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From sporting dogs to toy breeds, show dogs must look the part.

鈥淢iss America does not just sit on the couch eating potato chips before a pageant,鈥� says Susan Hamil, a veteran of the dog show world. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the same for show dogs.鈥� Hamil, a judge and fancier of Bloodhounds, is one of the four dog show experts that shared their tips and dog care regimen leading up to a show.

The perfectly-coiffed dogs may make it look effortless, but groomers are doing consistent work behind the scenes to prepare for the ring. While your dog may not be strutting their stuff at a Conformation event, we know they鈥檒l always be Best in Show in your heart. These dog grooming tips will help your pup look and feel their best.

1. Let鈥檚 Talk Exercise

鈥淭he thing about show dogs is that they learn to enjoy all of the attention, which makes them feel good about themselves. Just like people, dogs feel their best when they鈥檙e in great condition, so they need exercise. For example, a show Bloodhound will do 45 minutes of swimming with a weighted vest on a regular basis to stay in shape.鈥� 鈥�Susan Hamil, Bloodhound judge and breeder

Courtesy of Erin Myers

2. Research Your Dog Food

鈥淭he most important advice I give to owners of West Highland White Terriers is to research your dog food. A lot of Westies are prone to skin issues, and people want a formulaic answer to solve what鈥檚 going on, but it鈥檚 not that easy. I think some dog foods promote yeast growth, and yeast is a bad thing for Westies. It gets in their armpits, in their pads, and it just grows 鈥� I have a couple of friends that have Westies, and they chew themselves raw. It鈥檚 really sad. People assume it鈥檚 allergies, but it may not be. It may be something like too much sugar in the food or too many carbohydrates, which produces sugar, which fuels yeast. Always research their food and talk to your vet about what is appropriate.鈥澛犫赌�Vanessa Skou, West Highland White Terrier breeder and fancier

Courtesy of Michelle Jones

3. Teach Your Dog to Love Grooming

鈥淒og owners need to be willing to put in the time to teach dogs to accept grooming. If you can put the dog up on a countertop, touch their feet, and run a brush through their coat, it helps them to get used to being handled, and they learn to enjoy it. My dogs will jump up on the grooming tables themselves and hang out. They鈥檒l look at me like, 鈥楬ey, it鈥檚 my turn! Brush me.鈥� If you make it enjoyable, it can be very relaxing for the dog.鈥澛犫赌�Lindsey Dicken, Master Groomer, Bichon Frise fancier

4. Get to Know Your Dog鈥檚 Coat Type

鈥淯nderstanding what your dog鈥檚 coat needs is very helpful. For example, Shih Tzus are known for their long, flowing coats. Sometimes the stronger shampoos that are used to get Shih Tzus clean can dry their skin, so they typically need a after a bath to put the moisture back in. Keep in mind, it鈥檚 essential to use and not people because of the differences in pH balance.鈥澛犫赌�Michelle Jones, Shih Tzu breeder and fancier

鈥淏loodhounds have an all-weather coat. They secrete sebum that naturally waterproofs their coats, so water doesn鈥檛 penetrate the hair, and they can shake it off. When washing your dog, you do not want to remove the natural oils. Use a on a routine basis. I also use a conditioner or a cr猫me rinse. Before bath time, I brush out the dog鈥檚 coat to get the dead hair out. I prefer a .鈥澛犫赌�Susan Hamil, Bloodhound expert

5. Never Skimp on Dental Hygiene

鈥淚t鈥檚 crucial for large dogs to get used to being handled right at the beginning. You should be able to lift their lip to massage their gums and clean their teeth. For massaging their gums, you can use a or a with soft, rubber bristles. Always make sure you brush the gum line, too. Dogs can get all of the dental issues humans do 鈥� except they cannot brush their teeth after a meal.鈥澛犫赌�Susan Hamil, Bloodhound expert

鈥淚n addition to brushing, I give my dogs a chew that is a to help keep their teeth clean. I like them because they鈥檙e easy for the little dogs to hold between their paws. They don鈥檛 make a big mess or leave residue on their coat. I鈥檝e also recently been turned on to . My dogs only get them twice a week. They love them, and for some reason, their teeth are spotless.鈥澛犫赌�Michelle Jones, Shih Tzu expert

