The most important factor for grooming any Finkie is first and foremost good health. Diet and exercise are the keys. Judges run their hands over hundreds of dogs every week and a lustrous coat on a well muscled dog is the expectation for any show dog. We recommend a premium dog food and daily exercise. Females should weigh approximately 23 to 25 lbs and males should weigh approximately 27 to 30 lbs.

Next on the list are the routine "maintenance" things like dental health, clipped nails and clean ears. Canine teeth accumulate plaque in the same manner as human teeth, and failure to remove it can result in gingivitis. Dry versus canned dog food will slow the accumulation but will not prevent it. Hooves and dental toys will also help to remove the plaque build up, but without brushing will still require annual trips to the veterinarian for removal. For show dogs, we recommend brushing with a specially formulated toothpaste for dogs several times a week. If a puppy is introduced to this procedure when young most will tolerate it. For a puppy you may start with gauze wrapped around your finger or the rubber tooth brushes that fit over your finger.

Toe nails should also be kept short. If the nails show on a stacked dog beyond its fur on the top of his feet the nails are too long. Again, starting when your puppy is young will make clipping much easier down the road. Massaging your puppy's feet will also accustom him or her to having his feet handled. The nail should and can be gradually reduced by frequent clipping, but you should ensure that you do not cut into the quick which is the blood vessel in the toe nail. This is painful for the dog and will create objection to any further attempts. Nail clippers for dogs can be purchased at any pet store. For dogs that are very opposed to clipping, a grinder may be more tolerable. Some dogs are easily trimmed on a grooming table, some while laying next to you on the couch, and others are most easily managed on the floor with one leg over your dog to keep him there. A treat following the procedure always helps!

Her ears should also be cleaned before going into the ring and should not smell yeasty. They may be cleaned with baby oil and a cotton ball or with an ear cleaner that dissolves the wax which is available at most pet supply stores.

The final grooming task for your show dog is coat. We do not bath our dogs unless it is really necessary as bathing removes their natural oils which helps to create a shining coat. Our major tool is water. The dogs should be sprayed down with cold water, brushed through and then dried with back brushing so their hair stands up. For dogs shedding due to seasonal changes or females blowing coat because of being in season, creating the appearance of a full coat can be a major challenge. In these circumstances, removing the old coat as quickly as possible is of primary importance. First give him or her a good brushing. Then take the garden hose and soak the coat and blow dry until damp. Put the dog in a crate and turn on a fan over night. Repeat every day for 2 weeks. They will be in full coat in 6 weeks. The other way that is not so hard on them is to brush and blow dry them until damp by just using a water bottle, but still use the fan at night. It usually takes 3 weeks longer to get them back in coat this way. With the spraying versus soaking method, you may also use a product called Infusion 23 that can be purchased at any super market or drugstore . Mix 8 parts water with 1 part Infusion. It brings the the coat to life, gives it a nice shine and takes any curled or split ends out. This product has a tendency, however, to soften the coat so you should discontinue using it at least one week before a show. The best thing about the product is that you do not need to wash it out. On a dog that is blowing coat it also gives luster to the dull looking coat.

Their beautiful plumed tails should first be back brushed and dried and then lightly smoothed over to form the curve. Finally, a small amount of Kolesteral, which can be purchased from many show vendors, rubbed on your palms and then onto their legs fluffs the shorter hairs found there. As the final step in the grooming process, run your hands over your dog, lift their lips and feel for the testicles in male dogs. If they are used to this examination on a regular basis they will not resist when the judge examines them in the ring. With these steps, your gorgeous Finkie should now be at his or her best in the ring!