The overall impression of the Tibetan should always be one of substance. This dog must exhibit that powerful, well-built appearance with a good thick double coat featuring coarse guard hair and a heavy mane. It is a stunning dog to behold.
His coat must retain texture so do not be tempted to condition this coat by conventional means. Use the shampoo targeted for the direct outcome you need as you will be required to alter your selection as the coat ages and blows once a year. When the coat is in good condition and at full glamour, then maintain the shine with Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo diluted for ease and even dispersion at 5:1 (i.e. 5 parts water to one part shampoo). If the coat is a little challenged in quantity or you wish to build a greater illusion of substance, then use Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo at 5:1.
If the coat starts to acquire rusty tones as it fades throughout the year or is sun-bleached, then switch to Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo which is not a lightening shampoo but a toning shampoo, neutralizing and minimizing unwanted warm tones. Dilute 3:1 and leave on the faded areas for 3 – 10 minutes for maximum benefit and then rinse.
For truly black coats, to maintain optimum depth of the colour, use Plush Puppy Black Opal Shampoo diluted 3:1 and leave for up to 10 minutes for best effect. Prior to using Black Opal, thoroughly cleanse with Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo to remove any old products residue. You can try applying Black Opal shampoo undiluted onto badly sunburned areas when the coat is dry rather than wet for maximum coverage. Leave for up to 10 minutes and then rinse. Do wear rubber gloves when using this as it is likely to discolour your hands. This is a totally non-permanent tone and is not a dye. It will not dehydrate or alter the coat or colour. It simply deeply tones the coat colour by staining rather than chemically altering. The desire is to enhance an already correct coat that has sun bleached or faded rather than altering it. I hope that settles ethical debates for some of you.
For the face and head area use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It – a unique face shampoo the dog showing world has needed for a long time. Let’s Face It is a hypoallergenic, sulfate-free, low foaming, no-fragrance, no-tear shampoo designed specifically for faces. Containing high-quality Blue Cypress extracts, Panthenol and Pro Vitamin B it will clean, sooth, add moisture, aid healing and offer anti-inflammatory benefits. Apply a small golf ball sized amount directly to the face and eye area will allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. Safe to use in and around ears. Its low foaming design allows easy rinsing yet complete cleaning.
Do not use a regular type conditioner on this dog nor any double coated breeds where I want an impression of substance and thickness to the coat. I want that coat to look as if it is mega! So, as one still has to maintain hydration and protection to the coat, use Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil diluted 1 tablespoon to 1 gal/4 l water and saturate the coat with this mix working well down to the skin – do not rinse – leave in. It is primarily Evening Primrose Oil, Calendula Oil and other goodies and is just magical. Wait till you see how this coat looks after regular usage each week. One week and it looks great, but after several weeks, just fabulous.
I like to at this point get the hard work over and done with and leave show day for as little work as possible. So, to that end, add 1 tablespoon of Plush Puppy Volumising Cream into the Seabreeze Oil mix to save double handling. This will bodify the coat even more without any stickiness or foreign feeling residue once dry. You are after substance all the way and this is a nice way to get it. Volumising is also available in a “ready to use” formula. An even spray on either a damp or dry coat, brush in and then dry.
Dry the coat thoroughly, by using a force drier. To aid drying and reduce the drying time plus adding protection to the coat use Plush Puppy FAST Blow Dry Spray. This is a truly remarkable product using the very latest of technology.
For brushing use the Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush which works well on this type of coat. The Plush Puppy Ultimate Slicker Brush is also great on this type of coat for that through brushing and a finish on the coat when drying.
There are times that over the rump/topline when the coat can become too full and distorts the silhouette. To flatten the coat in this area, try Plush Puppy Blow Dry Cream. 2-3 tablespoons broken down into 500mls of water in a spray bottle. Apply to the area needing flattening, brush in and then dry. This product allows the coat to settle, flatten and straighten. Therefore, allowing a cleaner shape and silhouette.
For grooming and refreshing the coat at the show, use a spray mix of Plush Puppy OMG Concentrate diluted to approx. 25:1 i.e. 25 parts water to one-part OMG. This is a terrific grooming spray. Not called OMG for nothing. We get rave reviews with this one. Great anti-static and the comb or brush just eases through the worst tangles and matts.
For a treatment on an old/tired coat use Plush Puppy Coat Rescue. This is an amazing product that helps rebuild the cuticle, adding strength and elasticity to the coat. Use 2-3 tablespoons to 250mls of water and make into a slurry. Apply using a sponge to the coat and leave in for at least 10 mins (longer is better, even just leave in). This will rejuvenate the coat but does not soften the coat. The prefect mid-week treatment to keep your coats in top condition.
Show day a light dusting of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust sifted down onto the topline, tail and pants for a glint of shine and interest without turning the dog into a Vegas chorus line number. These little subtle hints of grooming can turn heads without them realizing why. It is all about tweaking and subtle art and of course, let’s not forget the good dog to go with it. These things are not difficult to learn.
Keep in the tack box a tub of Plush Puppy Powder Puff Regular which is a dry-cleaning powder for those unfortunate mishaps. Sloppy chops, salivating on hot days, peeing unceremoniously onto that pristine leg, all compound the nerves and agitation that doesn’t need to be. Just a quick toss onto the area and work in well before brushing or blow drying back out. Voila, instant clean and deodorised as well. There is also a wet, no rinse cleanser, Plush Puppy Wonder Wash brilliant as a light spray and toweling dry helps to clean and freshen so easily.
Don’t forget the final things such as Plush Puppy Odour Muncher a unique deodoriser and light fragrance. Just air freshens the coat and great after the dog has been crated for several hours. Hate the musty smell that several dogs crated near each other tend to acquire in transport.
There are many things one can use and do for this breed, but this is your basic underlying routine. Do use a Plush Puppy Coat Saver Collar in between shows. The mane area is of major importance to the overall silhouette of the Tibetan Mastiff and this special collar not only is a semi choker for control but will not cut the coat. You can leave this on 24/7. Good welded ring for safety and won’t hold water if it gets wet.
The Tibetan Mastiff is fast gaining favor amongst the show diehards and truly cuts a picture out there in the ring. I can see the top pro’s catching onto this breed as it has such admirable qualities. That picture of controlled power with high intelligence, that beautiful balance between that massive head and single curled tail falling over the loin and the wonderfully strong but light-footed gait is quite an impressive act. If, as the Tibetans believe, that the Tibetan Mastiffs have the souls of monks and nuns who didn’t make it to people reincarnation, then surely the prayers of those old souls go with you each time too.