Recipes:

Rosemary Lavender Delight:
We often use this recipe for a 'maintenance' dog shampoo bar. It has a lot of flea fighting ingredients but, before shows, we use a different shampoo as this one doesn't wash as clean.

---

Fifth Avenue Fur (liquid shampoo)
This one is a favorite we use and is a knock off of Quai Fur Bébé Pet Shampoo, Mercer Street Scent - Dog Shampoo and Coat Wash
It smells divine and 'boutique fragrance clean'. It is better for before shows.

The 4-Note Luxury Shampoo is surprisingly simple:
White Musk
Peony
Magnolia
Lemon Verbena (These four notes together create the clean, airy, slightly floral salon smell.
Each plays a specific role.)

White Musk — the clean base (This gives the “fresh laundry / clean hair” feeling.
It softens everything and makes the scent linger on the coat.)

Peony — brightness (Peony adds the fresh shampoo sparkle.
Without it, the scent feels flat.)

Magnolia — body (Magnolia adds a creamy floral middle so the scent doesn’t feel too sharp.
This is what makes the fragrance feel luxurious instead of just citrusy.)

Lemon Verbena — fresh opening (Verbena provides a gentle citrus lift that smells clean rather than like kitchen lemon.
It blends extremely well with florals.)

Ideal Blend Ratio40% White Musk
20% Peony
20% Magnolia
20% Lemon Verbena (This balance keeps the musk dominant while the florals stay airy.)

16 oz Bulk Apothecary Pet Shampoo Base:
Total fragrance: about 1.5–2 g
Approximate drops:
14 drops white musk
7 drops peony
7 drops magnolia
7 drops lemon verbena (That keeps the scent pleasant but not overwhelming for dogs.)

Optional “Luxury Boost”Perfumers often add a tiny trace of jasmine.
Even 1 drop can make the scent smell more expensive.
Example:
38% White Musk
20% Peony
20% Magnolia
17% Lemon Verbena
5% Jasmine (But it’s optional.)

For Final Shampoo Formula16 oz Pet Shampoo Base
Add:

• ½ tsp neem oil
• ½ tsp moringa oil
• ½ tsp cucumber extract
• ½ tsp aloe vera
• fragrance blend above

Optional stabilizer:

• ¼ tsp polysorbate 20

One Last Tip (Professional Groomer Trick) Let the shampoo sit 24–48 hours after mixing.
This allows the fragrance oils to fully bind with the base, and the scent becomes much smoother.

When we don't have time to make our special shampoos, this is the go to before shows.

Cost comparison longterm:

---

Madison Avenue Show-Dog Conditioner (Matches Shampoo Fragrance)BaseUse a ready cosmetic base so the formula stays stable. (we use this one from Bulk Apothecary):

Conditioning Cream Base or Conditioner Base

Use:
16 oz conditioner base

Coat & Deshedding IngredientsAdd only small amounts so the conditioner stays stable.
Vegetable Glycerin – 1 tsp
Helps moisture retention and reduces static.
Moringa Oil – ½ tsp
Adds shine without making coat greasy.
Silk Protein – ½ tsp (optional but excellent)
Improves coat slip and softness.
Aloe Vera Liquid – ½ tsp
Soothes skin.

Optional Deshedding BoosterProfessional groomers often add:
Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5) – ½ tsp
Benefits:
• strengthens hair shaft
• improves coat elasticity
• helps release loose undercoat

Matching Fragrance BlendUse the same scent profile as the shampoo but lighter.
For 16 oz conditioner:
Total fragrance: 1–1.5 g
Blend:
40% white musk
20% peony
20% magnolia
20% lemon verbenaConditioner should smell slightly softer than the shampoo.

Instructions

1. Pour conditioner base into mixing bowl.
   
2. Add glycerin, moringa oil, aloe, and proteins.
   
3. Mix fragrance oils separately.
   
4. Stir fragrance into conditioner slowly.
   
5. Bottle in pump bottle.
   

Let sit 24 hours before use so fragrance blends.

How It Helps With DesheddingThis conditioner works because:
• coat becomes slippery → loose fur releases easily
• reduces static → undercoat doesn’t cling
• softens skin → healthier follicles
When used with brushing or a deshedding rake, it works very well.

