Fox Terrier Smooth
Grooming Advice:
Active and lively, bone and strength in small compass, never cloddy nor coarse. Neither leggy nor too short in the leg, standing like a well-made, short-backed hunter, covering a lot of ground. Straight, flat, smooth, hard, dense, and abundant. A rich history of being a key player in the hunting of foxes. Travelled with the horse and rider in saddlebags then released once a fox went to ground. Hence their size, shape, and coat.
Firstly, let’s go for some shine – when bathing attention has to be given to finding the right shampoo for your Fox Terrier – use the Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo with Henna as this is known as the “shine” shampoo. Use at a ratio of 1:5 for show grooming. Your standard also states the coat should be lying smooth and close. No fluffy coats for this dog! So, scratch any ideas of using a conditioner as this can tend to fluffiness in a coat texture though it will assist in softening the coat. I recommend you keep the focus of shine and smoothness in mind and use the Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil as a rinse after shampooing, use at a ratio of 1 tablespoon to 1 gal/4 l. water. Pour this all over and work well into the skin and leave in – do not wash out. This also helps keep any scurf at bay and leaves the coat smelling wonderful and with great healthy vigor and shine. It does not make the coat oily.
This is a predominately white dog so for white areas use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo at 1-part shampoo to 10 parts water. This will whiten and brighten. Another perfect product is Plush Puppy Wonder Blok this product is one of our proudest achievements in helping to maintain a white stain free coat. It’s not a bleach and contains no harmful chemicals but with the use of modern technology and high amounts of naturally sourced vegetable surfactants and glycerine. This product is designed to remove gently unwanted warm/red tones to the coat. Best used on a damp/wet coat. Gently rub into the areas required, allow time (5-10 minutes) and rinse. For maximum effects repeat or allow a longer time for this amazing product to work. As with all products take care around eyes.
This is an undeniable head breed so a must-have is Plush Puppy Let’s Face It – what the dog showing world has needed for way too long. Another one of the famous Plush Puppy products that with the latest of technology and the highest amounts of naturally sourced ingredients has developed a product that is a must! This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed for faces. It’s no tear formula with the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro-Vitamin B, and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, sooth, adds moisture, aids healing, and anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. Can be used in and around ears also with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows easy of rinsing yet complete cleaning.
Even although this is a short-coated breed it’s best to blow dry this coat. Cool dryer and blast all the dead hair out. This rolls the coat and keeps it regenerating without the holes one associates with coat shedding. They will shed, but it won’t be a moth-eaten finish – it will be even. Now you have a good even surface to work with and complying thoroughly with your standards requirements.
An amazing product that not only speeds up drying time but protects the coat is Plush Puppy FAST Blow Dry Spray that combines the latest active ingredients together to dramatically reduce drying time, adds moisture and conditions while protecting the coat. It contains a recently discovered ingredient from the Australian Native Flame Tree that makes dry or old coat feel and look perfect. It also protects the coat from damage from sun and heat. FAST is amazing on short coats for a brilliant shine. A light spray to a wet/damp coat, then brush through before drying.
Now let the grooming begin – if you thought this was the end of the contribution to show day – you have another thing coming. I believe in the principle of 100 small things to make a great dog rather than any one big thing. We have seen ordinary dogs turned into extraordinary dogs with the right approach and yet they were always good dogs. Unfortunately, no-one else got to see just how good they could be till taken in hand. Trim the whiskers. This breed looks great with a clean face to accentuate that headpiece. Using thinning shears, neaten under his Throat and tail and neaten the point of tail by rounding off. Proceed to neaten also the 2 cowlicks where the 2 hair patterns meet at back of stifle. This dog does call for good musculature You don’t want to leave any fluffy bits standing out away from the body to detract from the clean line he must present.
On show day apply Plush Puppy Cover Up Cream is a great cover for stains or discoloration. Excellent on “red” area on worn elbows and to the white on the muzzle. When you really need to cover stains your whites or intensify white areas. Apply with a barely damp sponge using a small amount. Build up coverage as required layer by layer. Then use powder or chalk as required whilst cream is drying. Brush off excess when dry. Add a tiny bit of Plush Puppy Chalkestral with your fingertips to the white legs to assist holding the white powder you apply. You need something to help grip and to protect the coat from abrasion. Best of all is Plush Puppy Fairy Frost Regular, a better & innovative approach to the usual methods of white chalking/adding powder to coats. Clings well and doesn’t clump. Adds a crisp white tone and cover to all coats without creating harshness. The whitest, brightest powder around. Clings – all day. Fine & Easy to use. A little goes a long way. Naturally sourced – no chalk or talc. Use instead of chalk. Can mix with your usual white powder. Best for glamorous perfect whites. Never gets clumpy, even when wet. Apply with the Plush Puppy Ultimate Powder Application Brush. Work well into the area where required for enhancing whites and cover.
Plush Puppy Wonder Wash for “those show day” last-minute emergencies too as this will clean up the whites, pronto. Just spray foam with the fingers and towel off.
You can sneak in a tiny amount of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust. I do say a tiny amount and add it into the Fairy Frost Regular. This will pick up glints of light especially in the sun, but you don’t overdo it. It’s meant to be subtle.
Spray again just before ring-time. I also like a spray of Plush Puppy Odour Muncher for a nice clean smelling dog. It literally deodorizes and gives a pleasant fragrance to the dog negating most odors with ease. Keep on hand Plush Puppy Wonder Wash for those last-minute emergencies too as this will clean up the whites, pronto. Just spray foam with the fingers and towel off. A light mist of Plush Puppy Shine and Comb. With the Fox Terrier it’s best not to spray directly onto this coat, but preferably spray onto the brush or well above the coat approx. 30cms and let the mist fall onto the coat, this will give a final boost to the shine and luster of the coat.
Good handling, good presentation and a good dog looking the part with their tiptoe of expectation.
Article courtesy of Plush Puppy Australia
