Coat styling

4593 Views 28 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Emmdenn, Jan 20, 2022

GoldenSail

Discussion Starter · Oct 13, 2009

I've read a few older threads on wavy coats but I still feel like I am struggling here. What is a reasonable expectation when it comes to straightening them? Will they ever be pin straight for the ring and if so does it take time and/or skill? Or will there always be some waviness to the topline?

I've been told if I keep playing with her coat it will get better, but I want to make sure I am being reasonable with getting it straight or if I need to step up my efforts a little more.

Plus--how do you guys deal with flips? I can get them all lying flat except for the hairs on her side, just where her haunches go when she sits (which I suspect creates the waves).

Gosh, I hate to ask so many question but I am a curious mind--is it also normal for wavy coats to be dryer, particularly on the topline? I love Scout's coat right now is feels very nice and lush except the topline which feels coarser and dry.

Any tips/advice/insight/whatever is helpful

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hotel4dogs

· #2 · Oct 13, 2009

ok, I am just as new to this so I will share with you what I have learned...but I sure don't claim to be an expert, ok?
yes, it is possible to get the coat totally straight. When I blow dry Tito (this is what works for him, not sure if it works for everyone), I start with his topline, and I hold the dryer nozzle almost level with his back and move it from side to side about 6 inches while working down his topline. It's what the gal that grooms him showed me to do, and it works perfectly for him. She also told me always start on the "judge's side" in case you run out of time!
The most important thing in avoiding flips is to be sure she is completely dry, and once you are sure she's totally dry, then dry her for at least another 1/2 hour. The flips come from places that weren't totally dry.
When I dry Tito, there are 2 or 3 places on him that I finish with a human hair dryer because no matter how dry he is, they just don't seem to be dry and I think where you're describing is one of them.
Right above his tail, I take a rounded brush (human) and my human hair dryer and I blow dry it so that it lays very flat by drying it over the brush.
Hope that makes some sense!

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Sawyer4me

· #3 · Oct 17, 2009

I just washed and dried Sawyer the other day and he seems wavier than ever! I am definitely going to need to be practicing this!!! Thanks for posting it.

Oaklys Dad

· #4 · Oct 17, 2009

You didn't mention the age of you pup but the back are is often very rough and curly when they are 6 mo to 14 mo old. As for the curls I have seen goldens that range from my Caue with a very straight coat to my sisters golden with a very curly coat.

Jersey's Mom

· #5 · Oct 17, 2009

I'm no expert in this, but I was curious if you have a drying coat? You still need to be pretty handy with a dryer... it's not really a shortcut, persay... but it can definitely be a huge help in getting the coat to lay flat (if you're very careful when putting it on). There's a big difference in how Jersey looks with and without his drying coat... and I assume my skill stays relatively the same from one instance to another.

Julie and Jersey

Heidi36oh

· #6 · Oct 17, 2009

I don't think I could ever get Jacks curls under control, good luck to you!

rappwizard

· #7 · Oct 17, 2009

I also do exactly what Hotel4Dogs does; I have a section on my golden, just above the tail that is wavy and if it doesn't lay perfectly straight, it poufs up and makes my girl look high in the rear. When I wash my golden, I put conditioner (like a Mane 'N' Tail) on that one section to give it some weight to help in lay better--of course, I wash it out. I really don't condition the rest of my dog's coat as she doesn't need it. That section, for some reason, is coarser, and since she's not yet two, it could still be the remnants of adolescent coat. So that's the way I choose to deal.

The more you blow dry, even if it is a half-way job, the better the waves will get. I'm not a good groomer at all, so for a show, I bring in my buds for help, but in-between, I focus on the problem areas. I don't know if it's practical for you or not, but one suggestion is to to a spray bottle and spray a fine mist over the problem areas and blow dry just those areas--even if you do it twice a week or so (but to be honest, every day is better). And just work on those problem areas. If you only tackle the problem areas each month, you won't see much of an improvement (IMHO). You'll see a change, but it will be sooooo much sloooooower.

