[WonderPup]

I don't feel comfortable answering all of your questions... but here is my take

diet is largely a personal choice. I agree and disagree with raw feeding, so I have no opinion here other than to say that diet with have a lot to do with the condition of your dog's skin and coat.

I have never heard or thought of allergy testing for a dog who wasn't displaying some sort skin or coat issue. I don't think I ever saw a real allergy test done or even talked about at the clinic I worked at. So again I have no opinion

I can, however, speak to the question about shampoos. Personally I prefer to use products that are as natural as possiable and are soap free. If they can be dye free then all the better but unless as dog is allergic to dyes then I don't think it matters. The shampoo I use in my salon is called Bark To Basics. It comes in many different formulas, If in doubt I'd try the fresh scent personaly. At first I didn't like it, it's very low foaming, now I couldn't live without it. I know there are other shampoos who's make up is similar but I make it a point to never reccomend anything that I have no personaly used and loved. so I can't tell you if those shampoo's are worth your money or not. The cream rinse/ conditioner that we use from the bark to basics line is wonderful. I like to dilute conditioner in water and spritx my dogs all over when I am going to brush them out. Brushing dry hair causes it to break which only really matters if you're planning to tey and keep the hair long or grow it into a show coat. Anyway. The above mentioned condition has the added benifit of smelling nice for a long time. Another product line that I love is called plush puppy. I don't know that they are "all natural" but I love them anyway. What I would do without that stuff at a dog show I dont know. I haven't used any shampoos made by them but I have used a condtioning/ body building mouse and a conditioning spray that both work really well. I also use Chris Systems by chris christainsen, I can say that their shampoos do exactly what they say they will. I use mostly their color enhancing stuff and the thicker and Thicker shampoo and spray. I have also used their clarifying shampoo and likes it. I have yet to run across one of their products that doesnt meet my or vastly exceed my expectations.

For what it's worth, (and keeping in mind that others will have different opinions to share): If you were a client that walked into my salon and asked me general questions about shampoos and what you might use I would be most likely to reccomend the bark the basics or something along those lines. The other two products are probably more specific than you really needed for general cleansing and probably more expensive for you to try and purchase and I don't believe in spending extra $$$ on something when there was a less expensive alternative that was just as good.

 

[WonderPup]

I know petsmart has switched to the hydrosurge in an effort to save on water useage. I have heard from the store managers of the two stores here as well as the groomers in the salons that they don't like it. My best friend down was up for a visit about a month ago and said she personaly felt like the products could be better and they were using old shampoos and hand washing really dirty dogs. Interesting to hear somebody else's take on the 'surge'

I have never used the pet aromatics shampoo, I just reccently hoped on the natural-ish bandwagon. Before I was using the green tea and mint shampoo by Top Performance that PetEdge sells. I still use the finishing spray in the salon and clients love the smell. I have small bottle here at home that I havent finished using up. It's not a bad shampoo and it's inexpensive.

 

[WonderPup]

secreto, I know what you are talking about!! Jazz's whole coat is that way and it drives me NUTS! Though knock on wood, I am fortunate to have a fair amount of crispt texture so I can ascissor it (if she had enough hair) if I desire. It is really common to accidently change the texture and thickness of the coat when you clip it. I can usually tell when something like a cocker has been shaved short all over because they will almost always be curly. Another thing that can happen is that you can change the color of the hair when it is shaved, although I've never known it to be so with a black dog, or for that matter with poodles at all. I could go into detail about gaurd hairs and undercoat and why these things might or might not happen but.. well I I'm lazy lol.

Anyway the good news: The curliesness in your case is probably not perminate. As the hair grows and you scissor it, it will become stronger and will probably straighten out eventually. Fancy is right, you do need to us a HV dryer to start. I HV my dogs from start to finish and don't bother with a stand dryer personally. Even my big "show cut" as his mom calls it get's HV all over.(fye the area I clip on him legs and around the rosetts groes back curly too) With inches and inches of hair on a jacket I can see the reasoning for the stand dryer and a little heat. However, if Eli's coat is shorter than the average show coat, (I'm right aren't I you did decide not to show him?), then you shouldnt really need the stand dryer. All HV dryers are not created equaly though, may I suggest at the vert least a two speed one. I'm a fan of the Air Force Camander dryer. I also have an air force master blaster that has two motors and is awsome, well worth the price. If the hair blows striaght when it is drying then it should dry straight - in therory

Ahh now look at that I knew I shouldn't have checked the forum, now I'm running late for work LoL.

 

[WonderPup]

Hey Secreto I can see the problem right off, you don't have a powerful enough dryer. I used that model in the picture at the vet clinic and you it took my bather over two hours to dry our big poodle in the show trim... before he was in full coat. We used it with the hose too, I hated that dryer buuuuuutttt it was an improvement (sad to say) on the one they had before I arrived and demanded a real dyer.

The Wonder Puppy has had baths in the following (and approved of them)

Shampoo at petsmart: Look for Wags natural wheatgrass shampoo. I've used it on some of the tibbies, it's Wonder Puppy approved and doesn't make her grandfather itch. It's in a dark green bottle and you can also buy a conditioner.
Inside the salon at petsmart they also sell their best versions on groomax, I like the rasberry oatmeal myself, but mostly what you'd be wise to be interested in is the unscented remo condtioner. Dilute and it's awsome.

Shampoo at petedge: Top performance Green Tea and Mint , also comes in a conditioner, finishing spray, and deodorant spray. This is what I use most often at home, though not on the poodle. Jazz never gets baths at home so she is a bark to basics user in the salon. I use this scent of finishing spray and get loads of requests for it at work. Smells nice and I like the results with the shampoo. Not hypoallerginic though.

 

[WonderPup]

I'd caution you against using heat if you can avoid it, certainly don't buy a dryer with a heating element. Aside from maintence heat can damage the skin and coat, you can also burn the dog if you aren't careful or cause the dog to overheat during the drying process. Ahhh, all the things you learn at a vet clinic because you're bather is dumb. Anywho, if you get the commander dryer or if you really upgrade to one with dual motors the motor itself will heat up thus the air passing through it will be slightly warmer. It doesn't get hot though by any stretch of the imagination it's just slightly above room temp. As far as the model numbers, I can't say for sure, but I will see if I can find out.

 

[WonderPup]

Curly dog, keep a spray bottle with water next to your table. If you find that an area is already started to dry and is going to end up curly re-wet it with the spray. If your dog get's a little freaked or is to wiggly for you to spray just where you wanted instead of all over whats already dry (yup that happen yeaterday lol), use a really wet wash cloth, I mean soaking wet, to re-wet the area. I have a little bucket that I can fill with water and soak a cloth in if I need to.

I'd say thats a good choice Secreto.