Trimming feet (my thoughts) and Ears and Head

[Narmowen]

Just bumping this up for the new posters who need help with trimming ears!

 

[BarbV]

Thanks!



Look at these two websites (the profile pictures of just the heads.)

http://www.braeleen.com/html_pages/johnny.htm

http://winterlandshelties.com/shsgroup.jpg

Especially the second picture. The fur curves from the top of the ear, blending into the ruff.

When you look at the dog's head sideways, with the ears erect, the fur behind the ears should curve into the ruff.

The two links below seem to be broken. I did a quick google search but didn't have alot of luck finding them. Would love to see the look as I had a similar question.

 

[Narmowen]

Here's a good one:

http://www.snovali.com/boys/trivette.htm

In the column of pictures, it's the top right picture. It's shorter than I like, but it's close.

http://www.crestarshelties.com/aboutus.htm

And this guy is exactly what I trim for: http://www.crestarshelties.com/Drama.htm

In the 3rd picture down, you can see how the fur behind the ears curves into the ruff.

 

[BarbV]

I think I see it now. I'm working on Bacca's hound ears and trying to create more illusion of lift and reduce the space between. I think between your techniques and the Illustrated Guide I can work out a plan.

Henceforth, I will have to tell my groomer to leave his ears alone. She's great at the basics, but the nuances of Sheltie grooming are not her expertise (though she does know about the poop chute, so I give her credit for that!)

 

[Ann]

For a look at the best ears in Sheltiedom, check out the Shelhaven/Rabbit Run gang. Click here, www.shelhaven.ca, then on Guys and Gals. Best trimmed ears of all...Shelhaven Rabbit Run Beauty Mark!

 

[Narmowen]

All of their ears are exactly what I try to go for! Those are excellent examples!

Barb, with hound ears (and just lowset ears in general), you want to take a bit of extra fur off of them, because the fur weighs them down.

 

[Lightplum]

For a look at the best ears in Sheltiedom, check out the Shelhaven/Rabbit Run gang. Click here, www.shelhaven.ca, then on Guys and Gals. Best trimmed ears of all...Shelhaven Rabbit Run Beauty Mark!

You are correct Ann..Connie has shown me how to do beautiful ears from taping to trimming to make them look soo darn cute

 

[BarbV]

All of their ears are exactly what I try to go for! Those are excellent examples!

Barb, with hound ears (and just lowset ears in general), you want to take a bit of extra fur off of them, because the fur weighs them down.

My current plan is to take extra fur off the tip and around the tip (after the fold) to eliminate weight, but to leave a little bit of longer fur just before the fold to create abit of an illusion of height. And also to not trim too aggressively between the ears (e.g. to close the gap).

P.S. And while you are all checking out the beautiful ears on the Shelhaven site, check out Bacca's daddy: Alex! (whose ears Bacca did NOT inherit! )

 

[Ann]

No matter, Barb...Bacca is still gorgeous...and that face! Especially on the Eeyore thread....too too cute. Pixie has hound ears too...my fault. I ruined them trying to make them tip. Lesson learned...now I go to Connie!! No one does ears or trims or heads like she does! She's the "head"master

 

[BarbV]

Pixie has hound ears too...my fault. I ruined them trying to make them tip. Lesson learned...now I go to Connie!! No one does ears or trims or heads like she does! She's the "head"master

My thought exactly. If I had left them alone or let my breeder do it, they might have been perfectly tipped!!!! Instead, I just followed instructions by rote, without really paying attention to his particular ear type!