Grooming Conditioning
It's important to condition your dawg to grooming. It can be as simple as sitting watching TV and brushing a section at a time. Make it a fun time but don't let your dawg control the experience.
The first time you groom him you may have to hold him firmly in place and go one section at a time. Look in his ears, open his mouth, play around with his toes and tummy. Get him used to the experience.
Always use a soft brush without balls on the ends of the tines.The balls at the end of the tines do go through the hair but it also rips it out and breaks it. It's better to work on a knot by taking a piece of the mat and brushing it away and out. There are so many ways you can groom your Havanese.
Grooming Tools
What is a must in grooming tools? A teflon grooming comb, a Madan brush or a soft brush without balls on the top of the tines, a parting comb and a facial comb. The rest, well I have that too!
This is a video put on by Pure Paws. One of my fave shampoo lines next to Isle of Dogs.
I do not agree with everything he does especially on a show dog one shouldn't snip around the eyes but watch and gain some idea how to get that wonderful coat.
Yes, I wash twice too. I do not trim around the eyes as it can create more issues with leakage and I don't like the look.
I also like having the dogs looking more smooth for the finishing nor will I tease the hair but instead will use All Systems invisible hold instead in a way not to give it hat hair.
Take a look at an old video we did. I need to uodate it.
I also won't hair spray - as Havanese are supposed to feel natural and that hairspray, although I own it and tried to use it - well it doesn't feel natural in the least. Teasing also breaks the hair and head and tail hair seems to grow SLOWLY. Still this gives you an idea of the rest and I do all the steps too but I use a Bathing Beauty to evenly distribute the shampoo and conditioner. I also have a few other tricks that work for me.
If you are interested in a book that will help you explore grooming further, check out Nose to Tail. It's an excellent book from the Canadian national Havanese breed club, the HFC, The Havanese Fanciers of Canada, but use the info to glean ideas and make them your own. You will eventually figure out what works for you, hopefully not after making all the mistakes I did. :-) When I started out, no one was willing to help me learn so it was trial and error and boy what a learning curve that was. Plus no book existed to offer you grooming tips for the Havanese. We now do have these excellent grooming books available at our place with the proceeds going to the HFC. Both Nathan and I are members.
If you have any questions, just ask.
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