A beautiful bow is an investment into your show dog's future wins. Naturally, you want to preserve the bow to be able to use it over and over again, especially those special Lucky Bows. Laqibo bows for Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese are created using the finest materials and should normally last for several years. Follow these simple rules to extend the life of your bow.

1. Always store the dog bows in a rigid plastic container.
It can be an individual small container or a larger box that is divided to house several bows.
Never leave a dog bow laying around unprotected.
Develop a routine where as soon as you take the bow off your dog's topknot, it gets placed into its container without delays.
Do not let the bow sit on the grooming table or the crate top where it can get knocked down and stepped on.
Keeping your bow in its box between shows will extend your bow's life to its maximum.
Clean the container yearly or as needed with rubbing alcohol and let it dry completely before putting the bows back.
With our luxury line high profile bows, we recommend keeping them in a non-clear container to prevent impulse stealing at the shows.

2. For Traditional Crispy bows, avoid getting any moisture on your bow, or it will loose its shape and stiffness.
Air contains moisture, and so do human hands, so as your bow ages, you will begin noticing certain softness to it.
When your bow starts flattening and no longer looks perky, it is time to send it back to us for re-stiffening.
With proper care, bows will keep their shape and texture for about two years, and less than a year in humid climates.
Our Waterproof Glossy bows can be exposed to water without fears or consequences, and should keep their shape for many years, providing you take care of them.

3. When putting the bow on, only use one elastic band at a time. The other band is a spare.
The best policy is to use the uppermost band, and when it gives in, start using the spare.
Use a fine permanent marker to put a dot on the bow's bottom loop near the band you are currently using.
Never double the elastic band over, and try not to twist it.
Simply slide the bow on the ready topknot, and slide it off after the show.
Stretch the band gently, and remember that the bands are the weakest point of your bow.
Ladies, always use your fingertips, and not your nails to handle the elastic bands to avoid accidentally nipping them.
When you slide the bow off, should your elastic band twist over onto itself, untwist it before putting the bow into its container.
Please remember that you must not use the bow's bands to secure the topknot - the bow is meant to be put on a finished topknot that has already been secured by other bands.

4. Avoid putting any chemicals, including cosmetic products, on your bow.
If you use hair spray on your dog's finished topknot, simply shield the bow with your hand.
Avoid any greasy substances, such as hand cream and vaseline, anywhere near the bow.

5. When attaching the bow or taking it off, handle the bow gently.
There is no need for any extra pressure. We have seen bows that were squished into pancakes by nervous handlers!
Handle your bow the way you would handle fine jewelry, and never squeeze it between your fingers.

6. Satin is a luxury fabric and will show scratches and dents.
For this reason, should you notice any debris stuck to the bow, do not use any hard objects, including fingernails, to remove them.
The best way to get rid of dried "gunk" is to use compressed air can - the same you would use for your computer keyboard.
Compressed air works wonders for velvet bows too.

7. Remember that show bows are not meant to be worn by unsupervised dogs.
Some dogs are quite capable of scratching the dog bow off and chewing, or even worse, eating it. This can be unpleasant enough when it happens with a cheap daily bow - imagine how you would feel if your little treasure had eaten a 100 € bow!
The show bow usage should be limited to ring appearances, photo sessions and show-off moments, when the dog is under your control.
Beware of taking the dog out of the ring and putting him into his crate with the bow still on, especially if you crate several dogs together.

Following these rules will ensure your bows stay happy and look like new for a long time. Our oldest bows are over seven years old, and most still have both of their elastic bands!