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> Podengos > Grooming Your PodengoGrooming Your Podengo |  | | | Zangao de Viamonte |
Although the Portuguese Podengo does not require extensive grooming, it is important to groom your Podengo regularly. NEVER trim the coat of a Podengo. The rustic look of the wire coat Podengo is how it is meant to be. Here is what the Breed Standard says about the coat:
VII. COAT: There are two varieties: Smooth Coat, which is short and very dense; and Wire Coat, which is of medium length, rough, harsh, and with a distinct beard. The wire coat is not as dense as the smooth coat. Both varieties are without undercoat. Skin on both varieties is thin and close fitting. Shown naturally; can be groomed but not clipped. A silky or soft coat is a fault.
How to Groom Your Podengo
√ Brush out your Podengo's coat on a weekly basis. Make this a fun event for your dog - eventually when they see the hairbrush, their tail will be wagging. Most seem to prefer a brush of stainless steel straight pins with round rubber tips. Depending on the coat of your Podengo, you may wish to use another grooming tool. Some dogs have more hair than others, for some it is strong wire texture and others may have softer coats. Eventually you will find the right brush for you and your dog.
√ Trim the nails monthly or as needed. Purchase a good small dog nail clipper and start with the back paws and advance to the front, remembering to trim the dew paws also (which are only on the front legs). Trimming is easy with white pigmented nails as you can see the pink vein running down the center of each nail -- always cut below this vein. If it is clipped, there will be some bleeding and much yelping, so have a steptic pencil ready. For dark pigmented nails, start with the tips and cut more frequently (weekly) as the vein recedes with each trimming. Many people prefer the nail grinder, obtainable at pet shops and catalog stores.
√ Bathing: The Podengo requires little bathing. Indeed, frequent bathing of the wire coat variety especially will soften the coat, making it less effective in repelling dirt. Bathing every 3-6 months or less is acceptable. Use a natural, non-lanolin shampoo and a brisk towel dry. They love this part!
√ Ears & Eyes: IMPORTANT! Pluck hair from the corners of and around eyes as well as around and inside of ears. Pluck by grabbing a few hairs at a time and pulling abuptly. Eventually, your Podengo will get used to it. For ear plucking, it helps to put a little bit of white pet talc on the hair inside the ears and then pull, the powder gives a better grip. Or buy some old-fashioned rubber fingertips used for filing at an office supply store, put one on your thumb and another on your index finger. This is a great way to grasp and pluck those wayward hairs. If you do not keep the inside of the ears free of hair, it can lead to infections. This is true for both the wire and the smooth coated Podengos.
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