Welsh Springer Spaniel
Expert Grooming Article
Welsh Springer Spaniel
An ancient land spaniel breed from the British Isles with their distinctive red and white colour that made it to the Welsh valleys where they were revered for their hunting ability. They come in only rich red and white with a straight or flat, silky texture, dense, never wiry or wavy. Curly coat highly undesirable. Forelegs and hindlegs above hocks moderately feathered, ears and tail lightly feathered.
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When preparing a Welsh Springer Spaniel 2 important things must be considered. Correct colour and coat texture. It’s important to use the correct products to highlight both.
Firstly when bathing always use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It on the face. This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed just for faces. It’s no tear formula features the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, soothe, add moisture, aid healing and have anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. It can also be used in and around the ears with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows ease of rinsing, yet complete cleaning. Leave this on until final shampoo rinsing to offer protection to the eyes.
The best shampoo for this coat is Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo. This addresses both the white base colour and will intensify the rich red colour also. This shampoo will help the straight or flat, silky texture also. It’s primarily derived from organic sources with Ginseng extracts, protein, and a violet tone combined in a rich formula that works brilliantly to whiten whites and intensify darker colours. It DOES NOT lighten or bleach but instead tones with optical brighteners.
It reduces yellowing or warm tones in white coats or white areas of the coat and will negate unwanted tones from sun fading or reddening in the coat. Similarly for rich red colour, it will reduce any warm tones to intensify the depth of colour by revitalising any lost cool tones. Herbal Whitening Shampoo makes white coats gleam and sparkle with a pearly sheen.
All coat colours are made of the full spectrum of the colours of the rainbow and first tones to fade are always the blues and purples leaving a reddish, orange overtone to the coat. This is a quick and effective way to give depth back to your blacks and reds without damaging the coat or using any artificial coat colourings. Use at a dilution 1:5/10 (1 part shampoo to 5-10 parts water). Lather and then rinse.
There are times where a Welshie likes being a gundog and gets that extra bit grubby and dirty. For those times first bath using Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo which is a clarifying shampoo designed to remove grease, grime and any product build-up in a dogs coat. By clarifying we mean cutting through ANY impurities to leave the coat in an ultra-clean natural state.
This shampoo has extra surfactants that open the cuticle deeper to allow the deep cleaning and clarifying process. It will provide the deepest coat clean available leaving the coat reset and refreshed. Not only will it spruce up dull whites, it can also be used on any colour coat for a thorough and intensive clean. Deep Cleansing Shampoo will assist in reducing unwanted coat stains. Deep Cleansing Shampoo is a rich formulation infused with Green Tea and Seaweed extracts. Green Tea is full of nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals and Panthenol (Vitamin B). It helps strengthen the coat and retain moisture. Seaweed extract provides detoxification, which leaves the coat in a healthier state. Use at 1:5 dilution rate (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water). Lather well where needed (legs, around the neck and ears generally) and rinse. Then use the Plush Puppy® Herbal Whitening Shampoo.
For any stained areas on any coat type apply for greater whitening use Plush Puppy Wonder Blok. It helps to maintain a white stain free coat. It is not a bleach and contains no harmful chemicals but high amounts of naturally sourced vegetable surfactants and glycerin. This product is designed to gently remove unwanted warm or red tones to the coat. Best used on a damp or wet coat. Gently rub into the areas required allowing time (5-10 minutes) and rinse. For maximum effects repeat or allow a longer time for this amazing product to work. As with all products take care around eyes.
To condition a Welsh coat use Plush Puppy Natural Silk Protein Conditioner. Use a light squish at 1:10 (1 part conditioner to 10 parts water) through the longer parts of the coat as it will serve to keep featherings untangled and hydrated. Use the conditioner mix at 1:20 on the shorter body coat for shine but this higher dilution will reduce the risk making the coat fluffy.
This conditioner leaves the coat with a wonderful finish, reducing static electricity and fluffiness in “fly-away” coats. It features an intensive formulation boosted with Silk Amino acids and plant extracts that bind keratin in the coat, strengthening whilst protecting against moisture loss.
If you feel the coat is dehydrated on the shorter areas use Plush Puppy Reviva Coat. This is a unique hydration foam. Apply a couple of golf ball sized amounts to the area and massage in. It hydrates without effecting texture. Plush Puppy Reviva Coat is excellent for mid-week protection of pee feathers on boys and even girls. Lightly clean the area using Plush Puppy Wonder Wash our no rinse shampoo, towel dry and then apply Reviva Coat and leave in. This product hydrates, protects and closes the cuticle to vastly reduce staining and breakage.
When brushing a Welsh Springer Spaniel coat, make sure you are using a moisturiser first rather than attacking a dry coat. Plush Puppy OMG is the perfect product for this coat. A light spray and brushing in allows complete coat refreshing. It separates the coat and leaves the most amazing finish. Use OMG Concentrate diluted at 1:20 (1 part OMG to 20 parts water) or OMG Ready to Use Grooming Spray. The stronger the mix the stronger their effects. Different dogs at different coat stages means different mixtures.
Use a cushioned oval Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush, for grooming and when drying. Brush until ¾ dry as this won’t stretch the featherings then switch to the Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush which is an oval cushioned half bristle, half dialon brush to finish by smoothing the featherings. I use the two brushes as it is detrimental to the coat to not overly stretch hair when wet hence the use of the Pin brush first until almost dry.
This is a breed where many do those annoying coat drops from time to time. For those times which normally occur just before a great Show use Plush Puppy Volumising Cream. Create a mix at a ratio of 1 tablespoon to 1 cup water and spray well onto the ear featherings or sponge on liberally. Or use Plush Puppy Volumising Spray which is a ‘Ready to Use’ spray for quick and easy 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. 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. Just perfect for ears and anywhere requiring a bit more lift.
Use the Pin Brush to ¾ dry and either finish with the air from the dryer and your fingers for a more tousled finish. Alternatively you can complete the drying lightly with the Pin Brush for a more regulated but still loose but full finish.
Finish with a Plush Puppy Professional Grooming Comb. The lightweight oval shaped spine combining fine and coarse pins will reduce drag and static to the coat. Perfect for use for this breed of dog.
For Show days make sure you pack the Plush Puppy Wonder Wash for the feet and legs if they got dirty or dusty. This which is a no rinse wet instant shampoo for last-minute emergencies that will clean up anything, pronto. Just spray and foam in with the fingers and towel off.
At times due to various reasons including the weather static electricity can create flyaways. If this occurs use Plush Puppy Anti-Static Coat Control. This is a lightweight spray infused with organic extracts of Witch Hazel Leaf, Linden Flower, Birch Bark and Nettle. It also adds to the protection, include a UV filter to stop sun damage and protect against heat strength for the perfect finished look of the coat. This amazing product is idea for this breed and a must for your tack box.
All senses come into play when judging and a good smelling dog is nice to touch. Plush Puppy Odour Muncher is sensational in that it kills the odour and leaves a pleasant scent behind.
For the final flourish, spray with Plush Puppy Shine and Comb, a magical shine spray that is non greasy and water soluble. A light burst onto the coat or onto your hands and smoothed over the top and flanks just works like a charm. Try spraying just one side first and see the difference. It’s amazing. Your dog will just glisten with glowing good health.
A well prepared Welsh Springer Spaniel is a sight to behold. The outline and stylish rich red and white colouring captures the eye of many a judge. Your efforts in maintain the coat and preparation can put a smile on the judges face amongst the many gundog breeds.
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