BATH PREPARATIONS - Using a spray nozzle attached to your tap/shower will prove most effective when bathing the Afghan. The use of a raised tub will make the bathing process easier on you and allow eye contact with the dog. The procedure should be a fun experience for the dog as it is a life long task. Ensure that everything is within reach and you do not have to leave the dog alone. The first time a pup is bathed will be a frightening experience and you must ensure that you do everything in your power to soothe the dog and keep it relaxed. Do not loose your temper, think about your first visit to the dentist or barber and how you felt. Your pup feels very much as you did, it's a new experience. Shampoo can be a special dog shampoo or a people shampoo. Never put the shampoo directly on the coat.Jardine's Secret has proven very effective for our dogs. It cleans well and rinses out easily. Mix the shampoo in a bucket or four liter container. One half inch in the bottom of the container usually suffices. Fill with water and stir simultaneously. Coat density, length and amount of dirt will determine the quantity of containers required. The same goes for the conditioner. Premix the conditioner and have it ready for use. One container should suffice. I recommend the COAT HANDLER or JARDINE'S SECRET CONDITIONER. Before bathing, have three or four large absorbent towels handy for the dog and at least one for you. Dip cotton balls into mineral or olive oil and put them in your dogs ears to prevent water from entering the ear canal. The night before the bath or at least two hours prior to the bath, spray the coat with a mixture of JEAN PIERRE HERI CREME OIL and water. This product is from France. Now that everything is ready it's time to bath the dog.
BATHING - Run the water so that the water is not too cold or too hot. Place the dog in the center of the tub and thoroughly wet him/her down from head to tail. At this time a little obedience training comes in handy. The command "TURN" and "DON'T SHAKE" are very useful. This way the dog and not the entire bathroom get a bath. At this time you may wish to take out small objects that have tangled in the coat as they come out easier when the hair is wet and pliable. Apply the shampoo and work it in with downward strokes. Rubbing or scrubbing may only encourage tangles and mattes. Once the dog is completely shampooed, it's time to rinse. A little device between the tap and shower head allows you to turn off the water flow without having to readjust the temperature, thus avoiding possible scalding of the dog. Ensure you rinse ALL the soap from the coat so that the hair squeaks when you gently pull downward between your fingers to remove the excess water from the coat. When rinsing, start at the head and work downwards and back toward the rear feet. When the water runs clear (no soap suds) you are ready to condition the coat. If the dog is still dirty after the first application of shampoo repeat as necessary to remove all the dirt.
Apply the conditioner in the same manner as the shampoo, head to tail. Let the conditioner stay in the coat for at least three minutes, five is better. Now rinse out the conditioner completely and remove all the excess water you can. Remember downward strokes without crumpling the coat are best. If you wish to deep condition the coat (between shows) you may leave a light mixture of conditioner and water in the coat. This procedure helps repair split ends and oil loss and adds life to limp dull hair. If you are using the COAT HANDLER CONDITIONER you do not need to rinse out the water/conditioner mixture. This helps condition the hair and cuts back on your water bill. The last step before removing the dog from the tub is to spray the dog all over with a mixture of THE STUFF and water. For males pay particular attention to the under belly and inside rear legs. This mixture is very slippery if allowed to fall on stone, tile or other smooth surfaces so it's better to spray the dog inside the tub.
You are now ready to remove the dog from the tub and carry on to the next step. Wrap a large absorbent towel around the dog and lift him/her out of the tub and place him/her on another towel or carpet on the floor. Blot dry the areas with long coat and rub on areas with no coat (muzzle, saddle). Do not rub the dog dry as this will only lead to mattes and knots in this wonderful coat. Remove the cotton balls from the ears and throw them in the garbage. Allow the dog to drip dry for an hour or so. Ensure there is enough heat so that the animal does not get uncomfortable. Think of the temperature of the house when you step from the shower or bath. You may wish to put the dog in a crate to ensure your furniture and house stay dry. Put a few large absorbent towels in the crate to catch the excess water. Next clean up the bath area and prepare to dry the dog. As for the bath, have everything ready before starting and within easy reach.
DRYING - Place the dog on a grooming table or another large, flat, raised surface. The table height should be just above waist height and the table covered with an easily cleaned, non-slip surface. If you choose to use a grooming arm, place the dogs head through the loop and tighten it so that it is secure but not too tight. Some grooming arms have extensions that allow you to hold the haunches in an upright position thus not allowing the dog to sit or lay when you attempt to groom the rear end. If you wish to groom the dog while it is laying down then place the dog on its side and push the hair up and commence to dry from the bottom (the feet) up, layering as you go. Once the one side is done you have the dog turn over and do the other side and when both sides are finished the dog is misted with a coat grooming product and brushed through to add sheen. While the dog is laying on its side you may wish to cut the toe nails, clean the teeth and check the ears. Toe nails should be tipped a minimum of once every two weeks in order to keep them short. Teeth should be cleaned at least once a week with a dog tooth cleaning product, NOT PEOPLE TOOTHPASTE.
If your dog is standing during the drying and brushing process then start at the feet and work your way up. The heat setting on the dryer should not be more than 30 degrees Celsius. High heat will shrivel the hair and remove the protective oils from the coat and skin. Never put the dryer any closer than ten centimeters from the skin and avoid blowing directly into the eye and ear cavities. If you have a dark dog and have trouble seeing under the dog, a light table can be purchased or made. This will shine fluorescent light up and allow you to see what you are doing. A professional stand or cage dryer frees up both hands and allows you to layer while you brush. A normal people hand hair dryer will do but is not designed to withstand the prolonged usage (1 - 2 hours). Direct the air flow at the area you are drying and brush downward. Again, start at the bottom and work up. This way you will be removing mattes and knots as you encounter them and removing them with the least amount of resistance. If you start at the top you will drag the brush/comb all the way through the coat and cause larger mattes and increase hair breakage. Keep your wrist locked, DO NOT SNAP YOUR WRIST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STROKE. This breaks off the hair at the bottom and your wonderful mountain type coat will look like a desert coat (bald pasterns). If you find the hair is drying faster than you are brushing, mist the area you are working on. NEVER BRUSH THE COAT DRY.
Once you have finished brushing and drying the coat use a Greyhound comb and remove all the small hair balls in the coat. Again ensure the coat is damp while doing this to reduce hair loss. Remember we all have fun trying to dry those Afghan feet. If your dog dances when you attempt to dry its feet, put one foot on your shoulder and lift upward to ensure that he/she doesn't just remove it and work on the foot that is on the table. This is supposed to be an enjoyable time for the dog, take the time and have the patience to make it so. We all loose our composure at one time or another. THINK OF YOUR FRIEND, THE DOG.
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