---

Park Avenue Pooch – Silken Coat Spray
Simple Luxury Deshedding Spray (Show Dog Formula)
Base 1 cup distilled water (240 ml)
Clean, neutral base.

Coat Conditioning Ingredients1 tsp vegetable glycerin
Helps with:

• moisture
• static reduction
• coat slip

½ tsp moringa oil
Benefits:

• shine
• coat conditioning
• very lightweight oil

½ tsp aloe vera liquid
Benefits:

• skin soothing
• hydration

Fragrance (Matches Mercer-Street style blend) 
Total fragrance for this amount:
8–10 drops total
Blend example:
4 drops white musk
2 drops peony
2 drops magnolia
2 drops lemon verbena (This keeps the scent very light and fresh.)

Important Ingredient (Stabilizer) Because oil and water don’t mix well, add:
½ tsp polysorbate 20
This disperses the oils and fragrance so the spray stays clear.

Instructions

1. Add distilled water to spray bottle.
2. Mix fragrance oils with polysorbate 20 first.
3. Add glycerin, aloe, moringa oil.
4. Pour mixture into bottle.
5. Shake gently.

Let sit 24 hours before use.

Lightly mist:
• before brushing
• during blow drying
• before entering show ring
Benefits:

• prevents coat breakage
• reduces flyaways
• releases loose undercoat

One Groomer Secret - Professional show handlers sometimes add:
1–2 drops liquid silk protein
This gives an incredible show-ring shine without making the coat oily.

Last points: We use a dremel for toenails so they are smooth. We use a dog hairdryer and always blow dry each dog after every bath. We use a metal comb and a bass brush. Lastly, we have a dog "vacuum" which helps with the shedding, too. Each pug's coat is different -- some are double coated and plushier, and need more combing and brushing. All benefit from the quality ingredients. And, of course, from a good diet with fish oil and quality food. Nuvet daily vitamin, pawtree freeze dried raw, and Honest Kitchen base mix (lentil free) mixed with for raw meats and bones (we love mypetcarnivore).

Why DIY? Several reasons. Cost, quality control, results. Besides cost, DIY lets you:
• control fragrance strength
• avoid heavy oils that make coats greasy
• keep coats cleaner between shows
• adjust formulas seasonally

First let's look at cost:

One of our favorite "high end boutique" shampoos is OUAI Fur Bébé Pet Shampoo (which is typically above $40 for 16 oz)
Typical use for a small dog:
≈ 1 oz per bath
For 15 pugs
→ about 15 oz per bath session
So one bottle lasts one full bathing day.
If you bathe them once per month:
$40 × 12 months = $480 per year. And that’s shampoo only.

One of our favorite conditioners is Isle of Dogs Everyday Conditioner (average ≈ $30 per bottle)
Yearly estimate:
$30 × 12 = $360

And sprays for grooming and show -- our favorites PawTree and Isle of Dogs Show Mist
≈ $25–30
Annual estimate:
$25 × 6 bottles = $150
Total Annual Cost (Commercial Products)Approximate yearly cost:
Shampoo $480
Conditioner $360
Show spray $150
-------------------
Total $990 per year (based on monthly baths -- when at shows we are every day so 4-5 per week)

Now let's look at cost for DIY System
Pet Shampoo Base (Bulk Apothecary)1 gallon = 128 oz
Cost:
≈ $40–50
If you use 15 oz per bath:
128 oz ÷ 15 oz ≈ 8.5 bathing daysSo:
1 gallon lasts about 8–9 months
Annual shampoo cost:
≈ $60

Additives (oils, extracts, fragrance)
Per batch cost roughly:
fragrance oils ~$0.60
extracts + oils ~$0.40
glycerin/proteins ~$0.20Total per bath session:
≈ $1.20
Annual estimate:
$1.20 × 12 = $14
Conditioner BaseA gallon conditioner base:
≈ $45
Used sparingly.
Annual cost:
≈ $45–60

Grooming Spray
Ingredients last a long time.
Annual cost:
≈ $10–15

Total Annual DIY Cost
Approximate yearly total:
Shampoo base $60
Conditioner base $50
Additives $14
Spray ingredients $15
-----------------------
Total ~$140 per year
Annual Savings
Boutique products ≈ $990
DIY grooming line ≈ $140
--------------------------------
Savings ≈ $850 per year
With 15 dogs, the math becomes very favorable.