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Braids!?

3K views 27 replies 8 participants last post by  katscleancutdogs 
#1 · (Edited)
I was experimenting with Nino's grooming a bit (I figured a show respite is the perfect time to perfect things), and decided to try my hand at "show braids". It's seen very infrequently, but Havs are indeed allowed to be shown with braids, and as far as I know, they are the only breed to hold that distinction. In the ring, judges tend to put dogs with hair teased and sprayed back up over a dog shown naturally. Rather than take on a "when in Rome" attitude, I thought I would try the alternate route to getting hair out of their eyes, and these are the results. Not sure if I like it or not, but he definitely looks more mature than he does with his little sprout on top of his head. Chances are I will stick with what we've been doing, but who knows.

It would be fun to see some of the other forum pups with braids in. It's not too difficult if you have a dog used to daily top knot construction (but wet hair helps ;))

Also included: bonus photo of my boy looking oh so happy at the dog park.

And yes, he is quite the leaf magnet. I have to give him a good once over when he gets inside because, if I miss one, he will remove it himself and rip it to shreds :laugh:
 

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#2 ·
I'll dig out a picture of Kodi in braids... I do show him that way sometimes.

The only thing I'd be concerned about in conformation is taht I know a couple of people have tried it and have been told by the judge that it makes their dog look "severe" or "serious" neither of which is the expression our breed calls for. But I think they look darned cute in braids, and it certainly makes it easier for them to see!!!
 
#3 ·
I'll dig out a picture of Kodi in braids... I do show him that way sometimes.

The only thing I'd be concerned about in conformation is taht I know a couple of people have tried it and have been told by the judge that it makes their dog look "severe" or "serious" neither of which is the expression our breed calls for. But I think they look darned cute in braids, and it certainly makes it easier for them to see!!!
I think the expression they give can really depend on the markings they have as well. If the braids are all white on a black background or the other way around, they come out looking like cartoon angry eyebrows. Expression also factors in, I would assume. The second picture, which I caught mid "yell" at the camera, makes him look like a little old man, but his default everyday expression is happy happy happy, and his default show expression is an open mouth "smile", because he's a ham and a half. I also love the braids, and he seems to fuss about them much less than he does a top knot. Hmm.

I may try it out once or twice when he's back in the ring, see how that goes. We are spending a day at our breeder's coming up, along with his littermate and his littermate's owner, to try to perfect their show looks, so things may be resolved there :)
 
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#7 ·
Here you go :) I combed the hair on his nose down then used the comb to part his hair up through the middle starting at the nose part right between the corners of his eyes. I tied the half I wasn't braiding back so that I didn't "cross contaminate", then completely wet the section I was working with, wetting it again after splitting into individual strands post-comb out. I started with just a small bit from the very corner and french braided quite tightly so that I had added two new sections on each side, then braided normally until I got flyaways at the end.
 

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#15 ·
Hahaha little bug antennas. Love it :)

I haven't tried Nino in braids since, but our breeder said she hasn't known anyone who has done it at a show and regretted it, so I may try it out some time.
 
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#19 ·
My BIGGEST problem is that the more pressure I feel, the harder it is for me to get them even. And they look WHACKED when they are crooked!!! :laugh: so I'm not sure I could get it right on a show morning.
 
#25 ·
There just for fun braids! 😉 I just want the hair out of her eyes which is a challenge! 😁
Sophie and I knew that... We were just explaining why, even though this CERTAINLY doesn't make her look "severe", show-type braids sometimes can.
 
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#27 ·
So this is it exactly about braids but what does everyone suggest I do… Kati is walking on her ears. Do I trim them even though that is not breed groom?

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Well, it's not typical for a Havanese' ears to get long enough for them to step on them, so that would not be breed standard anyway. Second, she's not a show dog, right? So you can do absolutely anything you want to keep her comfortable and looking the way you want her to.

If I had that problem, I think I'd cut them in a rounded pattern, at about shoulder length when she's sitting, then I'd use thinning shears to soften the edges, and make them look more natural, and less cut.
 
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