The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Here are two more videos http://youtu.be/VfpYFe9N-FU and http://youtu.be/JTxUmZuQcWE These show cutting a dog down short with a natural back and how to tip or shorten the natural back.

I've got one more that show how to use a stripping knife. Yay it only took 18 minutes to upload. http://youtu.be/PNCndP9ZgzQ

I learn something every time I watch one of your videos. Thank you so much!

Thank you Julie! You make it look easy (and even). How long do you think you can go between groomings with that particular cut before they start to look unkempt?

A long time. Three months maybe? You'd still have to do faces and trim around the feet, but the legs should last quite a while. I determine when Sokka needs a 'full groom' by when he starts to pee on his feet. You can see how bushy his feet were when this started, but he was cut much longer last time I did a full groom on him.

No you definitely shouldn't use the coat king on his legs. Only the back and into the sides just a little.

Julie: Can you recommend good thinning shears, too? I think mine "catch" a little, but I didn't pay much for them. I am definitely getting a stripping knife. I think it would make a world of difference in Emma's coat compared to what comes out with the Mars.

I love my 44/20 taper fine, they are about 100 dollars. Kelly (KLAD) has said she like the millers forger 46 tooth and I think they are around 70? I have a pair by blue ribbon that ran about 110. I like them, but not as much as the 44/20 They give more cutting ability as the blade is longer but I don't think they work quite the same for me.

I was thinking about it, and I would guess the length Sokka is before I started cutting him is what hair would grow to in about three months from a 3 3/4 cut down.

Thank you, Julie! I groomed Indy yesterday using the tips you told me, and he came out pretty good! (At least as well as an amateur groomer, like me, could groom him. )

Julie, a heartfelt thank you. I really appreciate the time you invest into helping us. You are an angel!

Question: When doing the back of the ears, how low do you shave it?

Julie,

Have you considered putting all your video's onto a CD? I don't know if it is possible but it sure would be handy.

Thanks for sharing your expertise!

Claire

Dear "Grooming Genie Julie" (I think that's what we should call you, as you are performing miracles for a lot of us!) ,
Another question- how far down the sides do you go with either the coat king or the carding knife?

Thanks again!

Each dog will be different. When you start carding out a back, you will generally 'see' a pattern emerge on your dog eventually.

Julie,
Just wanted to tack on my gratitude too! I love watching your video explanations of these tricky techniques, they are just awesome. :-)

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Adam

Ok, I think I figured out how to add pictures, so I want you to see Emma as she now looks. I plan to work on her again tomorrow. See how I left her back ALL long. That's what I thought a "natural" back was - not cut AT ALL. But, of course, it looks sort of stupid. So my next question is, if I use the 3-3/4 blade all over her back, chest, tummy, legs, etc. and someday decide to grow her out again, won't that back hair take two forevers? Not that I'm planning to do that at this point because this is SO easy, but just curious. Here's a blurry picture of what I did last weekend. I'm not sure I'll ever be a good groomer, but I'm pretty sure a little practice will make me better. Thank you in advance.

No not really. It grows back before you know it. I grew Sokka out to take him to the Northwest grooming show for another groomer to see how to transition necks and topknots and it took about three months from cut to nothing to looking like he was a puppy in a show.

You know you didn't do a bad job on the legs. Once you cut down the back and everything else I think she'll look pretty good.

There is a little notch at the back of the ear that is your guide to how far you go. Usually, on a dog with a good ear set, that will be about at the level of their chin and that is officially where it should be.

If your dogs ears are set higher it will vary. However, I would be careful not to cut down too far if your dogs ears are very high set, or you'll be cutting off nearly the whole ear.

Also, there is a school of thought that 1/3 of the total ear length should be cut off. I wouldn't ever go by that measure. Just like if the ears are set high, if your dog has super long ear hair you could literally shave off the entire leather before you hit that third.

Bottom line, chin (at the lower jaw)level on most cockers.

A million thanks. I hope you will have a good week ahead...

Thank you for ALL of these Julie. They are so helpful. I love Sokka!! He is gorgeous. He reminds me of my Mulligan. Mully always wants to sit while being groomed too. Does Sokka have Legend in his pedigree by chance? I think I see a resemblence.

Yes, Sokka's dad is a Legend dog.

Well our boys are related then. Mulligan's Mama's side is all Legend.

Another thank you for the videos. They help alot. I have such a hard time with Casey-with summer here I like cutting them short so he can swim and have fun, but blending the black and white on his legs so it is even with his tummy and looks ok is very hard. He looks wierd if the black line is not even. He looks great when he can be a bit long and I can have the black go straight across.