How to Get a Corgi Ready for a Dog Show
Corgis are highly intelligent and very popular dogs. There are two distinct variations of the corgi breed. Pembroke Welsh corgis are shorter in body length with smaller ears and stumpy tails. Cardigan Welsh corgis are longer with larger ears and full, bushy tails. Both corgi breeds follow basically the same grooming routine and it's simple to prepare them for the show ring.
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Things You'll Need
- Dog shampoo and conditioner
- Brushes
- Nail clippers
- Small scissors
- Cotton balls
- Eye wash
- Grooming table
Instructions
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Practice gaiting and stacking with your corgi well in advance of the show. Gaiting is the proper movement your corgi will need for the ring and stacking is the ability to stand square for the judge. Work with your dog often so that she knows these skills before a show.
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2
Fit your corgi with a proper show lead. Many corgi competitors choose to use a simple lead, such as a martingale, but choose the style that works best for you. Pick a color that compliments your dog, such as a white lead on a blue merle dog.
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Groom your corgi at least three days before your show. Grooming in advance allows the coat to relax and any slight mistakes you might make to grow out before your show.
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Brush your corgi well. Removing any dead hair from the coat is necessary before bathing the dog.
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Clean your dog’s eyes with a cotton ball and eye wash. Dampen the cotton ball and gently rub away any matter or stains from your corgi’s eyes before her bath.
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Bathe the corgi well. Apply a liberal amount of shampoo to the coat, massaging it in well to work loose any remaining dead hair. Rinse the dog well and apply conditioner, taking care to get all of the conditioner out before drying the dog.
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Trim the dog’s nails. Do not trim them too short or you will cut the quick and injure the dog.
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Cut any straggling hairs from your corgi with scissors. The overall look of your corgi should be smooth, so removing any long hairs will give a flowing outline to your dog in the ring.
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Arrive at the show grounds early and look over your dog from head to toe. Stand him on your grooming table and trim any hairs or whiskers that need trimmed. You can also spot wash any stained areas before heading into the ring.
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Tips & Warnings
Use only pet-approved shampoos on your dog. Anything else could have chemicals in it that will burn her skin.
Do not trim your dog’s hair with dull scissors. Dull scissors will not trim the hair properly and can result in pain for your dog.
Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.sxc.hu
