Easy Shih Tzu / Bichon “Designer” Pet Trim (Part 2 of 3)
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Do you wonder what to do when you get a fuzzy ‘designer dog’ in to groom? How do you make it look cute yet easy to manage for the client at home? That’s exactly what we challenged awarding winning pet stylist Suesan Watson with. An 11-month-old Shih Tzu/Bichon mix.
He’s long. He’s fluffy. His coat is not matted. He has the potential to be ADORABLE. However, his pet parents need to learn to put down the kitchen scissors between professional haircuts! Can you relate?
In this lesson, she demonstrates with the right tools and techniques – it is simple to turn this fur mop into an easy to care for trim! It’s super cute! And, if you are focused and efficient like Sue, the haircut should take less than 30 minutes on a dog of this size.
The methods Sue explains in this lesson can be applied to a wide variety of purebreds and mixed breeds with similar coat types. The key to mastering this trim is in the prep work – the bath and dry. The coat needs to be matt and tangle free. Squeaky clean and blown out to perfection.
Most of this trim is done with clippers. Sue shares what type of clipper and guard combs she likes to use on this coat type to get the fastest results. Since this dog is a puppy, she naturally shares tips on how to win the trust and cooperation of a young dog too.
In this video you will learn:
- What equipment works best on this coat type
- How to quickly trim the undercarriage
- A great tip when establishing a waistline on a dog
- How to set the tail up on the body
- What to do when a dog wants to play tug-of-war with their feet
Approximate total running time: 59 minutes
- Part 1: Setting in the Body (21:23)
- Part 2: Trimming the Legs and Feet (19:11)
- Part 3: Styling the Head (19:22)
Suesan Watson
Suesan is a third generation pet stylist whose dynamic career stretches over 40 years. A “Certified Master Groomer”, she owns a successful mobile grooming business, serving the Chicago/Northwest Suburban area. Sue is proud to be part of Wahl’s “Extreme Team” and is approved by the “United Show Managers’ Alliance” as a “Sanctioned Judge”.
She began grooming competitively in 1995, and has received many class and group placings. Sue is a winner of the “Wahl 2003 Groomer of the Year” award, and only recipient of three consecutive “Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards for American Groomer of the Year”. In addition, Suesan has been nominated multiple times for “Cardinal Grooming Contest Judge of the Year”, and Cardinal “Congeniality” awards.
Making “Groom Team USA” in 2000, Suesan was in the top five positions for five years in a row, before retiring from competing to become a judge in 2005. Her 2004 placings garnered her the honor of competing with the “Groom Team USA Travel Team” in France, in 2005; with the USA team placing second, only one point behind France. Sue also won “Best Clipping” recognition with her Mini-Poodle in the “individual open class”, at the same competition.
Her keen eye for dogs, understanding of the “standards” and knowledge of grooming techniques, coupled with her pleasant demeanor, has made Sue a sought after competition judge and speaker, both in the United States and abroad. And with a natural ability to communicate grooming techniques to others in an understanding and often-humorous way, she regularly draws crowds at her seminars and grooming demonstrations around the country. Sue also does private hands-on seminars with individuals and smaller shop groups.
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Back to Basics with a Standard Poodle in an All Trim (Part 1 of 3)