Ruminations of a Canine Cosmetologist ~ Personal insights and experiences in the dog biz.

Brought to you by Shampoodles Grooming Studio.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Show Dog Transformation

Big fluffy coats on our Poodles is so luxurious... but maintaining it is not all fun and games.  Come spring & summer, we must contend daily with mud, ticks, etc. and our dogs are starting to get hot.  Time for a trim!
But what of the show dogs like Tripp?  Well, we can still have style with shorter hair!  After one final cleaup - the bath alone taking a full hour, then drying for approximately 1.5 hours - I decided to put Tripp back in pattern.  Yes, this means I shaved his butt.  No, he is not embarrased by it.  This is actually the traditional trim for hunting Poodles (they are historically versatile working dogs) - excess coat was removed for free movement in the water without being weighed down, while hair was left on the chest and joints to provide insulation.  Obviously these retrievers did not sport the big hair you see in today's show ring!  The "Historically Correct Continental" is much closer to the original Poodle trim, yet it conforms to modern breed standards.  Although most handlers opt for full coats (and most judges prefer it), it's entirely within regulations to show a dog in HCC trim.  Several dogs actually have been successful in the AKC ring, finishing their Championships or earning other awards while in shortened coat.  A good judge who looks beyond grooming to the dog itself (as it should be) will put up the better dog, regardless of hair length.  In the UKC ring (where Tripp shows), you will see many more Poodles in alternate clips, as here it is standard for judges to evaluate the dog by more important merits.  It seems that Canada is more accepting of Poodles in HCC trim as well.  Of course, such a tight coat is less able to hide faults, so it takes a well put together dog to truly pull it off.



Tripp is now ready for the hot summer shows & trials, with his sexy new 'do.  As you can see, even though the HCC is a tighter show trim, it still has plenty of flair!  But then, we all know Tripp looks good no matter how I groom him.  ;-)

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