Afghan Hound (en)

There is the question of how much one does to present a breed such as an Afghan. This is one heck of a glamorous breed with a great air of arrogance required.

The hardest coats to maintain as puppies will be your Blacks or Black & Tans. They can appear dehydrated before the golds and creams so may need extra assistance such as an application of Plush Puppy OMG. Available as either the Concentrate or Plush Puppy OMG Ready to Use - is a revolutionary grooming spray that lives up to its name. A light spray of OMG and brushing in allows this product to refresh the coat leaving it feeling wonderful. Using at an approximate mixture of 1-part OMG to 30 parts water, using this break down for the OMG concentrate. The stronger the mix the stronger the effect. Using OMG can be a one-off at shows or during the drying process after bathing. An amazing product for regular brushing also. OMG never builds up, never goes stringy. A product that took years to develop using the latest of technology for maximum effects ... a true necessity for the tool kit! You can add Plush Puppy Blow Dry Cream at a ratio of 1 teaspoon to 1 cup water to flatten the coat, when blow drying.

Presenting some challenges to exhibitors are the old fashioned Black Masked Golds and sometimes the Blues when out of coat. They benefit from bathing in Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo at a ratio of 3:1 (3 parts water to one-part shampoo) and an application prior to blow drying of Plush Puppy Volumising Cream at a ratio of 1 teaspoon to 1 cup water. Use the whole of the mix. You can adjust this to be stronger or more diluted depending on desired results. For easier use try Plush Puppy Volumising Spray 'Ready to Use' for quicker, easier and fuller coat results. Perfect either before blow drying or used to 'fluff-up' the coat at the show. A light even spray, brush in until dry or use a dryer. Produced for easy use and scientifically balanced for all coat types. This is a hair thickener to add volume - not a hair stiffener and not easily detectable as it leaves the coat with a natural fuller look and feel.

Most times the Afghan can be bathed with Plush Puppy Natural Conditioning Shampoo at a dilution rate of 5:1. For extra shine use the Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo at 5:1 and to minimise rusty tones on a black coated Afghan use the Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo at a dilution ratio of 5:1. This shampoo will not lighten or bleach but adds a tonal effect to the finish, deepening and reducing the unwanted overtones.

Plush Puppy Wonder Blok is an innovative approach to traditional stain reducing. Made from naturally sourced vegetable surfactants and glycerin with a light lemongrass fragrance. Perfect for those with creams, whites, and cream/silver feet in B/T. Directions: Wet coat and apply regularly to reduce staining. Allow minimum of 10 mins and then rinse well. Whilst a mild product - be careful not to get in dogs' eyes.

This is a breed that obviously requires dedication and lots of hours drying. Plush Puppy FAST Blow Dry Spray is a revolutionary innovative fast-dry blow dry spray that combines the latest active ingredients together to dramatically reduce drying time, adds moisture and condition while protecting the coat. A light spray on a dog coat once bathed and towel dried and a gentle overall brush dramatically reduces drying time.

The Afghan with those far seeing eyes and oriental expression use Plush Puppy Let's Face It - what the dog showing world has needed for way too long. Another one of the famous Plush Puppy products. It's a hypoallergenic sulphate-free low foaming shampoo designed for faces. It's no tear formula contains the highest quality Blue Cypress extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients are soothing, cleansing, assist in adding moisture, aid healing and have anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amount directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. Can be used in and around ears also with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows ease of rinsing yet complete cleaning.

Afghans every so often need Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo at a dilution ratio of 5:1 to remove all unwanted build-up on the hair. This will help bring the coat back to virgin status and allow you to start with a new playing field.

Each hair should appear light and individual without being clumpy or 'pasted' down, the coat must bounce and lilt. You want it to swirl, swing and float with the dog's movement and then fall exactly back into place. On show day Plush Puppy Protein Coat Balm smoothed through from the mid lengths to the ends with an extra onto the very tips of the coat will allow this illusion to be a reality.

To achieve the holy grail of Afghan coats, the final rinse for a show bath is the ultimate secret. Do not condition the saddle, ever, as it dulls the coat and gives rise to scurf. You can add conditioner such as Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner lightly to the ears and top knot and rinse well. For the body of the coat you add after shampooing, ¼ to 1/2 a cup of Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner (depending on coat amount) plus 1 teaspoon of Plush Puppy Swishy Coat to 1 gal/4lt water and sponge through thoroughly - DO NOT RINSE OUT - LEAVE IN. You can adjust the proportions slightly as some coats will vary in texture. However, this is a starting base and appears to suit the majority.

We like to share one great point with you for the Afghan - it is to MEASURE, DILUTE and make a RECORD. Having worked out what works, you will want to be able to recreate it again. Measuring allows you to do it each time or be able to adjust slightly from time to time.

The reason we do all the application of products at final rinse stage and do not rinse it out is because it is easier to disperse through such a lot of coat, the products evenly, rather than spraying as we dry and if one does a 2 step or 3 step routine such as conditioner, rinse, apply product for drying etc., then you can never gauge just how much conditioner to rinse out or how much has been left in. Consequently, there is an uneven amount left throughout the coat. The recommended method I have given is simple, quick and accurate in its even dispersion.

For maintenance bath, use 1 - 2 cups of the Conditioner and 2 tablespoons of the Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil as a final rinse and leave-in to prevent matting. You can use the new Plush Puppy Coat Rescue at this point using 1 tablespoon also to the mix. You should wrap the ears using the Plush Puppy Reviva Coat a golf ball sized amount on your hands and gently working into the area to be wrapped, then use a plastic wrapping sheet to wrap and band. As Afghans like to dunk their ears into water bowls, an old hand trick is to have a loose collar with two elastic bands attached at the rear of the collar and once the ears are wrapped, attach the ends of the wraps to the collar elastics. Voila, no more chewed ear wraps or wet yucky ears.

When drying for show day, use a Plush Puppy Ultimate Long Pin Brush. I avoid slickers like the plague with any long-coated breed. They are an Afghan's worst friend. Never brush a dirty coat or knots out of a dry coat at all - if it's dirty or it's knotted - bath it! Always blow dry with your Pin Brush till 7/8 dry at least then switch to an oval cushioned Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush. This is at least ½ dialon and ½ bristle to allow you to get that smooth finish. Great product to minimise matting, tangling and static is Plush Puppy OMG Grooming Spray. OMG won't leave a greasy residue or build-up, it's just perfect. A light spray and can be repeated as it doesn't build up.

For puppies, brush legs up and body coat down. For adults everything gets directed down.

Now it's just the final titivating touches such as smelling good with Plush Puppy Odour Muncher, a light and judicial dusting of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust for subtle shimmer on the mid lengths and perhaps the saddle, and for some who are a little too aloof in the ring, at least an early morning dose of Plush Puppy Apprehension Drops. Can be used the night before as well. 4 drops night before, morning and 1 hr. before showing is recommended.

Your Afghan is the King of Dogs - the rest of the world according to an Afghan is insignificant and no groveling, eager fools need apply. To watch this dog's signature movement around the ring with a smooth springy lift with coat lilting and swinging and his elegantly curved tail raised for the action, it is no wonder we mere mortals collectively gasp in envy. This is a true-blue blood of the dog world.

Plush Puppy Australia.