Turkish Kangal
WASHING AND GROOMING TIPS FOR TURKISH KANGAL DOG
The Turkish Kangal Dog is a very large dog noted for its intelligence and independence, is fiercely protective of its family, but with the family an affectionate gentle giant. From its origins as a livestock guard dog its popularity in Turkey is high and this has resulted in t being named the national dog of Turkey. They have a short coarse top coat and a softer dense undercoat which needs regular brushing and occasional washing dependent on how many times it manages to get very mucky and smelly on one of its adventures when out on walks with you.
As their coats are reasonably short and very thick keeping your Kangal well groomed is relatively easy and we would recommend that you maintain them with a simple weekly brush. They shed all year round and shed heavily during spring and autumn when you may need to increase your brushing to every other day. For daily maintenance after a walk, washing of their lower legs if dirty, simply with water and dry off with Roses Towels . For a very active dog you will probably need a good daily brush to remove burs and other items which have lodged in their coat. After grooming run your hands all over the dog and if lumps found indicating matting or tangling then gently comb these out, using a detangling lotion if necessary, but always be gentle and patient when detangling etc. On occasions they will require a full shampoo and wash, but please be sparing with these as too frequent washing can result in loss of oils in the coat making it appear dull. We would recommend you wash every 6-8 weeks.
So, to maintain your Kangal in Tip Top condition we recommend the following.
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 Shampoo’s have different formulas not always compatible with your dog.
What you will require
Dogs Towels 1 x Roses PVA Mega Absorbent Towel, and I x Roses Large Microfibre Towel (as the Kangal is such a large dog you may require two towels)
1 x Roses Grooming and Drying Brush
1 X Good Quality Dog Brush
A good supply of treats
Washing your Kangal
Always before washing your Kangal we recommend giving a good comb of their coat, and to maintain their coat in great condition they should be brushed at least three times a week.
To wash your Kangal, use the shower if large enough! , (do not forget to use non-slip shower mat) or for larger dogs use the bath but always soothe your dog when using the bath as they may become distressed in this situation until they have been acclimatised .Do ensure the temperature of the water is comfortable for your dog and do ensure you use a bath mat to stop your dog sliding and slipping. When washing indoors please ensure the water is a comfortable temperature not too hot or too cold and where possible use a shower attachment if no shower head gently pour warm water over your Kangal to thoroughly wet its coat and then apply the shampoo and knead it thoroughly into the coat, if your Kangal has got extremely dirty you may need to repeat this process, but we would recommend whenever possible to apply shampoo only once. 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 keep the inside of ears away from shampoo and water. A useful tip here is to start your washing session from the back of the head and work down their body towards their tails.
When coat is thoroughly rinsed it is time to dry, firstly remove most of the excess water with the Mega Absorbent PVA Towel, squeezing out the towel regularly to ensure the maximum absorbency of the towel. Once all surplus water is removed then wrap your Irish Wolfhound in a Roses Large Microfibre Towel gently rubbing the dog all over until the coat is as dry as possible. Do not rigorously towel dry pat and dab dry this will help you to avoid tangling and knotting of the coat.
To thoroughly and quickly dry your Kangal, connect your Roses Grooming and Drying Brush set on medium heat and low speed and start brushing and Drying the coat, always brushing with the fur not against it, 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 and around the ears, not forgetting the feathers on the legs. 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 and always give you great results when using a conditioner.
The choice of Brush head to use varies from Dog to Dog but generally we recommend the large square head for large areas such as sides and back, the oval brush head for use around the ears tail etc and the round brush head for under the chin and tops of front legs, 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 Kangal will enjoy these sessions which can help create an excellent bond between you and your dog and of course keep them 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, simply towel dry as outlined here and dry off with the Roses Grooming and Drying Brush, and after cold winter walks your Kangal will welcome being dry and warm.
We look forward to hearing your experiences and of course receiving pictures of your Kangal 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.
