The Beauty Shop is Open

By Amy Fernandez

The National is still a few months away, but it is never too early to begin your Xolo’s pre-show beauty makeover. This breed may not require the intricate grooming associated with conventional glamour breeds, but don’t make the mistake of dismissing its value. Even the best quality dog will benefit from impeccable conditioning. Good presentation does more than enhance a judge’s initial impression of your dog. A well-conditioned Xolo possesses and exudes confidence and vitality.

An effective beauty routine should begin several months before an important show. Take off those rose-colored glasses and start with a realistic evaluation of your Xolo’s physique. This is an athletic breed.  A casual glance should convey an impression of a tough, agile, working dog, not a flabby couch potato. If your Xolo’s fitness routine consists of high jumps onto the couch, wrestling matches with piles of blankets, and a  hundred-yard dash to the kitchen, it’s time to make some changes.

Both overweight and underweight can undermine a dog’s soundness, condition and health. Even small Xolos can be quite substantial, so simply weighing the dog may not reveal the real truth of the situation. Does the dog have a definite tuck up? Can you easily feel the ribs beneath the skin? On the other hand, the vertebrae or hipbones should not appear obvious. If your Xolo could benefit from a bit of dietary fine-tuning, do not attempt to accomplish this in one or two weeks preceding the show.

Whether weight loss or gain is in order, a structured fitness routine will enhance the effects. Proper weight and optimum condition are two different things. Especially in colder regions, insufficient exercise can become a problem for hairless dogs during long winter months.  The thighs should be covered with substantial muscle, wide and rounded. Flattened “cat thighs” are a sure sign that your Xolo needs a more challenging workout. Exercise can do wonders to fill in and firm up a topline, smooth out jutting hipbones, or tighten up a loin to create a lovely underline.

A Xolo is built for speed, agility and endurance and therefore a variety of exercise regiments will be most beneficial. An effective program should combine walking, running and jumping. This not only prevents the dog from getting bored, it will utilize a variety of muscle groups and create balanced muscle definition. Otherwise, your Xolo may end up with a spindly neck and shelly forequarters in combination with massively developed hindquarters.  Xolos have plenty of stamina but overdo it, especially if your dog is really out of shape. Conditioning is a gradual process.

Like weight and muscle tone, skin and coat are primary indicators of health and condition. There is always some room for improvement in this area. Good enough does not win national specialties.

A successful skin care regime must be tailored to your Xolo’s individual skin type. Is it dry, rough, flaky, or oily? Every dog is different, and it is possible for a dog to have dry skin in combination with oily skin and clogged pores on other areas. One product may not be sufficient, and canine formulas are not available for every Xolo skin care need. A visit to the skin care isle of your local drugstore can be very instructive. If possible, stick to trial size containers until you are sure that a product will be effective and trigger no allergic reaction. Don’t assume that the most expensive products are guaranteed to produce the best results. Old fashioned, homemade beauty treatments such as a vinegar rinse or an oatmeal masque can be surprisingly effective.  Some products, such as facial masques must be left on for 20 minutes or more. Be prepared to confine the dog to a grooming room, bathroom or large crate. Sticky green mud masques or mayonnaise coat conditioners can be difficult to remove from walls and upholstery.

Slightly abrasive facial scrubs can work wonders on rough skin. Clogged pores often respond to clay based, or peel off facial masques. Medicated acne pads are great for exfoliating embedded blackheads especially on the thighs or the back of the neck. For rough, scaly feet or dry skin try soaking the dog in a bath with moisturizing bath oil or bath beads. Crusty or chipped ear tips will benefit from daily application of heavy moisturizing crème or medicated ointment. Keep in mind that these are beauty treatments, not miracle cures. They may need to be done once or twice a week for a couple of months.

Is your coated Xolo’s coat a bit dull and flaky? Coated Xolos are seasonal shedders, which may leave the coat looking temporarily dull and moth eaten. If the coat also appears dry and brittle, two or three hot oil treatments can restore natural luster, while quickly removing much of the dead coat.  Vigorous daily brushing with a hound glove or currycomb will speed up the coat change, and stimulate and distribute natural skin oils. Rake out the dead coat and apply a good conditioning spray, working it well into the coat with a polishing brush. A few weeks of this daily care will yield dual benefits, buffing up your dog’s coat and attitude. Daily grooming not only encourages bonding and communication, the physical sensations trigger the release of endorphins, creating a natural sense of well being.

A regular massage is another great way to boost your Xolo’s mental and physical vitality.  There is no shortage of books and videos on the subject, showcasing a variety of methods. One particular technique, known as the “Tellington Touch” is purported to directly affect a dog’s nervous system to suppress anxiety. This might be the perfect remedy for dogs that are prone to pre show stress.

