This is a truly an Australian developed breed with history involving both the Yorkshire and Australian terrier. Bred to be a companion, ratter and even a snake dog.
Key to correct preparation is their distinctive coat involving both coat colour and texture.
Colour is to understand the unique fading gene that causes the dark, near black puppy coat to fade to the adult blue colour combining with the distinct rich tan points. All shades of blue and tan are acceptable, the richer these colours and more clearly defined the better. The coat is to be flat, fine and glossy with a silky texture.
Start with the face always using the gentle Plush Puppy Let’s Face It. This specialised shampoo cleans around the face without causing irritation to those beautiful Silky’s eyes.
It 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. We always recommend you leave this on until the shampooing process is finished.
To correctly prepare the coat is to address both the colour and the texture required in the breed. This requires 2 parts, toning for the colour and maintaining the silky texture.
For toning use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo diluted at 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water). Apply to a wet coat and lather in. Wait 5 minutes then rinse thoroughly.
This shampoo is an important step to remove unwanted warm tones such as red, bronze or tan shading within the blue, and the tan markings will be clarified of dirtiness. By using a toning shampoo this will greatly assist in creating the desired correct colour.
After firstly toning as above, follow with Plush Puppy Natural Conditioning Shampoo to maintain the required silky texture. This intensive nourishing shampoo adds hydration and therefore improves the required silky texture. Use at 1:10 (1 part shampoo to 10 parts water). Again apply to the wet dog, lather, wait 5 mins and rinse.
Why is it best to wait 5 minutes? All Plush Puppy products have active ingredients that are outcome orientated to achieve the best result you desire. You will get these best results with the very high quality of Plush Puppy products. Waiting only 5 minutes allows for the key ingredients to ultimately produce these brilliant results.
Conditioning an Australian Silky Terrier is important to create the fine, glossy and silky texture. Blow drying the dog will also dehydrate the coat. Hydration from conditioner will vastly protect this.
Use Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner at 1:10 (1 part to 10 parts water). Apply to the freshly rinsed coat. Work into the coat, and yes, wait the 5 minutes before rinsing.
For drying, firstly towel dry the dog. The beauty of the “Silky” is they don’t take a long time to dry. Use a warm hand or stand dryer and start with a pin brush. This has less drag on the wet coat.
It’s important to remember any drag on an adult Silky coat can cause the hair follicle to be dragged out. This is a dilution gene breed. Any “new” regrowth starts back like a puppy coat and will regrow dark or near black and then dilute to blue. Use the Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush using long even strokes.
Once 75% dry it’s time to change to a finishing brush. A finishing brush is designed to polish and gently stretch the coat to produce the desired finish. Use the Plush Puppy Ultimate Pure Boar Bristle or Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush.
If you have a coat that is too full, mix 1 tablespoon of Plush Puppy Blow Dry Cream in 500ml of warm water and mix well. We recommend using a blender to easily 100% blend. Using a spray bottle evenly spray, brush in and blow dry with a warm, semi hot dryer.
Many times after spending considerable effort in preparing due to weather, grounds, wind or heat the dogs coat has static. For those days a tack box must is Plush Puppy Anti-Static Spray. Simply apply a light mist and brush in.
PLUSH PUPPY TIP: On delicate coats, mist the air and waft your brush in the mist and then brush the coat. This allows for not overly wetting the coat but also anti static’s the brush, often the cause of the issue.
It’s important to hydrate when brushing a coat. Brushing a dry coat causes drag, stress and damage to the coat. A mist with Plush Puppy OMG hydrates the coat, making grooming easier for both owner and dog.
Plush Puppy OMG is perfect for shows days in freshening the coat. A light mist will make the brushing easier and bring the coat back to look just like you finished bathing and drying.
Enjoy your truly Australia breed, prepare it to their ultimate best and enjoy proudly your Silky Terrier!
