A Show Dogs Life

Eyes Grooming

 

You should clean your dogs eyes daily with a cotton swab, or cloth. This is a good job for children to learn, they can use a face cloth, wetone or baby wipe. Pictured is 10 year old Shannon grooming a dogs eyes.

Some breeds tear. Some say it is because the eyeball takes up the entire eyesocket, and the tears overflow instead of draining. Some breeds, like toy breeds have narrow tear ducts. If you suspect and infection of the tear ducts, call your Vet. Improper eye care and neglect can cause an eye infection, and eye infection can cause scarring, thus causing even more of an eye tearing problem in the future.

In some breeds, this problem gets better after 1 year old. Teething can also contribute to this problem, as can different foods with dyes, improper diets, grooming negligence + it can be hereditary This staining is often Called "Poodle Eye". When a dog tears, dirt builds up and accumulates below the eye. You should use a fine tooth comb, like a flee comb, on long haired dogs eyes to remove any debris from below the eye. This debris is not tears, but is what causes staining, it can cause the skin to go raw as it is a bacteria, and has been said to cause Cherry Eye.

Before

After

These are pictures of poor grooming on a long haired dogs face, causing severe staining, or poodle eye. Before and  after with 2 days of cleaning using an eye whitening solution. Submitted by Bev Busse of Heaven's Bichons.

This is also a job that children can learn. Pictured is 8 year old Emily grooming her puppy

Other methods to help the eyes - Pony tails are great with long haired breeds, to keep the hair from falling in the eyes. Be very careful though, as if you plan to show your dog, you do not want breakage. Braids are a great way to keep your dogs hair out of his eyes, without breakage.

Some people trim their dogs eye hair.  If you show, you MUST check to see what is allowed, and what is not allowed for your breed in the Show ring. These pictures show how to trim eye hair and keep your dogs face looking clean and clear of stains

 

ALWAYS use Blunt Tip scissors (This is not a job for a child)

Trimmed up face/eyes

Eye trim, but left nose and beard hair.

trimmed up face/eyes

 

Puppy cuts: not allowed for showing, but great for pets. ALWAYS use Blunt Tip scissors.

For showing, in some breeds such as the Havanese, all hair must be in it's natural state. It is very important to have daily facial care to keep this hair clean.

Courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

Grooming Main

Showing, Genetics and Breeding

Getting down and dirty

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Grooming tips and general grooming care

Playing, cuddles +  favorite spots 1 - 2

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