LABRADOODLE

Bowie

Jess shares with us how she is preparing and maintaining a dog she will be using for a Competition. A super cute Labradoodle pet trim- comp or no comp!

This tutorial is also available as a FFW →

Competition grooming is great fun! Choosing your dog and the style of the clip is your first move. There are loads of things you need to take into consideration. A great place to start is with the rules of the competition - read these thoroughly before committing to a comp. The length of hair needed, time restraints and the division of your entry are all important steps in your preparation. Once you are clear on the rules and are ready to go, it’s time to prepare your dog. Here Jess demonstrates how to cut in some shapes. This will help set the pattern for your groom.

The Body

Debulking length of the body - choose a length that is 2 or 3cm longer than what you will do on competition day.

Start this process about 4-6 months leading up to competition day and repeat every week or so.
Identify areas of your groom that need more hair.
Draw lines in the coat with your finger or comb to help imagine the shape you need. This works well on blend points and shaping legs.
Tipping off dry brittle ends will help encourage new growth and leave a healthier coat.
Pinpoint areas of your groom you can clip rather than scissor, this will save time and give you an advantage when fine tuning your work.
Start writing a list of equipment you will need to help make your groom perfect, and your job easier.

Thinking of trying your hand at flared legs? Jess talks about the perfect shape and angle needed for competition. It is important to keep on top of maintenance leading up to competitions. Most importantly, if you are using a client’s dog, your client doesn’t want to have to maintain 4-6 months worth of hair that is dry, brittle and matted together. Prep and maintenance from you is key. Work closely with your dog to build trust and rapport.

Bowie’s body is clipped with a brown ext. comb with scissored legs

Legs and Tail

A clean, conditioned and well brushed coat is your number 1 goal! Comb each part of the dog with a fine tooth comb.
Scissoring the hair up off the ground will help keep the hair free from matting, and will allow you to shape the hair for competition.
Set in the overall profile shape of your style. This will give you the practise you need to fine tune the groom. Remember to leave hair in places to balance and blend the overall shape.
Choosing the right dog for a competition could be the difference between winning, placing or not placing. So what do we look for? Personality - does the dog have the right temperament to be groomed in a competition setting? Does he have separation anxiety? Is she in pup or season? Are they noise sensitive or do they get overstimulated by dogs and activities like grooming? Do they enjoy being groomed and can they stack correctly? Is the coat sun damaged? Can they stand for the entire groom?
These are just some of the questions you should ask yourself when choosing the right comp dog, then ask yourself will their coat do what you want it to do? Visualise the shape and style of the finished groom. Have a photo close by for inspiration. Take photos and send them to a mentor for an expert opinion.

Growing the head and face for a competition can be a tricky balancing act. Make sure the dog can see and is comfortable, try not removing too much hair close to comp day. A great option is to ask the client if they are open to the dog's hair being banded. Always check the rules of the competition you are entering, sometimes the corner of the eyes can be included in the hygiene work that is allowed before the competition. Jess demonstrates a very cute donut muzzle, focusing on preparation while cutting in the lines for comp day.

Donut muzzle.

Using thinners and Midis to shape the head.

Head Part 1

Set in the neck. Deciding if you want the head to sit on the occiput or to flow back into the neck.
Setting in ‘Kiss Lips’. If this is a feature you want to do, try it before comp day with scissors and clippers. This will determine if your dog is going to tolerate it and if it looks good.
Tool selection is key, use your ‘good’ scissors now so you know how they feel.
Pinpointing key areas of the groom, is the dog's body long or short? How long is the neck? What can you do to bring out the best features of your dog?

Jess pieces together the groom, bringing style into the muzzle. When you are working with a lot of hair and a black coat, it is easy to lose your way. Here are some pointers to help you.