A Rustic coated breed is supposed to look messy and unkept with ringlets or cords popping out all over. Depending on the breed, they must be completely raked and combed out or cords split before the bath and NOT AFTER!  On a double-coated breed you will use an undercoat rake and metal fine tooth comb. If you are working with an extremely thick coat, you might want to run a coat stripping rake gently through the coat in addition to the undercoat rake and metal comb. They will also need to air dry to preserve the curls.

If you have a client that wants to keep their Rustic breed from being shaved down all the time, they will need to come in every 2-3 weeks alternating baths and haircuts. If the pets are lighter in color, they will mat faster, so you might want to see them every 1-2 weeks.  Even if the breed is a corded one, they will still need to come in regularly to have their cords split so they don’t get matted.

•         Tip: using a heavy conditioner on them will not only intensify the ringlets and keep the coat from breaking, but will help prevent mats for the next visit.

Rustic breeds: Hungarian Pumik, Spanish Water Dogs (SWD), Italian Water Dogs (IWD)

Do keep in mind that sometimes the breed standard can get a little confusing when translated from one language to another. 

Kendra Otto

Pet Grooming Advocate

On Sunday March 17th Jay Majors of Team Xotics hosted his 3rd Barber battle in Wallingford ,Connecticut. Out of five categories the Heavyweight battle between Joe the Barber, Mark Morrera, Radamez Perez and 13 others  was the most anticipated battle of the night. Needless to say Radamez Perez took home the 1st place award for his work he completes using his black Andis T-outliner,  a 90th anniversary Master and his trusty nano magnetic Andis guards. Mark Morrera won 3rd, in spite of his difficulty finding a model his determination still allowed him to place in the top 3.

Kenny "The Professional" Duncan Andis Educator/ Salon Owner / Clipper Cutter/ Photographer

The clipper lines on a Bedlington Terrier head and throat are usually done with a 30 or 40 blade. You want the finished clipper work to look velvety so if the coat is thinner use a longer choice blade. In the beginning, you most likely will need to get the dog used to the short blade and will need to apply a medicated powder or an ointment afterwards to prevent irritation. Notice that the entire bottom jaw is free from hair. Your clipper line will start at the outside corner of the eye and runs into the top corner of the ear and around the entire root of the ear. (For tips on shaving the ear pattern see the Bedlington ear blog) The line on the throat should stop at the breastbone. If the dog’s throat drops off before the breastbone, you will want to stop your clipper work there to give the appearance of a straight front when viewed from the side. (Note, this dog is only has it’s clipper work done, it is not completely groomed)

Kendra Otto

Pet Grooming Advocate

At Home Maintenance Tips from Andis’ Bob Erler, Sales Manager, Animal Division

Dog owners need to develop a maintenance regimen for their pets between trips to the groomer. Bob Erler, Andis’ National Sales Manager, Animal Division, offers some helpful at home maintenance tips to keep your dogs feeling and looking healthy.

Bathing
No matter the breed or coat type, every dog should be bathed at least once a month to maintain healthy skin and a clean coat. Brush your dog to get rid of tangles before bathing. Brushing removes the undercoat, which allows the hair to dry faster. Short haired or double-coated breeds can be air dried or blow dried, while long haired breeds should be brushed while blow drying. Andis’ QuietAire® ionic/ceramic pet dryer comes with a stand to make it easier for you to use your hands to brush the fur while the dryer runs.

Trimming
Trimming is easiest right after bathing when the dog has a clean, smooth coat. Brushing the fur to minimize tangles makes trimming easier for both the dog and the owner. Andis’ EasyClip Combo kit is perfect for at home touchups. The kit comes with a cordless trimmer and adjustable blade clipper, along with all the grooming essentials, such as attachment combs and lubricating blade oil. Also included is an instructional DVD with details on how to safely clip and trim your dog.

Brushing
The amount of coat brushing required depends on the type of coat, and is necessary to promote healthy skin and prevent painful matting.

Short Hair
Dogs with short hair, such as the Chihuahua, Italian Greyhound, Miniature Pinscher, and Jack Russell Terrier should be brushed one to three times a week.

Medium Length Hair
Pets with medium length hair, such as Border Collies and German Shepherds, should be brushed two to four times a week.

“If your medium hair pet sheds often, such as some Retrievers, the pet should be brushed more often with a steel comb or firm Slicker Brush. Andis’ self-cleaning Slicker Brush would be ideal, as it has a button that removes hair from the bristles, making it easier for the owner to clean up excess hair,” notes Erler. “Pets with medium, curly and non-shedding coats, such as Poodles, Shih Tzu’s and Yorkshire Terriers, should be brushed three to seven times a week with a Slicker Brush. Andis’ firm Slicker Brushes are perfect for medium length coats.” 

