Kerry Blue Terrier

GROOMING TIPS FOR KERRY BLUE TERRIER

As all owners will tell you Kerry Blue are wonderful dogs very intelligent, extremely versatile easily trained and have great personalities. A very handsome dog but not the most common breed so many owners will find difficulty in finding a groomer who knows the breed and its requirements so it is worth contacting the Kerry Blue Terriers association to get details of proficient breeders in your area.

They have a soft wavy coat which requires regular clipping and trimming to maintain a good shape/look and most advise 3-4 months visits to the groomers. To maintain their coat in good condition we recommend a combination of visits to the Groomer and in between visits washing and grooming sessions every 3-4 weeks more if your dog has an attraction to getting dirty and rolling in dubious smelling materials!

The visits to the Groomer should concentrate on clipping of nails trimming of coat and of course a good wash and groom, and most owners advise these visits are every 10-12 weeks

So in between these visits keep your Kerry Blue Terrier in great condition by having your own grooming sessions at home, this can be a rewarding and fun experience and help maintain your pets coat in Tip Top condition by following these simple rules.

Before you start your shower and grooming sessions make sure you have all tools and materials required: –

Shampoo ensure you use a specific Dog Shampoo this will ensure that the Fur is maintained in great condition, Human Shampoos have different formulas not always compatible with Dogs.

To enjoy a soft and lustrous look to the coat we recommend using a conditioner as their coats respond well.

Towels 1 x Roses PVA Mega Absorbent Towel, and I x Roses Large Microfibre Towel

1 x Roses Grooming and Drying Brush

1 x Good Quality Steel Pinhead Dog Brush and Steel Comb

A good supply of treats

Washing your Kerry Blue Terrier

For all dogs we advise you to use the shower, (and use a non-slip shower mat) as washing in the sink or bath may result in your dog jumping out and potentially harming itself. Ensure the water is a comfortable temperature not too hot or too cold use the shower attachment  to thoroughly wet your dog’s coat and then apply the shampoo and knead it thoroughly into the coat, if your dog has got extremely dirty you may need to repeat this process. Now this is important when rinsing the shampoo out you must ensure that all shampoo is rinsed away as any residue can cause itchiness. Another key point we would make is to avoid getting shampoo into the eyes and try to keep the inside of ears dry away from shampoo and water.

If using a conditioner repeat process and again make sure the conditioner is thoroughly rinsed out of the coat

When coat thoroughly rinsed it is time to dry and technique is important here to keep your dog’s coat in great condition. Firstly, dab the coat all over with the Roses Mega Absorbent PVA Towel, squeezing excess water out often to ensure maximum absorbency. Once all surplus water is removed then wrap your dog in a Roses Large Microfibre Towel gently dabbing the towel all over until the coat is just damp. It is important that you do not vigorously towel dry your dog as this can result in Frizz, Split Ends and matting.

Now to the final drying and grooming, connect your Roses Grooming and Drying Brush set on medium heat and low speed and start brushing and Drying the coat, there is no correct place to start but the key advice we would give here is to ensure the whole coat is dry particularly around the base of the tail, legs and around the ears. Always brush with the fur not against it and ensure all the coat is brushed through and dry and if your dogs is a little anxious at first encourage with treats and words of encouragement. Once your dog is familiarised and comfortable with your Roses Grooming and Drying Brush you can increase the heat setting to full and increase the speed to high, but note when drying around the eyes and ears only use medium heat and low power.

The permanent IONIC feature will ensure great condition to your dog’s coat

The choice of Brush head to use varies from Dog to Dog but generally we recommend the oval Steel Pin Head brush attachment on all of your Kerry Blue Terrier, but once you have used the tool a few times you will develop your own technique and use brush heads which feel give you the best results.

We know that following these simple instructions you will soon be getting great results and you and your Kerry Blue Terrier  will enjoy these sessions which can help create an excellent bond between you and your dog and of course keep your dog looking great and smelling good most of the time.

Following a wet walk, you can also follow these guidelines if not dirty no need to shampoo or condition simply towel dry as outlined here and quickly dry off with the Roses Grooming and Drying Brush, and on cold winter walks your Poodle will welcome being dry and warm.

We look forward to hearing your experiences and of course receiving pictures of your Kerry Blue Terrier after your Grooming and Pampering Sessions

THE ROSES TEAM

We have some great offers available on our Grooming Bundles to suit all dogs and sizes, don’t forget to check these out on our website.