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GoldenSail

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 17, 2009

She is 6.5 months and I am aware that it is her adult coat coming in. She gets her weekly baths but also swims several times throughout the week. I don't have a forced air dryer yet, but since I am blessed with a wavy girl I am looking at getting one to aid me in this battle. I've been blowing the topline dry with my hair dryer on the cool setting and have been successful at the least with getting it to lay flat, but not straight.

I've considered getting a drying coat. Right now I have tested a towel wrapped around her without any success, but I can't say that the thing fits real well and if the towel were heavier maybe that would make a difference.

So hopefully with time and help we can get this tamed. I brought her to the show grounds last week wet for her first show. I was borrowing a friend's blow dryer and one quick look at Scout (and her damp hair going in several directions and sticking up a few inches off her back) and Iwas told I was not getting all those waves out that day

Which I do love the waves, but if we are to be competitive and play the game they must go....

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rappwizard

· #9 · Oct 17, 2009

I don't have the patience to do this all the time, but my handler had me place a towel over the section of my golden that had flips, and blow dry over the towel. Since you don't have an air dryer yet, you could use a hand held hair dryer on the cooler setting. Anything to tame the hair and get it to learn to set in a new position.

Today my golden was in the pool twice, and I didn't blow her out (or at least that section) either time, and one small section has flipped up a good inch. Since your golden swims a lot, just be prepared--each time you don't blow her dry (or blow dry the problem parts) that's one lost opportunity to train the hair. I don't blame you because I don't do it myself--and I really have no excuse as the grooming table is right outside, beside the pool, and the air dryer is just in the next room. Sigh. . .I agree with you, I also like the curls and waves, but from a judge's point of view, they are looking at the outline of the dog, the topline and movement, and those waves can distract them, unfortunately.

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Jersey's Mom

· #10 · Oct 17, 2009

Her age and your equipment definitely put you at a disadvantage... so I wouldn't worry too much that you won't be able to straighten her out in the long run. As for using a towel... I can't imagine any way to get it tight enough or to stay put well enough (just running through visuals in my mind). Here's a shot of Jersey wearing his (not great, but to give you an idea)... it's not a thick material at all, but it's quite stretchy... and with the aide of 3 big safety pins, it isn't really going anywhere (unless he gets really feisty and knocks the hood off, but he never did it much and hasn't at all in years). It's the firm, consistent pressure and molded fit that do the work.

Julie and Jersey

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jwemt81

· #11 · Oct 17, 2009

I have found that if I blow dry Tucker after his baths, his coat always comes out pin straight. It I just towel dry him, his coat ends up being much wavier when he dries, especially on his back and rear end. He even gets little cowlicks in some spots. He is almost 15 months and doesn't have his full adult coat yet, so that's to be expected. I now blow dry him after every bath, brushing him while I do this, and his coat always comes out nice and straight.

GoldenSail

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 18, 2009

There's Scout in her styling towel. I found that safety pins don't work for us as they came out and poked my little girl

Instead I bought some elastic and put holes in the towel and ran it through. Not perfect....instead of buying a drying coat I think I might try and make one. My grandmother knows how to sew and would probably help me...do you guys think that might work? I could make a custom fit for Scout that way. Suggested fabric??

Jersey's Mom, how do you use the drying coat. Do you put it on when he is wet and wait until he's dry? Do you try blow drying before/after? I just ordered an air dryer, so I am excited to have that to work with, it will probably help a lot!

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Pointgold

· #13 · Oct 18, 2009

GoldenSail said:
There's Scout in her styling towel. I found that safety pins don't work for us as they came out and poked my little girl Instead I bought some elastic and put holes in the towel and ran it through. Not perfect....instead of buying a drying coat I think I might try and make one. My grandmother knows how to sew and would probably help me...do you guys think that might work? I could make a custom fit for Scout that way. Suggested fabric??

Jersey's Mom, how do you use the drying coat. Do you put it on when he is wet and wait until he's dry? Do you try blow drying before/after? I just ordered an air dryer, so I am excited to have that to work with, it will probably help a lot!

Go to a fabric store and purchase blanket pins. You will be able to get a tighter fit, and the elastic is going to leave lines. I bathe, towel dry, and comb the coat into place without drying it, and then apply the towel. Take the towel off, lightly mist with water and Isle of Dogs, then blow dry.