Long Hair
Pets with long hair, such as Rough Collies, some Golden Retrievers and Afghan Hounds, should be brushed three to seven times a week.

“Steel combs are ideal for long haired dogs,” says Erler. “If the coat is long but smooth, brushes with short and flexible bristles, such as the self-cleaning Slicker Brush should be used.”

Nail Upkeep
Nails should be clipped every six weeks, or whenever the nails are long enough to touch the floor when your pet is standing. A good way to judge whether the nails are too long is when you can hear them “clicking” on the floor. When nails are too long, pets may start to walk on the sides of their paws, which can contribute to arthritis in the legs and hips. Overgrown nails can also split, tear, become ingrown, or get caught on something, all of which can irritate or hurt your pet. “Andis’ Nail Clipper is perfect for times when the owner notices their pet needs a touchup but doesn’t have time to go to the groomer,” says Erler. “The clipper is heavy duty, but has a safety stop to prevent overcutting, which makes it ideal for home use.”  It’s best to trim nails after a bath when your pet’s nails are soft.

Ear Cleaning
It’s also important to keep a close eye on your dog’s ears, especially for dogs with floppy ears. Your dog’s ears should be trimmed and cleaned every four to six weeks to reduce the risk of inflammation and infection.

GROOMING CATTLE FOR SHOW: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE

Tips from Andis Cattle Grooming Expert, Kirk Steirwalt

Andis’ National Cattle Grooming Training Advisor, Kirk Stierwalt, shares tips and tricks for beginners, which can also serve as reminders for seasoned cattle groomers.

Develop Trust
The first step in the grooming process is forming a relationship with the calf. The animal must trust you in order to cooperate with you. Spending time with the steer while he or she is still young is the best way to gain his or her trust. As show dates approach, daily contact, including feeding and petting, is necessary to strengthen the bond. 

Pay attention to any unique motions or behaviors of the animal. It’s important to know how their body parts function when you’re washing or clipping. If you understand reactions and can anticipate sudden movements, you will avoid being surprised and possibly making a mistake while clipping.

Rinse and Dry
Before rinsing, blow dry any dirt or dust off of the animal’s fur. For a calf’s very first shower, it’s a good idea to tie him or her to a secure fence or post, as the calf may be scared.

To rinse, turn the water on slowly and begin at a low pressure, or fold the hose to restrict the flow, to avoid scaring the animal. Approach the front shoulders first, and run the end of the hose along the back to acquaint the calf with how the water feels on his or her body. Gradually increase water pressure as the calf becomes more comfortable. Use shampoo sparingly, no more than once a week; too much shampoo can cause the fur to fall out. Conditioner can be used daily, especially just before a show.

Rinsing and blow drying daily, especially in the summer months, trains the fur to stay in place and allows it to grow faster. 

Comb the Hair
Begin combing at a 45° downward angle from the back of the steer to the front. Next, comb horizontally from the back to the front, and lastly, comb upward at a 45° angle from the back to the front. Combing should be a daily task, if possible.

Know your Steer
There are vast differences in grooming among breeds, but most fall into one of two categories: long-haired or short-haired. Long-haired breeds are usually shown with the hair combed or brushed upward. Short-haired breeds are usually shown with the hair brushed down for a slick, more natural look.

Clipping a heifer is a bit different than clipping a steer. In order to make a heifer look more feminine, leave a bit more hair on the top and the legs to give both areas more curvature. When clipping a steer, you want him to look more straight and stout. 

Remember that no animal is perfect. Knowing which areas where the animal has a fault or weakness is important before clipping. Then, you can intentionally mask any imperfections as best as possible or you can enhance a particular feature that may make the animal stand out. For example, if the animal is too thin in a certain area, you could work the fur to appear thicker in that spot.

Choose the Right Tools
The key to clipping is having a good clipper and quality blades. Kirk recommends using Andis’ AGC Super 2 Speed clipper or the Excel 5-Speed.  “The AGC Super 2 Speed clipper is the handiest clipper,” notes Kirk. “It’s a quality clipper that’s stood the test of time. I can count on it to get the job done. I recommend it to everyone.“When I prefer using a smaller clipper, I go for the Excel 5-Speed. I like the Excel because of the rubber grips on the sides of the clipper, and because even though it’s small, it still delivers the same power as the AGC Super 2 Speed.”

Kirk also recommends two blades, The Super Blocking Blade and the Medium Blending Blade for shaping blocking, sculpting, tipping, topping, and gluing and painting for show day preparation.  “The Super Blocking Blade and the Medium Blending blade are the two necessary blades for clipping,” says Kirk. “The Super Blocking Blade offers the sharpest tip available for a more precise cut. For beginners, I recommend the Andis Blocking Blade, which is not as sensitive and aggressive as the Super Blocking Blade.”

