When should you start grooming preparation for a show?

To avoid this scenario, start as soon as you are thinking about a show. Coat upkeep and learning to accept handling are built up gradually; the finishing touches come later, at a date suited to the breed.

There is no universal countdown: a short coat, a long coat and a coat that needs stripping are not prepared in the same way.

The right timetable depends on where you start from

Before setting an appointment, ask yourself three questions:

• Is the coat well kept, with no major tangles?
• Do its length and appearance match what the standard asks for?
• Does my dog calmly accept the necessary handling?

If a length has to grow back or if your dog is meeting grooming for the first time, you need to allow more time. Conversely, a dog who is regularly looked after and used to the care will mainly need a well-organised final preparation.

Official standards describe the expected result but do not give a grooming timetable valid for every dog. The guidelines below are therefore practical tips, to be adapted with a professional who knows the breed.

Beginner: three tips for a calm start

1. Get your dog used to it before aiming for the perfect finish. From the day he arrives, offer short sessions suited to his age and tolerance: a few strokes of the brush, gentle handling of the paws, then a reward. Introduce the necessary equipment gradually. A dog who is at ease will be easier to prepare on the day.
2. Ask for advice several weeks before your first show. Contact the breeder or a groomer who knows how to prepare your breed. He or she can assess the coat, identify the lengths to keep and plan the appointments. If significant regrowth is needed, several months may be useful: better to find out early!
3. Read the standard before having the coat shortened. A cut that is practical day to day may need a long regrowth before a show.

With the Poodle, for example, the standard details the permitted clips: better to choose the right direction before the first snip of the scissors.

Intermediate: three tips for organising the steps

1. Start from the show date and work backwards. With your groomer, decide when to do the different steps: any stripping, the cut, the bath and finishing touches. Avoid automatically applying another dog's schedule, even of the same breed.
2. Do a trial early enough. Before an important date, observe the result of your usual routine: how does the coat lie after the bath? How does it look over the following days? This will help you choose the right moment to prepare your dog, with no last-minute surprises.
3. Keep up regular upkeep until show day. Don't let tangles build up while waiting for the final appointment. Adapt the sessions to the coat's needs and check areas of friction. The final grooming should be able to focus on presentation, with a comfortable dog.

Advanced: three tips for fine-tuning your timing

1. Keep a small preparation notebook. Note the dates of care, the techniques used and how the coat develops. Add a few photos taken in comparable conditions. After several shows, you will have reference points specific to your dog.
2. Plan the long steps across the season. When preparation involves regrowth or gradual work on the coat, organise it around the shows you are aiming for. Have the techniques adapted to the breed and the dog: a major change just before the event can jeopardise the result you expect.
3. Set a limit on touch-ups. Examine your dog standing and moving, then stop once the presentation matches the standard. For the American Cocker Spaniel, the standard asks in particular for the natural appearance to be preserved and for lines and gaits not to be hidden by excessive coat. For the Poodle, it points out that over-grooming should not be encouraged.

What about the day before the show?

Mostly plan a coat check, the finishing touches already scheduled and getting your kit ready. Avoid trying out a new technique or improvising a major transformation.

The right aim: arrive on show day with a prepared coat and a dog who knows what to expect. The day before then becomes a quiet step in the programme.

Sources

• FCI: Standard No. 172, Poodle (PDF)
• FCI: Standard No. 167, American Cocker Spaniel (PDF)