GROOMING

	A typically hairy Glen

The Glen does not shed its coat, but it still needs attention. Most owners have an idea of how they want their dog to look. Some want shaggy but cool and some want barbered and chic. What do you want?

Executive class-
Grooming salon – Very few groomers understand what the end result should look like, which is not surprising as very few owners do!! Do not be surprised if your Glen is returned to you looking like an over- grown West Highland White. Download this item and take it with you to the salon.
Pros - Someone else does the work Cons - It costs
The coat in all probability will be clipped which means it will grow back soft and woolly.

Club class –
Do it yourself – Try hand stripping, This literally means using a finger and thumb and stripping out all the long dead hairs a few at a time, when they have parted down along the dogs back.
If you decide to try this method, buy some chalk (if you can’t get any chalk, try talc), comb through the dog’s coat and put some on your fingers. This will enable you to grip the hairs better. A dog is easier to strip if the coat is dirty.
Pros - The coat grows back slowly and the texture will be harsh Cons - Time consuming and very frustrating when you first start

1st class -
Stripping Knife (coarse), thinning shears and lava block – Instead of hand stripping, buy a stripping knife and thinning shears from a pet shop or a grooming parlour. Buy the lava block from an equestrian supply shop (It will be cheaper)
Use the knife to pull the hairs from the back of the neck and body as in the diagram. The softer hairs on the front can be tidied with the thinning shears and the whole effect can be tidied with by rubbing the lava block over the whole of the body

Pros - Not as time consuming

Cons - Still frustrating when you first start

Tourist class - A utensil that can be bought on line and can now be bought at most good pet stores; - "Coat King" This will pull all the dead hair out of your dog’s coat. Simply draw it through the coat gently and the dead hairs will come out. Cost used to be a factor but as the Coat King became more popular, cheaper copies are now made.
	Pros - Enables anyone to keep their Glens coat tidy Cons -Will affect the texture if used improperly will cut the hairs rather than pull them out

Cargo class -
Metal grooming comb with handle-elastic band (preferably the thick red ones that the postman wraps around your letters). Take the band and weave around the teeth of the comb until you have two layers of elastic. Comb through your dog.

Pros - Cheap and easy pulls the old coat out, cannot cut it. Anyone can do it.

Cons - None but let me know if you find any!

General notes –
Coats - Need combing through at least once a week. Comb the hair forward towards the head and then comb it back in layers. Repeat with the finer teeth at the other end of the comb.
Head - The thick hair on the cheeks can be tidied with either the comb or thinning shears, you can tidy under the eyes very carefully, this one is best done using finger and thumb. Over - long hair on the head can be teased out with finger and thumb or use the thinning shears. The procedure is the same as at the hair- dressers, hold the hair between your fingers at the length that you want and anything sticking up take it out.
Ears - Usually hairy – again down to your preference. Tidy the ears, trimming around them with scissors, using your fingers as a guide, so that you cannot hurt your Glen.
Tails - Thin out the hair on the tail with scissors or thinning shears, now that most people have undocked Glens you can curve it round until it looks really elegant.
Bottoms - Can get dirty, so very carefully cut the hairs around the bottom so that it doesn’t get clarted up with pooh.

Important note if you decide to strip your dog (applies even if you use the stripping knife)

Do not stay in one place - keep moving over the whole of the body.
If you try to do one spot at a time you will probably end up with a bald spot!!
Keep moving, comb the coat up and then pull out any hairs that are longer than the rest of the coat.
You can then use the lava block to give you an even finish.

Give it a try- Good luck

STEP BY STEP

1. Start at the back of the head, the bump between the ears, and strip the hair off the entire length of the body. Don't forget the tail and each side of the buttocks.

2. Strip the shoulders and chest ( area A and B ). Leave the hair between the front legs.

3. Strip along the side of the body and top of the thigh ( line D ). Leaving the hair below the line to form "feathers". If the dog is high on the leg leave a longer feather as it will help the dog appear lower to the ground. Also observe the front elbows. Glens have funny fronts but are not out at elbow, too much hair left on here can make them appear to be.

4· Tie a piece of wool under the dogs chin and behind its ears ( line C ). All the hair to the front of this line is head hair. If you can't manage to strip the hair directly behind the line use trimming shears. These wispy bits, if left on, can make the difference between a good or bad neck particularly if your animal Glen is lacking in this area.

5. Head trimming depends on the dog, each Glen is different As a generalisation the hair is combed forward and (then the dog is encouraged to shake to make it lie satisfactorily. The Glen is still very much a "basic" dog so doesn't need incredible flowing locks but it is competing in the beauty ring so a Yul Brynner would look equally out of place. Usually it helps a dog if the expression can be seen, so don't let the forelock grow too long.

6. As the main body hair grows it will be found that the undercoat grows faster. " Scrape " the animal with the stripping knife and you will find it easily removed. If correctly exercised little work will be required to the feet as the nails will be naturally short and long hair will be worn away. Check between the toes as some Glens are very hairy and knotted lumps between the toes soon ruin an otherwise good foot.

Trimming is not easy but we are lucky with the Glen that it is relatively new to the show ring in this country so we have the chance to begin the cutting regime. Purists may complain but surely it is better to adopt a moderate trim now. lf not we may awaken one day to find it has been excessively barbered or is blessed with hair trimming to the floor.

A final word on groomers –
Some groomers have attended Association seminars and know what they are doing with The Glen Family

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