Shape and Clip
Make sure that your blades are sharp for that crisp cut edge on the hair. Start clipping on the off side first and the show side last. Remember to slow down your clipping and focus on blending. When shaping or sculpturing, it is better to clip a little off at a time and make more passes than clipping off a lot in one pass.

Keep in mind that you want the calf’s side profile to look rectangular. Clip the high spots on the calf first, clipping hair to the lowest length. Blend in the rest of the low points. The hair on the head of the calf should be completely shaved off. Continue down between the front legs, trimming off all the hair. Blend the brisket to the stomach on the back of the front legs. Shave the hair completely off the sheath of the calf. Shave with the grain of the hair to smooth and square off the back of the rear section of the calf. To make the tail look square, shave from the top of the twist to the tail head.

Clean your Clippers
Be sure to oil your clippers after every use and before storing. Properly maintained clippers won’t heat up while you are using them, preventing discomfort for the calf. It is also important to remove hair clippings from the blade after each use to prevent rust and dulling from the moisture and dust particles the fur contains.

General Maintenance Reminders
Clip your calf once a month and brush daily to maintain a healthy coat. Learn about proper nutrition, hoof care and hair care. Get to know the animal better as he or she grows, so you can continually learn to properly care for the animal.

About Kirk Stierwalt
Kirk Stierwalt is an accomplished cattle fitter, educator, judge, and leader in the show cattle industry. In the past 33 years he has won numerous awards at national and international shows. Kirk contributes his knowledge through active participation in 4-H and FFA programs conducting clinics, seminars and demonstrations for young people and cattle families across Canada and the United States. Kirk and his wife Julie have two children, Ky and Kyra, and reside in Leedey, Oklahoma, where they run a 125 heard cattle operation on their family ranch. For more information about Kirk Stierwalt and upcoming events, please visit: http://www.kirkstierwalt.com. 

Hudson Music, a company designed to provide ongoing educational resources for drummers worldwide has selected George Spanky McCurdy , drummer for Lady Gaga , Kanye West, Nas and more, to be their feature drum teacher for their next set of training resources. Because "Spanky" is very fashion conscience, having perfect hair was high on his agenda. Therefore I was commissioned to bring the Andis tools to create a fusion of a vintage haircut with a modern twist.  The location was The Barber Shop Studios beside a lake in Hopatcong, NJ. This studio isn't  a barbershop, but is regarded as one of the most phenomenal recording studios in the country by top engineers and producers. The studio's name was inspired by its owner Scott Barber. 

Above is Andis Educator Kenny Duncan in action with an Andis Pro Dry Dryer and an Andis Fade Master. Below is George "Spanky" McCurdy in session sporting his vintage fusion haircut.

Below is the co-President of Hudson Music Rob Wallis, overseeing the production of the training session for "Off Time On Time"

Kenny "The Professional" Duncan 

Andis Educator/ Salon Owner / Clipper Cutter/ Photographer

When clipping a Miniature Schnauzer, use a #5 Show Edge blade on their body. This will make them look more natural like the breed standard calls for. They also have an underline not a skirt. When clipping, the underline it is blended off underneath the dog and behind the elbow.

 Photo courtesy of Tammy Colbert (dog in pic is hand stripped)

Kendra Otto

Pet Grooming Advocate

The front leg on a Miniature Schnauzer is supposed to be straight like a post. Their feet are scissored tight so it looks like they are standing on their toes. Notice how the underline does not go past the elbow and they also do not get a bib. Their chest is flat to make them a more compact dog.

Photo courtesy of Tammy Colbert

Kendra Otto

Pet Grooming Advocate

Trimming the eyebrows on a pet Schnauzer of any size can be tricky. Always keep in mind that you want the head to remain rectangular or shaped like a brick. First lay your thinning shears on the side of the dog’s head at the widest part of the skull and trim any brow hair off that sticks out. Next lay your shears just behind the outside corner of the eye, point them to the center of the nose and trim a clean line. The length of the front of the brow depends on the client’s wishes. If you have a dog that gets a lot of eye boogers, it is ok to trim the inside corners of the eyes using your thinning shears for a natural look. You will also want to thinning shear a V shape between the eyebrows. No No’s: Do not shave down the nose or under the eyes! It takes away from the beard and breed expression and they will look like an owl.

Kendra Otto

Pet Grooming Advocate

To create the flag on a Setter tail you will want to have the dog stand properly. First remove the hair from the base of the tail. Next, bring the tail down to where it meets the hock. Trim the hair on the end of the tail to meet the top of the hock. Lastly, hold the tail out and neaten up your line.

Kendra Otto

Pet Grooming Advocate