Apollo's 2nd show

[ruthcatrin]

Is this coming weekend....and unfortunetly my hoped for competition fell through (he emailed me a few weeks ago to let me know they weren't going to make it), so Apollo is once again the only TM on site. Arg. I'd hoped it was a big enough show to draw in a least a few more folks, cause its not a small show, but no such luck. At least its good experience for both of us....

I wasn't able to get in as much time in the local handling class as I'd hoped. The usual instructor is a woman, but the last several weeks her male assistant has been running it without her (I didn't ask why), and Apollo has taken a dislike to him. To the point where I finally gave up trying to take him to class if the guy was listed as the only instructor. The worst part is that I actually felt like I was learning more from this guy than from the regular lady. And no, Apollo's not having any OTHER issues with men, just that one guy.....

And of course Apollo has started shedding. He's not YET in full blow-out where I'm pulling giant clumps of fur all hours of the day, but running your hands down his shoulders/hips and legs results in a handfull of fluff.....

 

[Rugers-Kris]

I am sorry to hear that, Ruth. Like you said, good practice anyway. Don't they take shedding into consideration at the shows? I probably sound ignorant but I would think that at certain times of the year, certain breeds do it and that is just the way it is, right?

 

[ruthcatrin]

I would assume that it would be accounted for, and the standard specifically states that dogs in summer coat shouldn't be penalized, and since he's not competing against someone I don't have to worry about him looking scraggly in comparison to a dog who still has his full winter coat. But it means that I'll probly be covered in gold fluff walking into the ring, and we'll be leaving a cloud of it behind us everywhere......

 

[Rugers-Kris]

LOL. I bet that is something when he blows that coat. I think it is bad when Ruger does it. Recently it has been horrible with the shedding considering it will be 75 degrees one day and then 40 the next and Rugers fur isn't sure what to do but it means that he is shedding a lot.

I would assume that it would be accounted for, and the standard specifically states that dogs in summer coat shouldn't be penalized, and since he's not competing against someone I don't have to worry about him looking scraggly in comparison to a dog who still has his full winter coat. But it means that I'll probly be covered in gold fluff walking into the ring, and we'll be leaving a cloud of it behind us everywhere......

 

[ruthcatrin]

If I'm lucky full blowout will wait till after the show. If I'm unlucky I'll be standing there before the breed ring on Saturday trying to pull clumps off of my sweater....

 

[Rugers-Kris]

LMAO!! I know that would be bad but I just pictured you literally covered in Apollo fur it and it is TOO funny! I hope it holds out for you.

If I'm lucky full blowout will wait till after the show. If I'm unlucky I'll be standing there before the breed ring on Saturday trying to pull clumps off of my sweater....

 

[broccolini]

You don't get points if there are no other dogs, right?

And wear something made of Teflon.

 

[ruthcatrin]

You don't get points if there are no other dogs, right?

And wear something made of Teflon.

That is my understanding. He has to actually beat another dog in order for anything to count. Mind, we both need the experience of being in the show setting, so its still good experience, but yah....

And I'm occasionally tempted!!

Ruger-Kris, if last year is anything to go by...yah, that about describes it!

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Ruth try not to rake Apollo if you can and if you bath him before his show then only surface wash him and dont blast him, if you can get away with it then dont bath him at all. If you have a pin brush then use that, pluck out any chunks just before going in the ring so they are not flapping in the wind but try to leave him alone if you can. You dont want him to look like he is coming out in chunks as he will look poorly groomed but in the same token you dont want him to be bald either...its a fine line. I'll put a pic of Moo up from Crufts, you can clearly see she was blowing her coat but didnt look ungroomed either.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

 

[ruthcatrin]

Thank you! He needs a bath in general, so he'll get one, but we'll go gentle on it....SO FAR only his shoulders are showing loose fur, about like Mooshi in that picture.....

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Do you really, really, really have to wet wash him? Can you not do a dry shampoo job on him until after the show? As you well know as soon as his fur gets wet its going to start coming out in chunks, and I mean in chunks!

 

[ruthcatrin]

Point.....*sigh*.....arg....

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Try just dry shampoo'ing him the night before...you can get it from a pet supply store. Gently brush him, pluck anything obvious and then LEAVE HIM ALONE!! Its the worst time of year to show a TM I know but to give yourself a fighting chance I wouldnt wet wash him this time, you will only make it worse, much worse. After the show then by all means scrub the fur butt within an inch of his life but not just before this show.

 

[ruthcatrin]

yes ma'am!

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

hahaha!

 

[kbuchanan66]

Do TM blow their coat once or twice a year? Is it like a Husky blowing their coat?

 

[ruthcatrin]

Once a year, with little to no shed the rest of the year. But that once a year you and your house are COVERED in fluff....not dissimiler to a husky no, except TMs are usually bigger....

 

[kbuchanan66]

Once a year, with little to no shed the rest of the year. But that once a year you and your house are COVERED in fluff....not dissimiler to a husky no, except TMs are usually bigger....

Thank you for the information Loving this knowledge.

 

[ruthcatrin]

I forgot to check HOW MANY dogs were in the ring ahead of us.....21 rotti's later......Apollo did very well waiting though, he was even surprisingly polite to Chesapeke Bay retriever bitch who'd just gone into heat (the owner FREAKED when she realized she'd been standing her in heat bitch infront of an intact male, ooops).....And he did well in the ring for me (other than insisting on trying to kiss the judge....), unfortunetly I double scheduled myself for this afternoon and so we're not making the group ring today. Practice paid off though, which is always nice!