Grooming the ruff~

Before & after~

If you can't see these,let me know ok.
But I decided to at least give it a try,after reading & re-reading grooming manual. It became very clear once he was wet & combed out,the bottom of the ruff (edges that were damaged) were going to be the longest that was cut.
He was quite cooperative,by the end of the trim,I was satisfied,at least he looked much better.Not much at all came off really,the most of it,was the bottom of the ruff,and evening it out with the brisket.
At least now he doesn't look as if someone glued a head of another dog with a body.
Before
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hpho...95106271813_1064379855_31637858_5080965_n.jpg

During
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hpho...95106351815_1064379855_31637860_5841592_n.jpg

After
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hpho...95106391816_1064379855_31637861_5071952_n.jpg

What do ya'll think? Did I mess up,or will it be ok
 
Hi Michele

Not being brave enough to do this myself, I bow to the experts. But will still give my tuppence worth.

As a first attempt, I think you might have been a little aggressive at the ruff closest to his legs. But a pretty good job regardless.

When I look at the before picture, I can see where you were tempted to trim. The outer edges were un-even and the the ruff not long enough to compensate for the longer hair between the legs.

That's because boyo is still growing into his coat. It will take some time for the patches to grow in. And time you must give it. My boys are 3 years old and they are still growing in. So I don't do alot of trimming except around the ears and feet. And in Bacca's case, his forelocks because they are really long - while we wait for the rest of him to grow in.

I wish I could figure out to show the cutting line in graphic format with the pictures of my boys.

But try to picture the longest end of Baccas ruff, and then fluff it out and with thinning shears, extend the ruff into an oval around his knee height. The hair between the legs, you leave until the end and blend it into that oval that that book describes.

If the fur is not long enough yet to extend to the knees, then just trim around the outside. I recommend leaving the front and middle alone.

Just my two cents worth.
 

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BarbV said:
Hi Michele

Not being brave enough to do this myself, I bow to the experts. But will still give my tuppence worth.

As a first attempt, I think you might have been a little aggressive at the ruff closest to his legs. But a pretty good job regardless.

When I look at the before picture, I can see where you were tempted to trim. The outer edges were un-even and the the ruff not long enough to compensate for the longer hair between the legs.

That's because boyo is still growing into his coat. It will take some time for the patches to grow in. And time you must give it. My boys are 3 years old and they are still growing in. So I don't do alot of trimming except around the ears and feet. And in Bacca's case, his forelocks because they are really long - while we wait for the rest of him to grow in.

I wish I could figure out to show the cutting line in graphic format with the pictures of my boys.

But try to picture the longest end of Baccas ruff, and then fluff it out and with thinning shears, extend the ruff into an oval around his knee height. The hair between the legs, you leave until the end and blend it into that oval that that book describes.

If the fur is not long enough yet to extend to the knees, then just trim around the outside. I recommend leaving the front and middle alone.

Just my two cents worth.
Click to expand...

I got the graphic in the book.And wished that Trapp's brisket & chest hair was remotely long enough to blend with the bottom point of his ruff.Actually had no choice in the trim I did,as after closer looking at the bottom point of his ruff,it was in such horrible condition.

I wished I could have got a better picture of him,before the trim,but he was not being very cooperative at that moment

But his ruff was very dry,split.And very jagged looking.Almost like a person that got a VERY bad perm.It was so very broken.Which I knew it was,and was waiting for it to grow long enough to bring it back to a fairly decent oval.

When he was wet,and the ruff brushed outwards from his chest area,like right out in front,I stood back,and just looked at him to give him a trim to take the ends off,and bring it like the picture in the book.The profile picture shows a rounded trim,right up to the side of the face.

I attempted to just trim the outside of the oval,but really that area needed not alot taken off.I barely trimmed just the ends.

Either way,his chest hair,under his belly,feathers are nothing in comparison to Jasper's.My heaven's Jaspers brisket & feathers are so long,and flowing.If you were to hold out one of Jasper's front legs,his feathers from front to back on the leg,totally blend into a straight line all the way back.All of this coat is one length.

On that note,I bet in one years time I have only barely,and only a fraction of a trim on Trapp's feathers.Cause he has virtually none.Whereas Jasper's..he gets a shapeup here everytime I do any amount of trim on ears,his legs need attention as well.

But again 2 dogs,even tho related that have grown out totally differant,. I may have cut a bit more than I should have,but what I did trim I felt was nessassary.He looks so much better,and his ruff is much better on the ends.

He actually looks brighter & happier.Brian noticed it immediately,and said he looked so much better,and not dragged down.(whatever that meant)
 
its hard to tell from your before picture but I would have to guess it looks like he was in coat growth and it hadnt caught up with the rest of him, I wouldnt have trimmed it I would have let it go. Its tough to tell when you've never had a older sheltie to see where their coat will grow to, as from puppyhood till about 5 years old their coats go though many different stages and growths, once their adult coat comes in you'll say OHHHHHHH Thats where that was heading:lol: I would have never guessed!:lol:
 
take4roll10 said:
All her tags (ID, rabies and license) are attached to her martingale and harness. She only wears them when we are going out for a walk. However, since she isn't microchipped and I do want ID on her at all times, she wears a nylon embroided collar 24/7 with no tags. You can't see it unless you part her fur. Her name and my cell # is embroided on the collar. It's also useful when there's a cute guy at the park...oh what's this on your neck. Oh it's just your collar with my #. :winkgrin:
Click to expand...

Our trainer uses these. She actually has them on martingales. Where did you get yours? I keep forgetting to ask her wear she gets them from.
 
Lightplum said:
its hard to tell from your before picture but I would have to guess it looks like he was in coat growth and it hadnt caught up with the rest of him, I wouldnt have trimmed it I would have let it go. Its tough to tell when you've never had a older sheltie to see where their coat will grow to, as from puppyhood till about 5 years old their coats go though many different stages and growths, once their adult coat comes in you'll say OHHHHHHH Thats where that was heading:lol: I would have never guessed!:lol:
Click to expand...

Well..I guess from the coments I should have left him ragged looking.I can hope it grows back.Only this time not ragged & choppy
 
mbfrench said:
Well..I guess from the coments I should have left him ragged looking.I can hope it grows back.Only this time not ragged & choppy
Click to expand...
If it does just hang on....Im telling you one day it will all fit together, followed by the OOOOHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh :lol: we've all been there wondering what to do with those odd pieces!:yes:
 
I actually thought it looked better in the "after" picture, Michele. More even and blended. It may be shorter than it should be but if you're happy with how he looks and he's happy that's what counts. And as Lightplum said, it always grows back! When it comes in now it will probably be more even, so don't beat yourself up. :wink2:
 
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