Courtesy of Rhonda Cassidy

6. Keep Nails and Foot Hair Trimmed

Nails

鈥淢y dogs鈥� nails are checked with every single bath. Because breeds like Shih Tzus and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a lot of foot hair, people forget about trimming their nails. But they shouldn鈥檛. When nails are overgrown, it affects their feet and their ability to walk and move.鈥�

Foot Hair

鈥淥n Shih Tzus and other toy breeds, you need to trim the hair that鈥檚 between the pads of their feet on the bottom side. Keeping that area trimmed and clean can reduce their chances of getting irritation between the pads of the feet. It also helps with traction so they can use the pads of their feet when they鈥檙e on different surfaces.鈥澛犫赌�Michelle Jones, Shih Tzu expert

Courtesy of Lindsey Dicken

7. Keep Up With Grooming

Brush Between Grooming Appointments

鈥淚鈥檓 a pet groomer by trade, and I think the biggest thing that we tell our owners is brushing out the coat. It鈥檚 the biggest favor you can do for your dog because they have to learn, first of all, that it鈥檚 not a bad thing. Then, when they get to a groomer, they won鈥檛 have to brush out four to eight weeks of knots. That鈥檚 not fun for the groomer or the dog. When an owner brushes their dog at home, it not only keeps the coat in good shape, it also gets the dog used to being handled and brushed. It makes the groomer鈥檚 job a lot easier, and it鈥檚 more comfortable for the dog.鈥澛犫赌�Lindsey Dicken, Master Groomer and Bichon Frise expert

Maintain Cuts

鈥淭here are many cute puppy cuts out there for Shih Tzus, but owners need to make sure that the cuts are maintained. It is important to trim the hair over the nose on a regular basis. People don鈥檛 always realize that as the hair grows, it can poke the dog in the eye and give them eye irritation.鈥澛犫赌�Michelle Jones, Shih Tzu expert

Courtesy of Lindsey Dicken

8. Quick Health Check

鈥淚鈥檓 always touching my dogs. I carry them in my arms. I鈥檓 grooming them often, and I鈥檓 always looking at them. This way, I can find out: Do they have a growth? Do they have something going on? I鈥檓 always aware of what鈥檚 going on with my dogs鈥� bodies. You can catch many issues before they become bad by being observant.鈥澛犫赌�Vanessa Skou, West Highland White Terrier expert

9. Special Care for Certain Features

Floppy Ears

鈥淕et your vet to recommend a and clean their ears according to how much wax build-up or debris there is. Keep their ear tips clean and dry. If you live in a city, their ears will pick up a lot of dirt from the sidewalk.鈥�

Droopy Eyes

鈥�Make sure the eyes are clear of any matter or discharge. The breed has droopy eyes so that you can see lower lids and they may be a little pink. They should never be fiery red or angry-looking. There should not be persistent tearing or discharge. If this is the case, consult your vet.鈥� 鈥�Susan Hamil, Bloodhound expert

10. Specially Treat White Coats

鈥淚 bathe my dogs that are showing once a week, and I make sure they鈥檙e dried well. I wash them in a clear shampoo 鈥� no color. Westie hair absorbs color. So if you use a purple shampoo, then eventually they鈥檒l become purple.

鈥淐lean and dry is the name of the game. And it鈥檚 hard when you have a pet. Even if you use a to wipe their feet every time they come inside, it will help a lot.鈥澛犫赌�Vanessa Skou, West Highland White Terrier Expert

鈥淚 mix it up, depending on each dog because if they have a dry coat, you don鈥檛 want to use one that has a lot of bluing in it because it will make them purple. I sometimes use the brand Artero. They have a booster called 鈥楤lanc,鈥� that you can mix into other shampoos. It makes it like an . I like that one because it鈥檚 not so obvious and not so purple or blue.鈥澛犫赌�Lindsey Dicken, Master Groomer and Bichon Frise expert