How to put up a TOPKNOT
"Cookie" style
. I just want you to know I made a deal with Joyce Anderson for this article.  I put one up on topknots and she will write one for my page on obedience and agility. I think I got the worst of the deal.  Oh well ...... here goes. 
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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. 
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. The Show Topknot .
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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If your pup is thin in the back, you can tease the back part at the base a little.  This will give the appearance of a long head fall.  If it's long like my Banjo's (his goes to his knees) I blend it in with the back part and use another band at about the shoulder to keep it from flying as he goes around the ring. 
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If your pup is still a puppy, it's not necessary to make a top poof and actually it's not correct.  Just go as far as putting the top poof over your finger and spraying to hold it back.  This goes for all puppy classes. 
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Add one ribbon and you're done.  If you're crazy enough to want to go through all this twice, you can part the hair in the middle and make two of them like a Maltese.  It's also accepted in Yorkies.  I've only seen it on a Yorkie in the ring once.  The poor lady handling the dog was a basket case.  Wonder why??? 
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Another thing is how to get this mess out of your pups topknot when the show's over.  Until I can get home and give him a good wash, I use an oil made by Pet Silk. I spray it on my brush and working from the ends toward the head gently brush.  The oil makes the hair spray seem to melt and it protects the hair till I get home. 
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Pet Silk is concentrated so use sparingly.  It can even be mixed with water to make it thinner.  Those of you who are addicted to oil and refuse to quit using it, might enjoy this product.  You can use it on your brush to put it in the coat and never get any on the pups' skin.  If you find it's a little too heavy just mix it with water.  Remember, never just spray it on your pup.  Spray your brush. 

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One more thing I have to say is, "don't get discouraged".  Topknots take a lot of practice.  I'm a hairdresser and it still took me a while to get one to look like something.  Practice and patience is the key. 
"GO FOR IT." 
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Any questions?  OOPS, not sure I should have asked that. :)
Well OK... if you do E-MAIL me.