|
|
 |
|
|
|
My name is Lindsay, I have known Rosie and Gerry for about
a year now, and have had the privalige of looking after their 9 beautiful dogs. I was a vet nurse in the Veterinary Hospital
they were using. I had never heard of a "Porty" until I met them, but needless to say I fell in love with them immediately.
I have always been a Border Collie lover, having a Tri Colour Collie myself, named Reef. I have been grooming dogs for many
years, and the PWD by far, is one of the most challenging coats I have come across.
As you should now be aware, having done all of your research
on owning a PWD, this is a breed that should not be undertaken with little thought. One of the reasons I say this is, as I
mentioned above, their coat demands a lot of time and care.
My aim is to aid you, as an owner, how to maintain the coat,
and which style of clip will best suit your PWD and it's lifestyle.
Firstly, I must mention that any clipping and scissoring
should only be undertaken by someone who is experienced. if not used in the correct way, clippers can cause a lot damage,
as can scissors. I would always encourage anyone who wants to learn how to be competent at grooming their own dog, and it
can be a great aid to bonding with your dog. But if grooming is something that you feel wouldn't suit you, then you should
contact your local groomer.
It is always a good idea, regardless of the breed, to get your
puppy accustomed to grooming sooner rather then later. Getting them used to having their nails trimmed (this should only be
done by someone who knows what they are doing, prefferably your Vet or local groomer) brushing, and getting them used to the
sounds of clippers, once they are vaccinated they should be taken to a grooming salon asap even if just for a bath.
There are several choices of clip,
the most popular among the breed is the lion clip, which you will see with Holly and Murray. This is where the hind quarters
are clipped short, as is the muzzle and 3/4 of the tail, from the base up, and the rest of the coat is left long.
The style you
want really does depend on how much time and effort you are willing to put into the maintenance of your dogs coat.
Basic pet trims
are designed to make life easier for you and your dog, when the amount of spare time you have to groom them is limited.
If you are not intending to show your PWD, it is best to keep the coat short.
We have 3 Porty's
at the moment, Murray, who is a curly coat, he is a show dog, so we keep his coat long and in the lion clip, then we have
Holly, who is wavy coated, she is also kept long as she is shown, however, I have clipped all the coat from her tummy, right
up to her armpits, in T shape. Also I have trimmed her fringe right back, this is purely to make her feel more comfortable
during her pregnancy. (I think she appreciates this)
Last but by no
means least, we have Millie, She is not shown in the show ring, but what she lacks in show ability, she makes up for in personality.
I have just started obedience and agility with her. I keep her coat very short all over, about 3.5mm, but her ears and tail
are left longer.
We decided to
clip Millie all over when her coat started the transition from puppy into adult, Her coat matted so easily, and she was very
uncomfortable, and as she was not shown, we thought it best to make her as comfortable as possible rather then subjecting
her to the painstaking task of dematting her. Many people have commented on how "cute" she looks. She does look adorable.
|
|
| Murray Practicing for the Ring |
|
|
|
|
|
| A Retriever Trim When Shown in the USA |
Just to give you an idea as to
the amount of time and effort involved, When I groom Murray for a championship show, it usually takes me about 3 hours. from
start to almost finish. We start off with brushing his coat, usually it is full of twigs and mud and whatever else he might
have picked up when walking with Gerry in the quarries. I brush the coat thoroughly until I can run a comb through him without
it chatching. Then I rough clip his back legs and face, (this is his least favourite bit, and is usually done with him laying
on his back, kicking his legs about in protest) Then comes the bath, I use just a general shampoo, one that isn't too
conditioning, as the conditioner makes his coat too soft and will cause it to lay flat, whereas we want it to stand on end.
Once he has had a bath, we usually
have a break!! (This is usually because I am soaking wet, he insists on me having a bath too!!). Then we move on to drying him, I have a high velocity hair dryer that allows me to "blast" most of the water from his
coat, then I use a hair dryer brushing every inch of his coat as I dry it. this takes the majority of my time! (just to let
you know that as I write this, murray is trying to climb onto my lap! The big baby!)
Then once he is dry, we finish
clip him, usually he ends up looking like he's been electrocuted! But he looks very handsome and parades around the house
like a floozy.
As responsible breeders and owners,
Gerry and Rosie are always happy to speak to you after you have taken your puppy home, and advise you on any worries or issues
that you might have. I will say the same about the grooming and maintenance, and will be happy to teach anyone who wants
to learn how to keep their PWD looking their very best., whether it be a show trim, or a pet trim.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Last Updated
Robenger Kennels - Email robengerpwd@aol.com - call 01780 783775
|
|
|
|
