Steps for Making a Puppy Topknot
Heres a quick list of steps you can take to make a puppy topknot for your Shih Tzu, Maltese, Yorkie or other Long Haired Dog Breed. Remember that a very young puppy is not going to keep the top knot in for very long. An alternative to training a puppy to tolerate a topknot is to use a a small (human) baby barrette or clip, to hold the hair away from the eyes.
Initially you may want to add a dab of petroleum jelly just to help keep it in place. There are also products on the market that will serve the same purpose.
Four Dog Breeds with Top Knots
Perhaps, one of the most popular dog breeds boasting a topknot is the shih-tzu. A dapper topknot indeed is the shih-tzus signature style, one that many people associate the breed with. You wont typically see shih-tzu puppies with this hairdo as the hair doesnt grow long enough until shih-tzu are at least five months of age, explains the American Kennel Club.
Another cute dog breed who sports a a topknot is the Maltese. The Maltese has a glorious flowing coat which in the show ring gives the impression of these dogs to be floating on air. A Maltese topknot is one of the most charming features of this breed especially when adorned by two cute little bows. You may see the breed sport one single top knot, mostly seen in puppies or a double top knot as seen in adults once they have sufficient hair.
The Yorkshire terrier is another breed known for sporting topknots adorned with cute red bows. Indeed, a little bow-ribbon has become one of the first identifiable features of this breed.
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And then comes the Lhasa apso. This breed is not typically shown in the show ring with a top knot, as normally they are shown naturally with their hair parted down the middle, but many dog owners enjoy adorning their faces with this practical hair-do.
Did you know? The term top knot is also used sometimes to refer to the hair on the dogs skull, starting from the stop to the dogs occiput.
How to Make a Dog Topknot
Perhaps the hardest part of making a topknot is keeping a dog still! If your dog breed is one that requires frequent grooming, training a dog to stay may come helpful.
Dont forget though to also train a release cue, so that your puppy or dog know whens hes free to move about again! A common release cue used in dog training is “done!” which is more preferable than “OK” since, the word OK is used commonly in every day language.
Once your puppy or dog learns to stay still, you can then incorporate working on his hair for gradually longer and longer periods of time. Just make sure to talk to your dog in calm, soothing voice as you groom him and dont forget to thank him for staying still with a tasty treat!
Be careful not to hurt your dog when handling his hair, be very gentle. You always want to make touching the hair a pleasant experience so that your dog remains calm and collaborative.
Once your dog has learned to stay still and cooperative (this may take from days to weeks of practice), part the hair over the top of your dogs head using a fine toothed comb. Comb the hair thoroughly section by section until it is completely free of mats. Using some bow gel may help keep the hairs sleek and static-free.
Next, comb the section straight up, as if you were making a ponytail but create a poof and hold it in place by twisting a tiny elastic band around it. Depending on the size of the elastic band you are using, you may have to wrap it around anywhere between 2 and 4 times. Make sure its not too tight or pulled too closely to the head.
Finally, wrap the hair coming out of the elastic band behind the elastic band and use another elastic band to secure it. This last step will form a cute fan at the top that can be embellished with a cute bow.
These are instructions for a simple topknot for dogs, but more intricate variations are possible. If your top knot doesnt look anything close to the ones you have seen in pictures, dont be discouraged; consider that it may take months of practice to master a professional looking topknot for dogs! Theres a reason why groomers go to school to master the art of grooming!
And now for some eye candy, lets take a look at some dogs breeds sporting their topknots!
About the author: Diane H. Wong is a business coach. She likes producing articles for domywriting.com. In this case, she has her own pages on some web sites. It gives her an opportunity to share her knowledge with others.
The only downside to the double topknots is that you can’t go for that 50s doubled over look in step six as the puffiness looks out of place at the sides. You don’t want your dog to look like he has four ears sticking out!
For daily wear, a simple single topknot will serve its purpose of getting hair out of your dog’s face. But if you have that special party to attend or in the mood of dressing up, that plain topknot doesn’t deserve to be seen in public. The worst is when the topknot is poorly groomed, lacks the volume and glamour.
Now you have it, my biggest secret of tying great glamorous topknot is? That’s right, Back-Combing!
Honestly, the skill of tying a great topknot isn’t that difficult. However it does take a few practices, a bit of creativity, some fashion tips not to overkill the look and for your dog to get used to. Don’t forget to check out an ESA letter to keep your pets with you.
Introducing your puppy to a topknot pillow & their first topknot
We suspect that most of us mentally conjure up the of a Shih Tzu like the one at the left when we hear the term, “top knot.” Or maybe, we picture something more like the Poodle below:
Other “top knotted” breeds that may pop into our heads might include a Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, or a Lhasa Apso. The following might not be breeds that you think of as having a topknots, but they do. The Australian Terrier has a topknot, it says so in the breed standard: “…harsh-textured outer coat, a distinctive ruff and apron, and a soft, silky topknot.”
The Afghan Hound has a topknot, too: “The head is surmounted by a topknot of long silky hair.”
Bring on the Bedlington Terrier: “Covered with a profuse topknot which is lighter than the color of the body, highest at the crown, and tapering gradually to just back of the nose.”
The official standard for the Irish Water Spaniel even makes a topknot one of the breed’s distinguishing characteristics.
To be sure, the Chinese Crested Hairless’ head hair is called a crest, but technically speaking, the term top knot refers to the hair on a dog’s skull, starting from the stop to the dog’s occiput. It’s a tuft of longer hair on the top of the head, and certain the CCH’s crest fits the description. We thought you’d want to be prepared for when Trivia Pursuit: Dog Edition comes out.
of Chinese Crested Hairless is Zucci High Virtue – Indy (2004-2011) by Tommy Gildseth is from Wikicommons and shared under the GNU Free Documentation License.