrate) to 1:35. This will separate each hair and give you a wonderful finish.
For a good, regular well maintained finish, snip off the shaggy hair around the underneath of the feet and trim whiskers if you wish – I don’t. I prefer the character the whiskers give to the overall face.
A good spray of Plush Puppy Odour Muncher for that extra attack on the judge’s senses and a dash of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust sprinkled judiciously onto the pants and topline for that hint of a shimmer. And finish with a light spray of Plush Puppy Shine and Comb for a final bit of gloss and glamour.
There is one little other hint I will share for those coats that are too soft, and you don’t want “too soft” with an arctic dog coat, add a very light dusting, of Plush Puppy Powder Puff Terrier. This gives instant harshness and texture to any coat and is a handy product. Just a light sprinkle or a quick flick with a small amount on the brush through the softer areas of the coat till correct level of texture is achieved.
Now it’s up to the handler and judge on the day. Your Siberian Husky looks good & hopefully knows what is expected of him and you have attended to all the 100 little things that make a winning dog. It’s hard work to groom a dog to this level each and every week.
Plush Puppy Australia.