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Topic Dog Boards / Showing / westie show grooming
- By mollaholland [gb] Date 02.01.09 17:53 UTC
is there anyone out there who could give me some advise on a westie im running along for grooming comps
i can email pics to u

its her head that im stuggling with the most 
- By HuskyGal Date 02.01.09 18:03 UTC
Westcoast!
She's your man! ( or rather wooman! or maybe groooom-man!!)
- By mollaholland [gb] Date 02.01.09 18:22 UTC
really wanted someone who was a show westie person  i know how to groom a westie just need tips on a show dog thank u tho
- By HuskyGal Date 02.01.09 18:31 UTC

> for grooming comps


aaaaaaaaah.. see I saw that and just presumed!
Sorry to have been of no help! I seem to be making a day of it today :)
- By WestCoast Date 02.01.09 18:54 UTC
You need a quality Westie for a start if you are going to stand a chance of making it look like a Westie for a grooming comp.  Although I don't show Westies, I've taught many owners to show trim their own dogs.  The head should look like a chrysanthemum whether it's a show dog or a pet.
- By mollaholland [gb] Date 02.01.09 19:03 UTC
sorry husky didnt mean to offend  
i have been growing her on for a year now and she has some fantastic coat but her head needs work i need someone who shows westies to give me some tips on getting it there i know how i want it to look its just how to do it

how do u do ur heads westcoast
i can email u a pic if u would like
- By LucyDogs [gb] Date 02.01.09 19:41 UTC
Can you get to some shows - best way is to study the Westies at shows and get tips off their handlers.
- By WestCoast Date 02.01.09 19:58 UTC
http://www.angelfire.com/mn2/westieshowdogl/Grooming/Heads.html

These are pretty typical Westie heads.  I trim exactly the same way that I trim pet heads but with a more balanced head and harsh coat, then you get a better finish than a large headed, soft coated dog.  The ears should disappear into the furnishings with only the tips showing.
- By tooolz Date 02.01.09 20:48 UTC

> best way is to study the Westies at shows and get tips off their handlers.


And to speak to our very own Blue...she's got some smashing westies..... and they win!
- By mollaholland [gb] Date 02.01.09 22:21 UTC
doubt i will be able to get to shows but i do have a quite a fue groomer friends includeing some of the top groomers of the country to get advise on it as well
i just wanted to get a show persons take on it 2
- By Blue Date 02.01.09 23:54 UTC
And to speak to our very own Blue...she's got some smashing westies..... and they win!

Thank's Tooolz , that was a really lovely thing to say :-)
- By Blue Date 03.01.09 00:07 UTC Edited 03.01.09 00:11 UTC
I'm not great at explaining heads..  The link Westcoast has given actually is a couple of show people.

One inportant thing for heads is to strip them a little but often, it gives the volume. If you dont know how to strip a head properly though get someone to show you as you don't want to be yanking a dogs hair.  Just pull/strip a few hairs here and there with chalk will give great volume.

The head hair although when brushed into place doesn't look short actually should be kept quite short. I think leaving it too long is a common mistake by groomers, it ends up in the "pet" middle parting. I would say sort of 2.5 inches. ( I need to go check a dog ;-) ) 

I actually comb it up through my two fingers just like a hair dresser does for both thinning scissoring and stripping the head.

If you brush the hair all back sort of flattish and create your "circle" with thinning scissors ( not scissors)  whilst in that position it works better. Also if you have an imaginary line from ear to ear the hair should be short from that line back down the neck. Another mistake I often see when there is too much hair extending down the neck.  I often use a hair dressers clip to make my line seperation.

Thinning scissor the bridge of the nose into the stop but not up above the eyes too much. You don't want the pokey face look.

Not sure how much sense these tips make as others have said if you can get 20 mins with a show person in person that is your best bet.

If you ask most people it is the heads that are the hardest to get perfect.

Good luck. :-)
- By mollaholland [gb] Date 03.01.09 20:33 UTC
thank u so much blue i would love to be able to send u a pic of my dog so u can really c what i need to change
Topic Dog Boards / Showing / westie show grooming

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