I have a video that shows someone using a stripping knife to tidy the top of a golden retriever's ear. Has anyone used this and if so, what grade blade should be used (not mentioned) medium or fine?

My girl's breeder would know but she's out of town and I'm off to SKC tomorrow for Leo watching and shopping. :-D

Missie will you be there with a flask? ;-)

No only ever used thinning scissors.

i use a stripping knife on my Gordons.  it saves a heck of a lot of time when they blow their coats rather than hand stripping them all (and the old fingers!)

i think mines a fine but I am not sure as I a friend took me to a stand at a show and told me to buy this one! 

(yes I do have mug written on my forehead!)

Jill

I have never used a stripping knife on my goldens but use thinning scissors, curved edged scissors and straight edged ones on different parts of the body. Diamond Edge do some really good quality ones. I did buy once a thinning scissor with one straight edge blade but it gave awful results.
Going back to the stripping knife, a friend sent his 2 goldens in to be groomed and trimmed, the groomer obviously had no experience of the correct way to trim goldens, she had used a knife on their chests, taken all of their furnishings and trousers off completey, the tail was about an inch long hacked all the way along and she had used a knife on their backs. They looked awful and their coats 2 years later have not regained the look of a typical golden.
Personally I would not go down that route but use good quality thinning scissors

Thanks all. The person only used the knife on the outside of the ear at the very top to take away some of the fluffiness - everywhere else only thinning or regular scissors were used. I've seen some over-trimmed goldens and they looked awful. I would never dream of messing too much with my boy's furnishings. :-D