GROOMING
YOUR COTON
The Coton's coat is one of the
breed's most appealing characteristics. Cotons
don't require extensive trimming but do need a few hours of brushing, bathing
and nail cutting to maintain their magnificent appearance.
Grooming should begin as soon as you bring your Coton home whether he's
6 weeks or 6 months old. Cotons are inherently clean and have very high opinions of
themselves. They like to look
good! Regular grooming helps to
maintain their appearance and
attitude along with building a better relationship between the two of you.
Let's start with the right equipment.
Quality tools are important, help you get the job done right in the
shortest time and last longest. You
can find some of these tools at your local pet supply and others can be
ordered from catalog houses that are listed at the end of the article.
Good tools aren't cheap and you get what you pay for.
- a sturdy grooming table. You'll
have better control of the dog on a table and it'll save your back.
You can build a table using inexpensive materials found at the hardware
store.
- a
large Teflon Coated comb.
- a small fine-toothed
comb with a handle
- a well-balanced 7"
grooming shears. Take good
care of it to
Maintain its edge and balance.
- a "Universal" slicker
brush & an “All Systems”
large pin brush is the best, if not available a "Safari" pin
brush will work.
- a nail clipper and a product
called "Quick Stop"
- A spray-on coat dressing and a
conditioning shampoo. Brands
like Ring 5, Bio-Groom, Tomlyn,
St. Aubrey, etc. are excellent
products.
Don't use shampoo designed for humans.
Dogs require
a different pH balance.
- A blowdryer. The handheld kind is okay.
Bathing should be done monthly and can be done more often if you prefer.
Bathing as often as once a week will not dry out the coat if you're
using good products and doing the job properly.
Before the bath, remove any large mats or dead hair that may be
shedding out. Put a drop of
mineral oil or eye ointment (available from your vet) in your dog's eyes to
prevent soap irritation. Wet the
coat thoroughly, apply shampoo and rub vigorously to work up a lather, adding
more water as needed. The soap
has to get all the way to the skin. Rinse
well, then lather once more. Use
a washcloth to clean his face, being careful not to get soap in his eyes and
ears.
Now it's time for the final
rinse. This is the most important
part of the bath. Absolutely no
shampoo should be left behind or it will irritate his skin and cause "hot
spots". An old rule of thumb
is to rinse till the water runs clear, then rinse again.
Towel dry the dog while still in the tub, making sure to get the water
out of his ears.
Now you're ready to blow dry. Lay
your Coton on his side on the table. This
may take two people to accomplish at first but insist and make him obey you. Drying and grooming is much easier with the Coton on his side
and after awhile, he'll be so comfortable, he may even fall asleep while you
work!
Start with the belly hair and legs, working your way to the spine,
blowing the coat while brushing down to the skin with the pin brush.
Take care to dry the areas between his rear legs and around his private
parts. Brushing to the skin is
critical -you must be able to see the skin as you brush even on the most
heavily- coated Coton! Otherwise,
the hair closest to the skin will pack down, retain dirt and moisture and
cause serious skin problems. If
you brush the coat in small sections, reaching the skin is easier.
Use the slicker and/or the pin brush, following up with the comb to
make sure all dead and shedding hair has been removed. Turn him over and repeat the process on the other side.
Then he can stand or sit up so you can dry his ruff and bib.
Clipping toenails should be done on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
Long toenails damage feet and are uncomfortable to walk on.
Nails are easiest to cut after bathing when they're softest.
You may want to ask your vet or your dog's breeder to show you
how the first time. If
you accidentally cut a nail too short and it bleeds, apply a pinch of
"Quick Stop" to the cut end. Keep the nails short and trim the hair
underneath the foot between the toes and pads as well as around the outside of
the foot. Too much hair and long
nails cause the foot to spread and become flat along with picking up dirt and
causing the Coton to slip on smooth surfaces. No dog enjoys having his nails cut and you must be firm about
it. Give treats and praise for
being cooperative. With practice,
you'll become quicker and more efficient.
Your Coton should be brushed weekly between baths.
Lay the Coton on his side, mist the coat with coat dressing and brush
thoroughly to the skin. Coat
dressing prevents hair breakage, static and generally makes grooming easier.
Use the slicker brush on the shorter hair and the pin brush on the
longer coat. Follow with
the medium/coarse comb. The fine-
toothed comb is used on legs, feet and face and is good for removing dead and
shedding hair. Remember,
always brush to the skin!
Ear cleaning should also be done weekly using a product designed for
that purpose. It's a good idea to
have your veterinarian or groomer show you how.
Your veterinarian can also show you how to brush your dog's teeth and
prevent future dental diseases.
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