Incorporating some stretching exercises into a massage routine can be a great accompaniment to a newly established exercise program. This not only helps to prevent sore muscles and workout injuries, evidence suggests that it can permanently improve a dog’s range of motion. And very few judges remain unimpressed by a strong, effortless side gait. As previously mentioned, these effects cannot be accomplished in a few days or weeks. A consistent routine is the key to success.

Massage is also a handy means of inducing subtle forms of behavior modification. Dogs that routinely object to having their mouths, feet or faces handled can be lulled into enjoying the process through positive associations created by massage therapy. Even toy Xolos are amazingly strong, capable of heroic efforts to fend off nail clipping and dental scaling. Combining the process with massage therapy can effectively acclimate a dog to these less pleasurable aspects of a beauty routine.

Well-groomed, short nails are essential for any hare footed breed. Overgrown nails will splay the toes, which can permanently break down the ligaments. If your Xolo’s reaction to a nail clipper can be compared to a vampire at dawn, try a compromise. Many dogs are more apt to accept the sensation of a file or nail grinder. There is less chance of cutting into the quick because the excess nail growth is removed much more slowly. Obviously, this is no solution for severely overgrown nails. These will need to be pared back in tiny weekly increments as the overgrown nail quick recedes. For seriously uncooperative dogs, this may mean working on just a couple of toes each day. Under no circumstances, should nails be trimmed the day before an important show. A short nail can be quite painful, causing temporary lameness.

Especially for hairless Xolos, poor dental care can translate into early tooth loss- not acceptable for a show dog. Unless your Xolo has been trained to accept regular dental care as a puppy, tartar removal can be battle. In some cases, it can only be accomplished under full anesthesia, which really amounts to a case of trading one health risk for another. Regular tooth brushing is the best way to avoid tartar build up, but most dogs acquire some regardless of diligent maintenance. You will need to remove this before the show, but confrontation should be avoided at all costs. A mouth shy dog with sparking clean teeth is not going to impress any judge. 

Dogs that object to scalers, toothbrushes, or dental wipes, may allow you to scrape off the tartar with your fingernail. This is actually the safest tool you can use for the job. It virtually prevents the possibility of scratching the enamel or injuring the gums. Needless to say, keep your fingers out of the line of fire. Work slowly, preferably, when the dog is relaxed and tired after eating or playing. Large pieces of tartar can often be popped off cleanly in one piece by working your nail under the gum line and prying it up. Stop as soon as the dog begins to object, and try again the following day.

This is another chore that is best done gradually, well in advance of an important show. Xolos are notorious for holding a grudge, and a “beauty shop showdown” may translate into refusing to cooperate for a judge’s examination. All of these conditioning techniques offer lasting benefits, but don’t lose sight of your goal- which is a knock out show dog in time for the National. One of the critical rules of show preparation is no last minute experimentation. This includes experiments in diet, exercise, grooming routines or presentation. If you are planning to try a new show lead, or switch grooming products, make sure you have plenty of time to revise the plan in case it does not work out. This is especially important when it comes to show trimming. The final, finishing touches to your Xolo masterpiece should never be left to the last minute.

The hallmark of Xolo type is a clean, elegant outline, and both hairless and coated dogs will benefit from a bit of neatening up. For this you will need blunt tipped and regular shears. Good scissors do make a difference. Purchase the best ones that your budget allows.  A small battery operated pencil trimmer is also very handy. These are very inexpensive and available from most pet supply catalogs. Detail trimming includes removing all of the straggly hairs and bristles that detract from your dog’s smooth outline. Start working on it at least one month before the show.

Use the blunt tipped shears when trimming whiskers and long hairs over the eyes, and along the ear edges. Either the pencil trimmer or the blunt tipped shears can be used to clip out long hairs that may be sprouting from the ear openings, between the toes or extending along the nape of the neck. Coated Xolos may also benefit from judicious trimming where hair growth patterns coincide on the chest, sides of the neck, along the back thighs, the abdomen and the ventral side of the tail. Smooth out these ridges, clipping just a few hairs at a time. Be especially careful when working on the show side. You can always take off a little more, but a big, bare patch will be hard to disguise.

Trimming in front of a mirror provides a more objective evaluation.  Stop to peruse your work every few minutes to ensure that you are creating the desired smooth result.  This effect can be enhanced though the application of coat polish or lotion. Needless to say, this should be applied well in advance of ring time. This not only ensures that the judge will not detect any foreign substance on the dog, it will give the dog plenty of time to adjust to the alteration of its natural odor. Dogs rarely share our appreciation of fragrant grooming products. And you definitely want to avoid the possibility of your meticulously groomed, ring ready Xolo writhing madly in the dirt, attempting to dislodge an offending addition to its characteristic scent.

This disagreeable possibility underscores an inescapable reality that we must never forget.  Despite rigorous beauty regimes, dazzling good looks or national specialty wins, Xolos will always be Xolos. After 2500 years of proving their point, there is just no getting around that fact.