Bow training your new puppy
You now have the cutest most adorable little furbaby and have visions of
them strutting their stuff and looking like a movie star with that special
dog bow
in their hair.
A few simple guidelines to follow can help you achieve that gorgeous look- each step may take only a few days up to a week or two. Start as early in
age as you can- even without long hair grown yet you will lay a foundation
of trust.
Choose a time of day that you think you will normally spend as "primp" time
with your puppy. Trust me, once they associate the good bonding time with the
primping pillow even at 2 in the morning they will know what is expected.
Everyday when your puppy is relaxed in your arms very slowly stroke with
just your finger from the area between the eyes up toward the forehead and
over the topskull. Also stroke from above the eye towards the center of the
topskull. This will get your precious baby used to you "working" on it's
head in the area you expect to attach the dog bow. After your pup accepts this as a matter of routine,
practice this same maneuver with the pup on a pillow in your lap and then
just on the pillow facing you. This helps make your baby comfortable and
supports the head with less movement as you work on them. Change to using a
small comb instead of a finger once your pup knows to stay still.
Once the hair on the forehead area is about 2 inches in length you can start
to band it. Choose a small band about 1/4" in diameter-the size of a
band used on braces is a good size. Your puppy should by now be accustomed to you combing up the hair so it is a simple step to just gather that
hair into a tiny ponytail (Topknot) and wrap the band around it only 2 or 3
times, enough so that the band is not too lose or too tight. Check to be
sure no skin is caught up in the band by sliding your comb under the band
and above the dogs skull. The comb should slide easily in and out. If it
feels tight or restricted remove the band and try again. Leave the band in
only for about a hour. Try doing this just before feeding or taking a walk
so there is a distraction from the new feeling in their hair. If they try to
rub it or scratch at it tell them NO and distract with a toy or other
activity.
When it is time to remove the band place the pup on it's primping pillow,
stroke the head for a few times and then remove the band. It is best to use
a small pair of blunt tipped baby scissors to cut through the band but you
can use your fingers to unwrap the band from the hair. Using your fingers
may result in losing hair due to the hair getting caught up in the band.
Leave the band in the hair longer as the dog learns to leave it alone. It
may help to tell your furbaby how handsome or pretty they are when you get
the band in. Do not expect the Topknot to look great at these early stages.
It may be spiky and not all the hairs will stay in but in time will will
look gorgeous!
Start using a small bow once your pup will leave the band completely alone.
Again, wear for shot periods of time and use distraction if necessary.
As the hair gets longer you can gather more hair into the topknot as you
wish. An adult Shih Tzu, Lhasa, Maltese or Yorkie will have the hair from
the above outer corner of each eye back to the middle of the head even with
the ears gathered into a Topknot. You may of course vary this to your
liking. If you want to have 2 bows, just part this area down the middle between
and have twin Topknots.
Some pups have tearing eyes and as such the groomer or vet may want to
suggest bangs on the head. This is ok as you can still grow the hair behind
the bangs for a Topknot.
Your part lines should be as straight as you can get them-this helps prevent
knots and mats in the Topknot.
The topknot should be redone each day-you would not want to leave your own
hair up day after day would you?
For those days you don't feel like going all out you can always use a small
soft hair tie or hair band in place of a bow.
©2010 carolsbows llc
