Show Grooming Guide

Boykin Spaniel

Show Grooming Guide

Equipment Needed-

Grooming table with arm & noose

Oster, Andis or other type of clippers

42 single edge thinning shears

6” curved shears

Toenail Clippers

Stripping stone

Greyhound Comb

Slicker Brush

Pin Brush

Stripping knife or Mars 30 Stripper

Step 1-

Make sure that your dog has been bathed within the last 24 hours and is thoroughly dry. Recommended is a dog shampoo with a color enhancer or oatmeal ingredients. Use a dog conditioner all over the dogs coat to enhance to shine and feel. Make sure both shampoo and conditioner are thoroughly rinsed from the coat.

Step 2-

Top Coat. You will need to maintain the top coat at least every other day about 2 weeks before a show. Starting at the neck to the base of the tail and down the sides even with the elbows you will need to strip with your stripping knife and or stone direction of hair growth to remove the bulky undercoat and make the top cost look glossy and feel healthy. Use a stripping knife to blend in the feathering on the sides and loin areas, but do not remove any of the feathering. When finished the cost should not appear in any way shaved it should appear well groomed with a slight rougher outer coat and a small amount of soft undercoat. It should not appear bulky and should lay flat. The top coat will look glossy and may have a small amount of wave, it should feel appealing to touch.

Step 3-

Feet. Remove all hair from between the pads on the bottom of the feet. A pair of curved shears and toe nail clippers will be needed. First clip the nails :careful not to hit the quick! Trim hair from sides of feet to give a nice appearance. Brush hair on top of feet in the direction of growth and trim about the tops of the feet any unruly hairs that may stick out. The feet should appear round and tight when finished. Catlike in appearance.

Step 4-

Clipping. You will need your clippers and a #10 blade. Use your clippers against the growth of the hair on the sides of the face from the back of cheek bone to the end of the muzzle. Clipper the top of the muzzle against the growth. Clipper the top of head in the same direction of the growth direction, careful not to shave off the back edge of the skull as to leave a divot. Shave 1/3 distance down the ears or even with the crease of the mouth in the direction of growth . All clipping should be done about 2-3 days before your show. Clipper the neck throat area in opposite growth direction from a 2 finger width from the breast bone to the chin. Blend any rough edges on either side of the neck to blend with the throat with the thinning shears.

Step 5-

Clipper under the tail in the opposite direction of hair growth. Use stripping stone or 42 tooth thinning shears to blend any rough edges. You final appearance should look smooth with no hair hanging off the end of the tail or under.

Step 6-

Show Day Prep. You will need to mke sure that the night before you bathed and pinned a towel on the dog so the top cost will lay flat and neat. When you arrive at the show you will need to wet all of the feathering with your favorite self-Rinse Shampoo and blow dry all of the featherings as straight as possible including the ears. It may be necessary to wrap the ears with vet wrap 4 “ or have a snood so the ears will stay flat and smooth looking until your

No Judge should have to tolerate an un-kept dog in his or her ring. No Boykin Spaniel should be exhibited in the show ring as if they just came from the field such as a shaved dog or one that has had no trimming.

This grooming guide has been recommended by the Boykin Spaniel Club. If you have any questions about this guide or need help grooming please direct your questions to Tina Heinz. Tina and Jim Heinz helped to develop this guide please do not hesitate to ask questions.