Grooming Staffordshires For Showing

[Loves Dogs]

Hi There, I have just bought my first show dog ( staffordshire bullterrier)and have started showing in the local area. I was just wondering if there are any specific things I should be doing to my boy before a show? I have a few questions. He is a deep solid blue but as he is getting older I have noticed the ends of each strand of hair are fading to a sort of silvery chocolate (it looks as though each hair has become dry and worn at the ends)Is this old hair? Should I be using a stripping comb? Also I have been using pink shampoo is this correct? and is there any other tricks you recommend? Thanks for the support. I find it hard to walk up to other stafford breeders at the show because I dont want to sound like Im stealing there secrets and then beating their dogs. I also have 3 yr old female that is black brindal and white but she always looks shiny and beautiful.

[SoL]

A healthy diet and good exercise is teh best basis for any show dog.

[Loves Dogs]

A healthy diet and good exercise is teh best basis for any show dog.

Thats a start. Thanks. I feed him science diet puppy dry food and 2 chicken necks on top. Once a week I replace the chicken necks with sardines in the hope that the fish oil will help his skin and coat.

[Sandra777]

It could well be a change of coat. With the darker brindles (which is what a blue is a dilute of) they often get very brown/red on the ends of their coat when the hair is ready to fall. I wouldn't be using a stripping comb unless someone can show you how to use it. You can get grooming blocks from the show vans - which work well if the coat is starting to fall. A rubber hound mitt does the same job but slower

If the shampoo agrees with the dog and doesn't cause him any skin flaking or itchies it's probably fine. A final rinse of a cup of white vinegar in a bucket of water can help control a bit of scurf but if there's a lot then look at a different shampoo or make sure you're rinsing properly.