K9-Design

· #14 · Oct 19, 2009

With a 6 month old pup I would not worry about this at all.
That being said I do not use a towel or drying coat. Well I USED to use a towel around Fisher's neck/shoulders to try to get it to lay down. It sorta worked. You know what REALLY works? THINNING SHEARS
Have at those cowlicks with thinning shears and they get scared and go away.
There's my tip of the day!
I use thinning shears for just about everything

GoldenSail

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 19, 2009

Pointgold said:
Go to a fabric store and purchase blanket pins. You will be able to get a tighter fit, and the elastic is going to leave lines. I bathe, towel dry, and comb the coat into place without drying it, and then apply the towel. Take the towel off, lightly mist with water and Isle of Dogs, then blow dry.

Thanks for the tip! I'm headed to the store tomorrow and will try again in a week (I bathed her today, so gonna wait again for the weekend for the next attempt).

GoldenSail

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 19, 2009

K9-Design said:
With a 6 month old pup I would not worry about this at all.
That being said I do not use a towel or drying coat. Well I USED to use a towel around Fisher's neck/shoulders to try to get it to lay down. It sorta worked. You know what REALLY works? THINNING SHEARS
Have at those cowlicks with thinning shears and they get scared and go away.
There's my tip of the day!
I use thinning shears for just about everything

Well, I am always looking for an opportunity to practice and get better, and I might as well work on it when she is young so that she and I both learn the process. And, so that when is really ready she will look fantastic! I may plan to show her to between now and her birthday and again, I want her to look every bit as good as those other dogs--despite her age.

And how to you angle those thinning shears when you trim the flips? That is something I will have to store in my memory, as Scout doesn't have a lot of coat so taking shears to the flips at this point scares me. In fact, I think that may be partly why she has them as the coat is not long enough to pull down and lay flat on the sides.

Willow52

· #17 · Oct 23, 2009

I don't show, never been to a show so these are probably stupid questions...

Are waves or curls not acceptable on a golden coat, period? Or are straight coats just in vogue at this time? Or is it a particular judge's preference?

Personally I like the wavy look.

GoldenSail

Discussion Starter · #18 · Oct 23, 2009

Willow52 said:
I don't show, never been to a show so these are probably stupid questions...

Are waves or curls not acceptable on a golden coat, period? Or are straight coats just in vogue at this time? Or is it a particular judge's preference?

Personally I like the wavy look.

Wavy is correct, however, since you only have a few minutes in with the judge you want your dog to look the best. A dog with a wavy coat gives the illusion of a soft topline. And given that you only have so many minutes time with the judge, you never want the thought to cross their mind that their might be something up with the topline on your dog.

Bender

· #19 · Oct 23, 2009

GoldenSail said:
There's Scout in her styling towel. I found that safety pins don't work for us as they came out and poked my little girl Instead I bought some elastic and put holes in the towel and ran it through. Not perfect....instead of buying a drying coat I think I might try and make one. My grandmother knows how to sew and would probably help me...do you guys think that might work? I could make a custom fit for Scout that way. Suggested fabric??

Jersey's Mom, how do you use the drying coat. Do you put it on when he is wet and wait until he's dry? Do you try blow drying before/after? I just ordered an air dryer, so I am excited to have that to work with, it will probably help a lot!

Bathing suit fabric seems to be the way to go. I will see if I can take the camera with me this weekend and take pictures of some dogs with coats etc... so you can have a better idea.

Lana

sevans

· #20 · Jan 18, 2022

Okay- here’ my ignorant- “I have Goldens but don’t show them but still want them to look presentable” question: Since the breed standard indicates that a wavy coat is perfectly acceptable- why is everyone blow drying their dog’s coats straight? As a long time member of the horse show world, I totally understand that show grooming is whole “next level” but the breed standards for both CKC and AKC seem to be pretty clear in indicating that a wavy (not curly) coat is perfectly fine. Why are judges (possibly?) penalizing a wavy coat over one that has been blow-dried straight? This seems especially odd in a sporting breed. Thoughts?

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