Portugese Podengo

There are a number of Portugese Podengo sizes and these tips will work for all but are aimed at the Small/Petit breed. They also have two coat types Wire Haired or Smooth and again generally these tips are relevant to both.

A great companion dog, great characters, intelligent, active and wilful so not always the easiest to train so to make your grooming life easier start grooming them as puppies getting them used to brush,comb and washing. 

The Podengo has a wiry coarse and waterproof medium length coat, or a short smooth court, which require  weekly groom, dependent on how adventurous your dog is. A good tip here is to run your hand over your dogs coat and as soon as you feel lumps and knots then brush them out if possible, if not gently tease the knot apart with fingers and pin tail comb, a detangler solution may help, but do remember to rinse coat thoroughly after using.

To maintain their coat in good condition we recommend a combination of visits to the Groomer and in between visits washing and grooming sessions as and when they have become dirty after rolling in dubious smelling materials!  But please try to limit your bathing sessions ideally no more frequently than once a month as overbathing can damage the naturals oils in the coat and can also occasionally cause dry skin.

The visits to the Groomer should concentrate on clipping of nails trimming of coat (Wiry coat only) and of course a good wash and groom, and most owners advise these visits can be as often as every 6 weeks but with regular washing and grooming this can be reduced to every 10-12 weeks Whist at the groomers ask them to check the ears and also advise you on how to best care for ears and eyes.

So in between these visits keep your Podengo in great condition by having your own washing and grooming sessions at home, this can be a rewarding and fun experience and keep your pets coat in Tip Top condition and enable you to check the dogs skins for any problems..

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. 

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 Firm Bristle Brush and Pin Tail Comb

A good supply of treats

Washing your Portugese Podengo

Before bathing give your dog a good brush to ensure that there are no mats or tangle as these will become worse if you wet the coat prior to his wash. 

For all dog’s 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. If you do choose to use the sink or bath again a non-slip mat and if possible secure your dog to stop it jumping out and hurting 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. Starting from the head and working towards the tail can minimise the risk of shampoo in the eyes and ears. For washing of the face use the Mega Absorbent PVA Towel rinse it out thoroughly then squeeze out excess water and essentially use as a flannel, and if the face is very dirty rinse and repeat.

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 and rubbing 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, start from the back of the head and work back towards the tail always brushing in the direction of the coat. Another key point  we would make here is to ensure the whole coat is dry particularly around the base of the tail and around the ears. Ensure all the coat is brushed through and dry (not forgetting the tail) .If your dog 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 for the Portugese Podengo we recommend  the oval pin head brush head for the whole dog. But once you have used the tool a few times you will develop your own technique and use brush heads which you feel give you the best results.

We know that following these simple instructions you will soon be getting great results and you and your dog will enjoy these sessions which can help create an excellent bond between you and your dog and of course keep your loved pet 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 Portugese Podengo will welcome being dry and warm.

We look forward to hearing your experiences and of course receiving pictures of your dog’s after your Grooming and Pampering Sessions

THE ROSES TEAM

We at Roses Top Dog always ensure our customer get Great Value for Money so please visit our website www.rosestpdog.com and check out our offers