DocReverto
Formerly CRD
I have been lucky, and received so much knowledge from my breeder.
Before that, it was difficult to find very much information on anything.
Grooming, handling, baiting, trotting, leads.
You name it.
I know we have a few members getting started out in everything (including myself) so I figured it may be neat for everyone to share their routines, their tricks.....
Here is an excellent thread on stacking, and learning how to do this.
Everything revolves around stacking in conformation, and this should be one of the first things you teach yourself and your dog.
Stacking 101 | Doberman Chat Forum: Talk About Doberman Pinschers
Here is a thread with information about show leads. Growing by the day.
Show leads | Doberman Chat Forum: Talk About Doberman Pinschers
Since I am just starting out on handling in AKC I will leave that conversation alone, since I am learning myself.
On to grooming.......
Everyone will have there different techniques.
Learning each one and developing your own stemmed off of this is your best bet.
For my grooming technique..
I shower Raven the night before the show. Some may disagree with this due to washing away some of the oils that keep the coat shiny.
Raven is on a supplemented 2000mg of salmon oil a day, so needless to say his coat is always very shiny.
I like bathing him before hand as it makes his coat very soft. I like this because the judge will always feel his coat on the examination. If his coat is softer than the rest that may stand out to him/her.
I use electronic clippers for most of the grooming.
First I get the ears.
I use a 40 gauge for the extra hair along the ears. I will make a video for this part this evening, which should make this a little easier to figure out.
Then I move to the cowlicks. I take scissors and a comb. I don't cut to low, but merely trim the loose hair that stands out. This way even though they are there, they are not noticeable.
The goal behind grooming is to get not one specific area to stand out, so the judge is more focused on the entire picture.
Then I move to the hanging skin that connects the stomach to the back legs.
I also trim this up with a 40 gauge so it is flush with his body.
Moving to the tail.....
I use a 40 on the underside of the tail all the way up to the edge.
Then I edge off the hair at the end of the tail.
Will take a video of this also.
For the whiskers I normally use a 40 as well.
Make sure you check all over as those whiskers can be anywhere.
Grooming at the show site........
First I spray Raven with a mist of water. I use a brush to clean off any dirt, or debris he has accumulated the night before.
Moving on I spray him with an olive oil spray. You can find this in the ethnic hair section at walmart.
It does not leave a greasy feeling, and it really makes him shine.
After that I use coconut oil on the nails to get them to shine, as well as a little bit on his nose.
My routine is pretty simple, but hopefully some will chime in soon with more info.
Lots of stuff will come to me throughout the day , so I will try to post all of that once I make the videos.
Until then, what is everyone elses routine?
Tricks that may help someone starting out?
Before that, it was difficult to find very much information on anything.
Grooming, handling, baiting, trotting, leads.
You name it.
I know we have a few members getting started out in everything (including myself) so I figured it may be neat for everyone to share their routines, their tricks.....
Here is an excellent thread on stacking, and learning how to do this.
Everything revolves around stacking in conformation, and this should be one of the first things you teach yourself and your dog.
Stacking 101 | Doberman Chat Forum: Talk About Doberman Pinschers
Here is a thread with information about show leads. Growing by the day.
Show leads | Doberman Chat Forum: Talk About Doberman Pinschers
Since I am just starting out on handling in AKC I will leave that conversation alone, since I am learning myself.
On to grooming.......
Everyone will have there different techniques.
Learning each one and developing your own stemmed off of this is your best bet.
For my grooming technique..
I shower Raven the night before the show. Some may disagree with this due to washing away some of the oils that keep the coat shiny.
Raven is on a supplemented 2000mg of salmon oil a day, so needless to say his coat is always very shiny.
I like bathing him before hand as it makes his coat very soft. I like this because the judge will always feel his coat on the examination. If his coat is softer than the rest that may stand out to him/her.
I use electronic clippers for most of the grooming.
First I get the ears.
I use a 40 gauge for the extra hair along the ears. I will make a video for this part this evening, which should make this a little easier to figure out.
Then I move to the cowlicks. I take scissors and a comb. I don't cut to low, but merely trim the loose hair that stands out. This way even though they are there, they are not noticeable.
The goal behind grooming is to get not one specific area to stand out, so the judge is more focused on the entire picture.
Then I move to the hanging skin that connects the stomach to the back legs.
I also trim this up with a 40 gauge so it is flush with his body.
Moving to the tail.....
I use a 40 on the underside of the tail all the way up to the edge.
Then I edge off the hair at the end of the tail.
Will take a video of this also.
For the whiskers I normally use a 40 as well.
Make sure you check all over as those whiskers can be anywhere.
Grooming at the show site........
First I spray Raven with a mist of water. I use a brush to clean off any dirt, or debris he has accumulated the night before.
Moving on I spray him with an olive oil spray. You can find this in the ethnic hair section at walmart.
It does not leave a greasy feeling, and it really makes him shine.
After that I use coconut oil on the nails to get them to shine, as well as a little bit on his nose.
My routine is pretty simple, but hopefully some will chime in soon with more info.
Lots of stuff will come to me throughout the day , so I will try to post all of that once I make the videos.
Until then, what is everyone elses routine?
Tricks that may help someone starting out?