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 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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