When I showed the boys I used thinners blending in to as far as I could handstrip down from the head.
I think in part it's also how tender/tough your pooch is as some seem to find it more uncomfortable on the ears than others :( .
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Thanks for replying so quickly :) .
I have been handstripping the head (would never touch that area with thinners :blink: !) and plucking as much as possible of the top of the ears, however I have found that it is fairly easy to get bold patches in this area :ph34r: and as you have stated it is quite a tender area for the dogs, and therefore have used the thinners to blend in :) .
Just out of interest, wondered if there was a 'correct' way :) .
I hate to see the top of the ears clippered on a showdog :(
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Funny this should be mentioned; the cocker that was in the BBC Crufts Studio had obviously had the tops of its ears 'clipped' :blink: - I had been meaning to ask about it.........I take it is is accepatable in the ring then?
Funny this should be mentioned; the cocker that was in the BBC Crufts Studio had obviously had the tops of its ears 'clipped' :blink: - I had been meaning to ask about it.........I take it is is accepatable in the ring then?
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No clipping a show dog's ears isn't accepted as such but it does happen sometimes. If you're talking about the orange Cocker who featured in the Crufts TV program, she is a Veteran bitch I think so perhaps more allowances can be made in her particular case ;)
Jane
There are more cocker people that clip throats and ears than I think Jane realises??????
I find that where cockers have been stripped on their ears, people are not able to take enough hair off and it spoils the natural ear set...JMHO.
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No Louise, I'm well aware that there are exhibitors who clip the ears & necks of their Cockers but none of the top breeders I respect & admire do ;) I have judged dogs whose ears have plainly been clipped - I don't like the affect personally as it's too severe but if the dog is better than others in the class, it will win because you're judging the dog not the trimming - it doesn't mean I have to like it though :lol: I also don't agree with you that if you strip the ears, you can't take enough hair off which spoils the ear set. If you look at my avatar, I don't think you could criticise Ruby's ear set & her ears have been stripped, not clipped or scissored ;) I could also name you any number of other top winners whose ears are stripped & again, there's nothing wrong with their ear sets. I guess in the end it comes down to the skill of the groomer & whether the coat lends itself to stripping or not - if it doesn't then a good groomer should be able to use thinners & not resort to clippers. Just my opinion of course - we shall have to agree to differ on this subject :)
Jane
sorry - what I meant was I am horrified because it is not what I am used to, the thought of so much trimming with thinners and no handstripping.....just feels very odd, I didn't mean it makes them look funny!
Your ES looks beautiful.
Just seen this thread - why are you horrified that they trim English setters with thinners ? they don't trim everywhere - feet, ears, throat, and shoulders should be all you do (ears are very tricky) - perhaps tidy up the tail with a straight end - but there should be no trimming of body fur or tummy feathers, or chest or leg feathers... :lol: here is a pic of my girl last summer when she was all looking pretty for a show... I find it far far easier grooming her than I do my show strain cocker !
(http://www.mypetpages.net/artists/1975/0/f1b0dde88e0041cc1352e300beb244ea.JPG)
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No jane, I didn't mean to sound so general, there are plenty of cocker folk whos cockers ears look lovely when trimmed, including Ruby ;-) I was not speaking for ALL cockers I have seen... just the majority - sorry.
I also do not clip tops of ears on oranges and I find livers are the same, it changes the colour of the coat and looks horrible. My blues have previously been clipped but I am going to try and use thinners from now on I think and see if I can get a better finish, perhaps I am doing it wrong or just need more practice.
Pity there aren't any trimming workshops where we can go and watch how it's done, I know other breeds have events like this. I have only ever been shown by one breeder and to be honest I don't think I was shown correctly....and I feel the trimming video uses the thinners far too often.....JMHO
Perhaps we could use such an event to raise some money for the FN Fund....I wonder if Sandy would be willing to help with such an event?
There are more cocker people that clip throats and ears than I think Jane realises??????
I find that where cockers have been stripped on their ears, people are not able to take enough hair off and it spoils the natural ear set...JMHO.
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No Louise, I'm well aware that there are exhibitors who clip the ears & necks of their Cockers but none of the top breeders I respect & admire do ;) I have judged dogs whose ears have plainly been clipped - I don't like the affect personally as it's too severe but if the dog is better than others in the class, it will win because you're judging the dog not the trimming - it doesn't mean I have to like it though :lol: I also don't agree with you that if you strip the ears, you can't take enough hair off which spoils the ear set. If you look at my avatar, I don't think you could criticise Ruby's ear set & her ears have been stripped, not clipped or scissored ;) I could also name you any number of other top winners whose ears are stripped & again, there's nothing wrong with their ear sets. I guess in the end it comes down to the skill of the groomer & whether the coat lends itself to stripping or not - if it doesn't then a good groomer should be able to use thinners & not resort to clippers. Just my opinion of course - we shall have to agree to differ on this subject :)
Jane
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