A Belgian's puppy coat tends to bleach out and sometimes
turns rust colored. This will also happen when the the dog is about
to start shedding. Frequently, there will be gray hairs mixed in the
long hair behind the thighs.
Aside from a white spot on the chest, there can e the
occasional white hair on the muzzle or legs. It is common to have
white hairs under the pads of the feet. For show purposes, the stay
white hairs on the face or body may be plucked if found
objectionable. When showing rust-colored puppy coats, some thinning
or hand-plucking may be necessary.
Sunlight, chemicals and saliva can turn a black coat rusty
colored. Many grooming preparations, sprays and shampoos have
sun-screening properties which are useful if your dog is subjected to much
strong sunlight. External parasites will keep the dog chewing, and
his saliva will bleach the coat. Avoid the use of harsh chemicals.
Collars of any kind tend to wear off hair if left on
continuously. The show prospect would not wear a collar except when
being trained, being walked, etc. Nylon collars tend to break less
hair than chain collars.
All the grooming in the world cannot overcome the damage
done to a poorly-kept dog whose coat and skin have been neglected.
Internal and external parasites, such as worms, fleas and ticks, can do
much damage to skin and coat.
Keep your dog clean parasite-free, and he will have a
beautiful coat.
