Trimming the bum for show
I'm feeling a little panicky because I have a show in 2 weeks and I still have no idea how the heck to do this by myself. |
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| Can your breeder help you? I thought Panda's breeder had mentioned that she'd shown for a long time-- or am I thinking of someone else? |
| Yes she is helping... she is a long drive away though, it would be so much easier to have someone show me again in person.
I just thought it would be helpful to have others put it into words if possible and see some pics if anyone has any. |
| Stacey, I wil try and take some fanny photos this weekend at the show Mandy & I will be attending.
At the few shows I've attended, the best thing I would recommend is to try and set yourself up near the other sheepdog people. If you like the way their dog is groomed, ask them to trim Panda's rear for you. I'm sure they won't mind doing that for you. If they know you are new, most of the veteran sheepdog people will try & mentor you a little. You just have to be wise that it is someone you respect and who will be friendly. I've met some really great sheepdog people so far at the shows and it can be the best time to learn.. Verve |
| I have a feeling it will only be me on Thursday and Friday, and then on Saturday there will be me, the breeder Dancer and Sky came from, and the breeder Panda came from. LOL
But I really want her to be properly trimmed for the first two days... and besides that, I really NEED to just do this myself and not count on someone else always trimming my dogs for me. We are so few and far between in Canada... OES are few at shows, if any. I will enjoy the whole experience more if I am confident about my grooming, trimming, handling etc. I think I have the grooming part down, but the trimming must be next. Handling classes are going well, I *think* I am doing ok in that area. I'm already hooked on showing, it's the excitement for me, the adrenaline, the sights, the sounds, even the smells! .... when my dog finally gets her first point one of these days I am going to be over the moon. LOL |
Stacey just loaded up some photos of a bottom trim for you, a step by step sequence of photos, will post with instructions when approved.  |
| See how this goes for you stacey and if you can understand it.
Feel with your hand where the core/tail stump is, then above that brush all the coat forward and over the back. 
Next from above the core bring down a thin verticle layer. 
Holding your straight shank scissors verticle start to trim that layer starting above the core in the middle, make that first snip and as you scissor start to move horizontal to the left as your scissoring then do the same on the right. Then just bring down the next long thin layer and trim to match your first initial cut. And so on and so on till you have gone up the top as far as you want to go. There is two different cuts for this, higher up the back to keep trimming and on a slight slant as you go in the layers, getting slightly shorter in the cut from the previous layer, this cut is for dogs that are a bit long in body to shorten them up. The other style is for more compact so you are keeping the layering more evan with the first initial cut and just going up in the layers quite evan. 
When you have gone up from the core as far as you want, remembering to keep looking from the side also as you don't want to overdo it and have the look of she has had a lawnmover run up the back of her now is the time to trim under the core to neaten it up and keep it flat. I use thinning shears for this as it does not show scissor cut marks. below the core hold the scissors verticle and in a downward position snip of the stringy bits, don't overdo that and don't go to far down into the skirts. You are just neatening up this area and flattening it out a bit. 
Just work your way down till all the whispy bits are gone. 
Here is the bum looking neater and flatter. 
Here is a side shot I have only trimmed the bum area and she still has a lot of coat across the back to come off and down the stifle, and a little on the skirt area and thighs, but I hope this can help and at least give you a start for that area around the core. 
Thankyou to brie for the use of her bum as a model LOL  |
| Hi
How short backed is your dog? How long is his coat? How old is your dog? how much undercoat/lenght does he have? which shows are you going to? Post a side view, and rear view as it is now. You might only have to do a little trimming and get by for the first two shows then the breeder/friend could help you trim the bum. We all trim differently. Barbara |
And what a nice bum it is...
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Just adding Toves diagram to give more detail of trimming the bottom and how far up to go and across either side of the tail stump/core and looking at the shaping from the side view 
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| Lisa, it seems like you have quite a lot of length on her back side. I've been keeping Frank's hair pretty short on his back side, (1-2") which is pretty common to see here in US show rings. It also helps me keeping it that short because we have bathroom issues too. |
Yes at the moment I have still too much there and did not want to go in with a huge major cut to start with as her coat is way too long & need more off that area, she stills needs a lot more off for when we start showing at the end of the month. Still have not done the top of the back coat and down the legs and skirts. We do show in longer coats here but using this sort of technique you can go as short as you like to suit the style of the show look that is appropriate for where you are showing, I cut real short if it is American or Canadian judge and leave it longer for European or UK Judging. Was just trying to show stacey where to start trimming and what angle to cut the coat on etc for that first initial cut and tydy up in the bottom. According to the great book I have from a canadian author 1" to 2" is the desired length there Just to go in so hard when the coat is way too long could be a receipe for disaster  So am just taking it off gradually over the next few weeks
I just start snipping bit by bit and do it week by week till I get the desired length and shape as it has got far too long, so if I make a boo boo it is not so drastic
Brie has not had a show trim since last november so we still have a few weeks left for more shaping. Just got the feet done the other day they were like dinner plates in size about 3" came off from around the toes to give her puffy round feet again.
We'll get there in the end. |
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