General Pattern Lines<\/h3>\n

The breed standard calls for the wavy and curly coat to be between 1,5 to 3 inches long all over. The actual coat length may vary slightly to accentuate or lessen key conformation points of the dog.<\/p>\n

There are no broken lines anywhere, and the coat outlines the natural contour of the body.<\/p>\n

The body can be either hand-scissored or clipper-cut with a longer guard comb. Start at the withers and work back over the body towards the tail.<\/p>\n

Use caution if working with guard combs as they can get stuck in the coat. Leave coat about 1 to 1,5 inched long over the entire body. Follow the contour of the body. Do not back brush. The goal is a dog whose coat is somewhat rough and messy looking.<\/p>\n

If the coat needs to be fluffed, fluff with a coarse or wide- toothed comb. Many pet owners opt for less than 1 inch of coat for easier home maintenance trim styling.<\/p>\n

Undercarriage<\/h3>\n

The highest point of the tuck up falls just below the last rib. From that point forward, the undercarriage angles slightly down towards the elbow. The undercarriage line should not fall below the elbow between the front legs.<\/p>\n

Tail<\/h3>\n

The bulk of the tail is trimmed with scissors or thinning shears to between3 and 5 inches in length, from just behind the ring to the tip of the tail. When the dog carries its tail over the back, if the coat parts at the center, it’s too long.<\/p>\n

Shorten the length of the tail coat to a point where it does not part when it’s in its natural position. The
\nbase of the tail is trimmed shorter with thinners, creating a full ring. To place the ring, hold the tail down over the rectum.<\/p>\n

The area that is shorter is from the base to halfway between the point where the back legs converge. Trim
\nthe ring around the base of the tail the same general length as the body. When finished and the dog holds its tail over its back, you want to see a “keyhole” of light just ahead of the base of the tail.<\/p>\n

Feet<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Both the front and rear feet are compact with well-arched toes. To show off these traits, the feet are trimmed very close to the edge of the foot, beveling out into the fuller leg coat.<\/p>\n

The feet should point straight ahead, toeing neither in nor out. Begin by gently picking up the leg and with a wide-toothed comb, comb the coat over the foot. Slide your hand down the leg to the foot.<\/p>\n

Scissor off the coat that hangs below the level of the foot pad with shears. Work around the outer perimeter of the foot with detailing shears to minimize the risk of injury\u2014never cross over the foot pad with scissors.<\/p>\n

Set the foot on the table and neaten the foot with shears or blending shears beveled out into the longer coat on the leg. An alternative for quickly rounding the feet is to do it when the pads are trimmed.<\/p>\n

If a very close cutting blade is used to trim the pads, use a wide tooth comb to pull the longer hair over the outer edges of the pad and trim that hair at the same time the pads are clipped clean.<\/p>\n

Front Legs<\/h3>\n

The longest coat on the legs can range from 1 to 3 inches depending on the amount of bone and coat density. The front legs drop straight down from the body. When viewed in profile, the front legs fall directly below the withers.<\/p>\n

The pattern line at the shoulder is about 2 fingers above the top of the elbow, at the point where the muscle begins to turn under. The coat at the transition line will be shorter, tapering into the longer leg furnishings.<\/p>\n

Fluff the leg lightly with a wide-toothed comb before starting the trimming process in this area. This can be accomplished by feathering off at the blending point with the same blade used on the body if the trim is very, short.<\/p>\n

To effectively feather off in this manner, you need a steady hand and a dog that stands still. Most stylists prefer to leave the legs to shape by hand with thinning shears or large blenders.<\/p>\n

Other methods of blending off at the top of the leg include using a medium to longer attachment comb, followed by blending with shears.<\/p>\n

After the final trim, the legs should form two parallel columns descending from the shoulder into tight, round feet. The coat at the back of the elbow is very short and falls straight down off the back of the leg toward the ground, angling in slightly at the pasterns.<\/p>\n

Hindquarters<\/h3>\n

The hindquarters are wide with muscular thighs. If trimming over this area with clippers, clip over the thigh muscle with the same blade used on the body when working with medium to longer guard comb.<\/p>\n

For pet trims using shorter guard combs or blades, blend the transitional areas with a slightly longer guard comb. Start to feather off where the muscle starts to turn under on a diagonal line from the flank region to about three or four fingers above the hock.<\/p>\n

The blending should be invisible when the trim is finished. Fluff the coat with a wide tooth comb, retaining the rustic look and maintain the curls to the coat. Blend with shears or thinners if necessary.<\/p>\n

The stifle area should have enough furnishing left to give the legs substance and angulation. The longest coat on the legs can be up to 3 inches depending on the amount of bone and coat density. Shape this area by hand with shears after the clipper work is complete.<\/p>\n

When viewed from the rear, the legs should form two parallel lines to the ground. The hocks are well let down and perpendicular to the ground. There should be adequate coat on the hock area to accentuate the angles of the rear assembly.<\/p>\n

Head<\/h3>\n

The head is a blunt wedge shaped with high set semi-pricked ears, and deep set eyes that give the dog a “whimsical” expression. Start by trimming off longer hair hanging over the end of the muzzle.<\/p>\n

To set the first line of the wedge, use a long set of straight scissors or a large pair of blending shears. Block in the angles of the wedge with shears from the nose straight back towards the top of the skull and the occiput.<\/p>\n

Trim a level, straight line. Clear a flat plane over the top of the skull. Next, set in the cheeks. Set the length from 0,5 to 1 inch in length. Once the length is established, then set the line from the muzzle to the cheek using the cheeks as a reference point.<\/p>\n

Make the line long and straight. The coat on the lower jaw will be between 3\/4 of an inch to 1 inch in length. Scissor a straight line from the chin to the throat back using a longer shear. Be careful approaching this junction to ensure you do not accidentally cut the dog.<\/p>\n

Once the wedge shape is established, then go back and round out the edges while lightly fluffing with a wide-toothed comb to check the work.<\/p>\n

Eyes<\/h3>\n

The eyes are deep set. Use fine thinners to remove some of the length, exposing the eye slightly. Leave the coat in the stop area.<\/p>\n

Ears<\/h3>\n

The ears, are semi-pricked and set high on the head. To show this off, trim around the base of the ear with shears closely but not exposing skin. Work all the way around the ear. The ear leather itself is trimmed like a scissored tasseled ear.<\/p>\n

The upper part of the ear leather is scissored close to the leather while leaving a longer tassel on the tip of the ear leather. To encourage a pricked ear-set, clear most the underside of the ear leather of longer hair that may weigh it down. Edge both the leather and the longer tassel lightly.<\/p>\n

Neck<\/h3>\n

The back of the neck starts from the occiput to the withers area. Leave this area to the last to trim, pulling together the head, neck and body. Fluff softly with a wide tooth comb.<\/p>\n

Scissor off long sections between the top of the head and the body. Blend the sides of the neck down to show off a moderate length, well-muscled neck with a light arch.<\/p>\n

Detail Finish<\/h3>\n

Lightly re-fluff all your work, checking for stray hairs. The coat should not look polished and smooth. The goal is a dog that is mat and tangle-free that looks reasonably tidy but unkempt and messy at the same time. Application of mild cologne and bows is optional.<\/p>\n