The Buddy Trim

By Rich Marsh

I used the book, "Trimming the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier" by Glenda Wyatt to learn the basic rules and how to produce the distinctive wheaten outline. I supplement the shears with electric clippers to save time.

The results of this trim can be viewed at http://e-wheatens.com/ma4.html

To post your own favorite wheaten pictures and support wheaten health research follow the instructions at: http://e-wheatens.com/gallery.html

For a somewhat enlarged view of one of these pictures that shows the overall effect go to http://www.dac.neu.edu/biology/r.marsh/Aftertrim6_24_01.jpg.

None of the following is possible without a cooperative dog. For some ideas on how to clicker-train to get the behavior you want, see: http://www.dac.neu.edu/biology/r.marsh/GroomingBehavior.htm

The following is an outline of my trimming method.

Notes on using clippers:

1. I use Oster clippers. I have no experience with other brands.
2. Use sharp blades and maintain them well.
3. When using the clippers with the clip-on combs, running the clippers through the same area repeatedly will remove more coat for a number of passes.
4. The clip-on combs seem to work better over a #30 blade than the standard #10.
5. Always hold the clippers so the blade is parallel to the skin
6. Always use clippers with the lie of the coat. Going against the grain will remove much more coat and with the clip-on combs produces an uneven effect.
7. Use special care with the #30 blade. This blade will remove most of the fur. You can use it with a light touch by itself, but the # 10 is safer.

Belly and underside of chest (requires a well-trained dog or a helper to hold the feet out the way:

• In the summer, use clippers with a #10 blade on the lower belly. This relatively bare area leaves a cooling "window" in an area shaded by the body and often exposed to cool surfaces when Buddy lies in the frog-dog position. This hair is light and wispy on Buddy and requires care to avoid pulling. Don’t press the clippers hard against the skin in this area. In the winter, I let this area grow longer, although it is always thin.
• Use shears to trim the hair on the sheath of the penis to the desired length.
• Comb the chest hair backward, and use clippers with a 1/2 or 3/8-inch clip-on comb in a motion with the lie of the coat, i.e., front-to-back. Don’t go too far to the side or you will interfere with the line of the tuck-up. You can also reach under and do this area with shears with the dog standing.

Head and chest:

• Use clippers on the flat parts of the ears going from top to bottom with the lie of the hair. I use a #10 blade.
• Use shears for the edges of the ears and scissors underneath and in front of the ear canal (see Wyatt).
• Use clippers with a #4 blade or a 3/8-inch clip-on comb for the cheeks and chest. The motion here is with the lie of the coat, i.e., from top to bottom.
• Use shears on the top of the head, fall and beard (see Wyatt).

Top-line:

• Use thinning shears all over the body to thin as necessary (see Wyatt). I do this as I do each section.
• Use clippers with a 5/8-inch clip-on comb to set the top-line along the back (front to back with the lie of the coat). This actually leaves a coat length of an inch or more. This clippered area should be about 4 inches wide. Don’t extend it too far to the side. You will come back and blend this area later.

Rump, tail, and legs:

• I have used both shears and clippers with a #4 blade or a 3/8 clip-on comb for the rump and back of the legs down to the hocks. The shears do a better job on the thinner coat in this area, but the clippers are faster.
• Use shears to trim the tail (see Wyatt). I like Buddy’s tail a bit on the long side.
• Fluff comb and use shears to thin and tip the furnishings on the legs (see Wyatt). You can also use the clippers to tip the furnishings if they stand out well.
• Use straight scissors to clean up the around the feet (see Wyatt).

Neck, sides, etc:

• Use clippers with a 1/2 in clip-on comb to do the neck.
• Set the tuck-up line from the chest to the hind legs with shears and use shears to thin and tip the sides (brisket) to blend (see Wyatt).
• Use clippers with a 5/8 in clip-on comb in a blending motion to blend the back into the rump, sides, and neck. This motion starts at the edge of the clipped area on the back and moves outward and down the sides with a lightening touch so the hair is left progressively longer.

Finishing touches:

• Use the shears to blend any rough edges at the borders between clippered and sheared areas. You can also use the clippers with a clip-on comb to do some of this.
• At another time do the hair between the pads with a small pair of straight scissors.

All of this takes a couple of hours and lots of really delicious treats. Chicken livers are Buddy's favorite.

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For lots of good advice on trimming and all other aspects of caring for your soft coated wheaten terrier, join the Wheaten List. See instructions at:

http://www.woodcommunication.com/www/whtn-l.htm.