 
. "Cookie" style . . First, this topknot article is for show breeders only. You don't want to do a show topknot on a pet. These topknots can and will break hair if you don't know what you're doing. I wrote this for show people because so many of my friends liked the way I did them and wanted to know how I do them. They know the basics though so it was easy for them to learn a little different way. Show topknots are only up for a couple of hours at most before a show and they come down immediately after the show. We don't leave them up all day. A plain pony tail is just fine for a pet. You should get the rubber bands that don't break the hair though. Never pull a rubber band out. Cut them out or you'll loose hair. Contact Cynthia Kage, finishing-touch@dog-bows.com ...she sells them. You might also try platting the hair. It looks cute and keeps it out of their eyes. Just remember to brush everything out before you go to bed at night and use just a rubber band for sleeping. Now, on to the show topknot for those who want to get into the crazy world of showing. . . After bathing and drying the dog the night before a show, apply a good moose in the topknot. Let it dry and brush through the hair thoroughly to ensure the topknot has a coating. This will make it easier to work with the next day. At the show, the dog should be trained to lie on a table with his head on a pillow or rolled towel. Placement of the topknot is critical, too far forward and the dog will appear to be walking with his head down, too far back and it will have no pouf. Usually, slightly forward from the ears is the ideal position. Part the hair from the outside corner of each eye to just behind the ears using a plastic rat tail comb with a metal tail or a short knitting needle. This also works well for parting the coat along the back. Angle the pouf so it's wider above the eyes and becomes narrower further back. Use a small, narrow pointed brush and hold the hair up and brush the sides down to ensure no ear hair is caught up in the topknot. Divide the section in two parts, one front and one back. Use a metal mustache comb to section the hair across the top of the front section. Tease one slice at a time with the mustache comb starting from the front. Tease only the hair closet to the head, not the entire hair shaft and only tease about 3 small rows. Hold the front section in one hand and gently brush the hair around the outside of it smooth. Using a small rubber band encircle the hair three times slightly back from where you want the bow, about a half inch above the scalp. Using the rat tail comb, hold the ponytail in one hand and insert the rat tail in the front where the pouf will be. Gently pull the hair forward and down. You must go deep enough to grab the teased hair in the center of the ponytail but not too deep so as to pull the hair apart. Do this in small sections, starting in the middle and working toward the edges- always holding onto the ponytail as you work. If your dog has a short muzzle, keep the pouf small. Longer muzzles will need a larger one slightly over the muzzle to make the muzzle appear shorter. When you are finished shaping the pouf, apply a light coat of hairspray using your hand to cover the dog's eyes and nose. Place your thumb on the top in front of the ponytail to flatten it and the pouf will appear. Keep your thumb in place, and apply low heat with the hair dryer to dry it. Stray hairs can be rearranged by spraying your finger and touching it to the stray hair to put it in place. At this point, you can safely adjust the pouf with your rat tail to position it perfectly. Be careful not to undo all you have done. Next tease the back part of the
hair lightly with your brush, brush it smooth, merge it with the front
part, and curl it backwards over your finger. Apply light spray and dry
with a dryer on low heat. Loop another rubber band twice around your
thumb and index finger, hold the dog's head in profile and place this band
over the small top pouf from front to back. If there is still a bit
of ponytail left, blend this in at the back and band it behind the dog's
right ear. Finally, add a bow and you are finished.
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