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Foamy Soap Bubbles

Grooming Your
Show Collie

Coat Maintenance & Shop Suggestions

A proper Collie coat is easier to maintain than you might expect, but some grooming is required, especially when maintaining a show coat. Check your dog regularly for mats behind their ears, beneath the armpits, and on their belly. Your dog is likely to mat much easier and more frequently when going through coat change from puppy to adult coat. During this time, it’s recommended to brush frequently and thoroughly and apply baby powder in those areas that are most likely to mat to prevent matting.

 

I’ve attached links to my favorite products, but feel free to shop around various sites to get the best deals. Keep in mind that grooming and show prep is personal, and what works for one dog, might not work for another.

 

My favorite sites to purchase items from are:

Shampoos & Conditioners

Choosing a shampoo and conditioner for your dog can be overwhelming since there are so many options, but here are a few that I enjoy using when prepping for a show: 

Brushes

Day-of-Show Sprays

Texturizing and bodifying sprays are essential to build volume in the coat and maintain correct coat texture on the day of a show. 

  • Crown Royale Bodifier Texturizing Spray: used in the rough to build volume. Spray on body to maintain correct coat texture. 

  • Cindra Super Coat: volumizing spray. Build into coat several days before the show for maximum effect.

  • Cindra Maxicare: leave-in conditioning spray that acts as a volumizing spray. Okay to use daily, build into coat several days before the show, morning of the show, and ringside. Keeps moisture locked into coat without making coat feel soft.

  • Cindra Texturizing Mist: maintains correct coat texture and lifts coat.

Chalk

​Chalk is used on the face, legs and feet. I mix Bio-Groom Pro White Harsh Coat Grooming Chalk with a bit of baby powder and corn starch to apply to the legs. Experiment some time before a show to find the correct ratio of Bio-Groom chalk to baby powder to corn starch. Remember to apply colestral before applying chalk to the face or feet. I use Chris Christensen Colestral on my dogs. 

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Chris Christensen and Triumph Showdog Solutions sell colored chalks that I personally have used and enjoy. When buying a sable chalk, you should always cut it with a majority of baby powder. Always test out your sable chalk mixture with colestral on your dog's face long before the show to avoid Cheeto orange sables!

Hairsprays

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