Tibetan Terrier (en)

Brought originally from the "Lost Valley" of Tibet to England in the 1920's and introduced from there to the USA in 1956, the Tibetan Terriers (TT) have always been highly prized as "Luck Bringers" by the lamas for 2,000 years. Technically not a Terrier and loosely associated only because of size they make wonderful and devoted companions and though not bred for utilitarian purposes, they are capable of assisting in caring for property and livestock.

A square, medium sized breed, the TT has a profuse double coat with soft, woolly undercoat and a fine, long outercoat. This may be straight or wavy but never silky, woolly nor curly. It ought to be presented as "naturally as possible". Frankly, natural is often taken to the extreme and the opposite can be true too. So, where is the happy balance to this coat to appear "natural" and yet beautifully groomed and presented?

Your standard calls for the coat to be heavily furnished many times and that the key word to be profuse is explicit. So, no curl, can be straight or wavy and can have a part at neck and back and must be long without hanging on the ground. That's pretty straightforward. Almost any colour is permissible with the exception of chocolate or liver.

The secret to grooming this coat is to make sure everything we apply to the coat is through the whole of the coat and not just put on the top layers. I am a stickler for even dispersion of whatever we apply to a coat, with the understanding that application to top layers is never going to provide support from the underneath if the underneath is ignored. Thus, this coat needs to be saturated with whatever it is you use to ensure total penetration.

Starting with the shampoo - it depends on what colour you have or what your greatest need/desire for the coat i.e. If a grey, white or black then use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo Diluted at least 5:1 - this shampoo tones the unwanted warm tones in all the colours. Thus, a coat that is dehydrated and looking faded will benefit from this or a coat that has white areas also. I am an advocate of using different shampoos on various areas to achieve the various outcomes. This will tone and retain texture. A useful tool and a good point to know. Alternatively, you could use the Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo which gives lots of shine yet maintains texture. Use also at 5:1 dilution.

Everything must be diluted - the Tibetan coat is thick, and this technique ensures even distribution of the product and without too many bubbles. Too many bubbles gives too much static in the coat so you want ideally to have a shampoo that is low foaming and can be diluted even further to 10:1 if you desire, though you will get less toning on the Whitening shampoo and less shine from the All Purpose. If the coat is not profuse enough, then you should use Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo - adds volume to the coat and is diluted again at 5:1. So if you are happy with the texture and colour but require shine, I would suggest to use the All Purpose diluted 5:1 and rinse well.

For a dog with a too soft and silky coat try Plush Puppy Texture + Shampoo is product formulated using the latest technology to retain and improve coat texture. Recommended to thoroughly yet gently cleanse and deodorise the coat. It's ideal for boosting body and coarseness in coats of all colours and coat types. Formulated to be pH controlled, creates/ maintains texture, easy to rinse out and low irritant with a subtle apple fragrance. Use at 1:10 or apply undiluted directly to areas requiring cleansing. Rinse thoroughly.

Around the head and face use Plush Puppy Let's Face It - which is what the dog showing world has needed for way too long. Another one of the famous Plush Puppy products that with the latest of technology and the highest amounts of naturally sourced ingredients has developed a product that is a must! This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed for faces. It's no tear formula with the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, soothes, adds moisture, aids healing and anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts 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 easy of rinsing yet complete cleaning.

You have different things happening here on this coat and ideally you want the coat to hang but at the same time for the coat to appear profuse and the dog's outline to appear as if he is heavily furnished and he is compact, square and strong. You need to style and tweak your dog to fit this ideal silhouette. So, you know the various outcomes of the above shampoos and can use them accordingly on the areas that need shine or need drape or need volume etc.

For your final rinse, use the Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil which is good for good healthy vigor to the coat and use 1 teaspoon to 4 litres/1 gal warm water, also adding 1 tablespoon Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner for disentangling and 1 tablespoon Plush Puppy Swishy Coat to help smooth the lengths of the coat and minimise static - saturate the coat using a large car washing sponge right through all the lengths of the coat. Leave in and do not rinse out. You can adjust these amounts according to each of the individuals you own but I suggest this is a good starting base.

Bulk up the feet and legs if necessary, use Plush Puppy Volumising Cream at a ratio of 2 teaspoons to 1 cup water and liberally applied and left in. Do not wash off. This will really bulk out those areas. Also available in a Ready to Use formula. A simple spray, brush and dry.

Now blow dry using a Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush sectioning the coat and starting from the underneath, layer by layer drying till 3/4 dry and finishing till fully dry with Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush to get a smoother finish. Use the Pin brush when the coat is wet to avoid stretching and destroying the texture. However once the coat is 3/4 dry, then change to the anti-static as this will smooth and settle the coat giving you the finish you want. Too much brushing and you just create more static and fly away coat.

For added texture if required use Plush Puppy Powder Puff Terrier as this is really harsh. However, be warned, as it gives a very hard texture and not the texture I know a TT must have. This "if" needed is a less is more product. We are just giving you some extremes so if you are confronted with an extreme situation, you now have the tools to create what you want.

One can also use a treatment on this coat between shows by applying a watery slurry of Plush Puppy Coat Rescue and water to the coat and leave in for as long as possible before rinsing. The follow through with an application of diluted Silk Protein Conditioner at 10:1, squish through evenly and then rinse. Use Plush Puppy Reviva Coat on the lengths and leave in.

For show day & daily brushing, use Plush Puppy OMG Grooming Spray. Wonderful stuff for spraying and brushing the lengths of the coat. I prefer this at a dilution rate of 30:1 i.e. 30 parts water to one part OMG. Never brush a coat without a grooming spray and this is ideal. You could also if requiring more moisture to the coat, mix a spray of Plush Puppy Reviva Coat which is a leave in moisturiser, at a ratio of one golfball amount to 250 ml/1 cup water into a measuring cup and once the mix settles, pour into a spray bottle and use as your grooming spray. The OMG will really glide through the coat and minimise static whereas the Reviva Coat will give more condition and moisture. For last minute finish to the coat before going to the ring, add a small amount of Plush Puppy Protein Coat Balm which is a great leave in anti-stat, to your hands and work through the ends of the coat and brush with the Pin Brush.

You can achieve a wonderful outline. You can achieve that wondrous, square silhouette with the tail, heavily furnished again, set on high and falling forwards over the back. Make sure the ends are always moisturised between shows and that you don't lose texture and length due to dehydration from lack of attention. This dog came from a cold and harsh climate and ought to be able to withstand the extremes of temperatures he would have been required to survive in.

The Tibetan Terrier is a very glamorous dog. He is lively and good natured and exhibits an engaging personality. He is outgoing which is such a plus in the show ring and with his effortless stride of good reach and flexibility for full extension in rear he is capable of great agility and endurance.

A beautiful dog that presented well is a strong contender in any line up.

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