Grooming a Show Style English Springer Spaniel (Part 3 of 5-Part Series: Thighs, Outlining the Dog, and Dealing with Long Topcoat)
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We love it award-winning pet stylist Irina “Pina” Pinkusevich is on the L2GD set. We always know we’re in for a special treat. Pina did not disappoint our film team or the live audience for this high-level grooming demonstration.
In this lesson, Pina works with a lovely English Springer Spaniel. He came in with plenty of coat – AND he had been shaved just a year before! Even Pina was amazed at how thick and healthy the coat was on this boy.
Pina set to work showing the audience how to deal with an overabundance of coat. She used show grooming techniques on the entire dog. Her clipper work was limited to the head, feet, and under the tail. Other than that, Pina worked the entire coat utilizing carding and hand-stripping techniques combined with a limited amount of thinning shear work.
“The entire goal with a Sporting dog is to keep it looking very natural,” Pina states. “It should look like the coat simply grew that way.”
Pina shows the audience how to get the right look for the contest arena, certification testing, or even the conformation ring. She discusses how to apply the breed standard to the trimming process. Plus, she talked about her favorite tools and products for this coat type.
When you combine knowledge about canine anatomy and breed standards with proper techniques, you’ll always get superior results.
This was an incredible lesson for the aspiring high-end pet stylist or those talented groomers who want to take their skills to the next level.
In this video you will learn:
- how to get a velvet finish on a Sporting dog muzzle.
- how to tell whether the coat is alive or dead.
- what to do if you get a little too close and expose the skin.
- how to set the undercarriage line.
- how to outline the colors on the Springer Spaniel.
Irina "Pina" Pinkusevich
Irina "Pina" Pinkusevich immigrated from The Ukraine in 1989. She realized her passion as a Pet Stylist while working part-time as a bather. In the earlier part of her career Irina worked as a Pet Stylist at some of the most high-end grooming salons in New York.
Looking to improve her skills & expand her horizons, Irina entered the world of Competitive Grooming in 2006. In her competitive career Irina has won multiple BIS & Best All Around Groomer awards. She is a two-time recipient of the Lynne Carver Award for the most Best All Around Groomer wins in 2008 & 2010. Irina was also honored to win the Liz Paul Memorial Award for the most Best in Show wins in 2010. She is the winner of the Winner’s Circle Jackpot 2011 where she won $32,500 for grooming Lucas, her champion American Cocker Spaniel. In 2013 she was the winner of another Jackpot & in 2017 she won The World Dog Show’s World Champion Award.
Irina was a member of GroomTeam USA from 2008 through 2013. She competed in the World Championships for the United States in 2009, 2011, & 2013 helping the U.S. team bring home a Silver & two Golds.
Currently, Irina is a national & international judge & lecturer as well as an ambassador for Artero. Irina was awarded the Cardinal Crystal Award for Judge of the Year 2014 & the Barkleigh Honors Award for Up & Coming Speaker of the Year 2014. She has also been nominated for multiple Cardinal Crystal & Barkleigh awards in 2015.
Irina is a National Certified Master Groomer (NCMG) with the National Dog Groomers of America. She is also a Certifier for their company.
Dedicated to improving the industry, Irina teaches at Merryfield School of Pet Grooming in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She travels the world educating through conferences and seminars. She is also an integral part of Artero’s Jornadas events in Spain and the USA.
Irina is associated with Kiyara Poodles, owned by Michael Lamb and Bill Jividen Jr.. Kiyara is a top breeder of miniature poodles in the United States. She is also associated with Kerryfield Kennels, owned by Virginia Harding & Krizma Kennels owned by Lois Grier, top breeders of Kerry Blue Terriers. With these kennels, Irina has bred and co-owned numerous champion Poodles and Kerry Blue Terriers.
Irina is co-owner of a high-end styling salon in Oakland Park, Florida: Päsh the Canine Boudoir. It is here where she is most often found grooming the amazing show dogs that are her passion.