Allison’s Notes

Introduction to the Bichon Groom

The name Bichon Frise loosley translates to "Curly coated lap dog" and the fact that they want to be curly will always be a challenge when grooming.

Bichons need to be kept as white a possible. I always give my Bichons 2 good shampoos and use a light conditioner on them for grooming and scissoring. I use a heavier conditioner for maintenance grooming. 

Scissor spray and hairspray are also useful. Your Bichon MUST be well combed out before scissoring. When Trimming Bichon's we like them to carry a lot of coat. The successful Bichon

groomer is one who can create shape and balance with fullness.

Setting up for Success

·        Bath, condition and dry your dog.

·        Your dog needs to be force dried with a high velocity dryer up to 90% dry and then complete the fluff dry with a stand or hand dryer on hot or medium.

·        Line brush and comb with a scissoring or brushing spray

·        Clip the face, feet, tail, belly (all the way to the rib cage) and sanitary area.

·        Clip or grind nails.

·        Clean and pluck ears if necessary

·        Check teeth and brush if necessary

·        Clippers will be needed for the Belly and possibly the pads of the feet

When to use each Scissor type most effectively

Straight shears are your "work horse". Curved shears are new to the game and anything done by a curved shear was once done by a straight shear only.

Curved shears are time savers on curved and rounded areas. Curved shears used backwards (with the curved side facing the coat) is often overlooked and a great time saver. I love using the curved backwards on the back of the back legs in full-legged trims. Curved shears over the back of the neck into the neck transition is also a great "hack" for this shear type.

Blenders (which have a "fishtail' shaped tooth) are used to smooth out scissor marks, blend heavier areas of coat to thinner areas of coat, and to provide dimension to the coat that a straight bladed shear cannot do.

Thinners can also be used for blending as well as thinning the coat out. Using thinners in transition areas where you are transitioning from a scissored area to an area where the coat is left longer is very useful. (The back of the stifle where the scissored coat blends into the hock coat is an example)

How to avoid Scissor Lines

Avoiding scissor lines starts with proper bathing and drying with a HOT dryer. A hot dryer is not your force dryer when it gets warm. After drying with a force dryer up to 90% dry, you then fluff dry with a stand or hand dryer on hot (or medium if hot is too hot).

Then line comb with a fine comb the entire dog.

Comb and comb again!

Using a scissoring spray while combing and scissoring will help.

When getting scissor lines going in one direction, re-comb and scissor in an opposite direction. Horizontal and vertical passes will change how the scissors leave marks.

For very fine coated dogs, fishtails work very well. You can use a blender (fishtail) that takes off up to 80% of the coat.

Dying your dog can also change the coat texture and make scissor lines less visible.

What is a ‘Finish’?

The finish is how "plush" or velvet-like the coat looks. In grooming competitions, not only does the plushness need to look even BUT it must survive a comb out where the judge combs the finish looking for minute hairs that ruin the overall plushness

Pre-requisites for a good finish

·        A good finish will ONLY happen if your comb out is impeccable

·        Using a finishing spray and a fine comb will improve your finish

·        Drying, brushing and combing in the same pattern EVERY time you prepare your dog will improve your finish, make it more consistent and easier to achieve

Points on Proportion

·        The Bichon is a square dog that fits into a round outline.

·        The length from withers to the ground is the same as from the withers to the pin bone, yet we want the Bichon to have a "Round" appearing outline.

·        The distance from the withers to the elbow is equal to that of the elbow to the ground.

·        The neck length should be about one third the length of the body

·        The Bichon has a level (not sloping) topline and a very round rib

·        When viewed from the rear the legs are parallel

·        The hip is rounded into the rear legs and not square

·        The front legs are parallel and there is no definition anywhere from under the ear to the foot, the entire line is blended

·        Front legs must appear round when viewed from any angle