Page Six

Trimming the Underbody Fringe

Comb the underbody fringe and then use the palm pad to box it out a bit. Using straight scissors, trim the hair at the tuck-up near the rear legs to about a half-inch in length. Trim toward the front legs, gently tapering your line, so that the hair is longer at the chest than at the tuck-up or loin. The chest hair should reach only to the elbow and should not appear to be overabundant.

Trimming the Tail

The tail and the area below the tail will need periodic trimming. This area should always be kept neat and close by either topping with a stripping knife or thinning scissors. The tail itself should be rounded at the end, not pointed, and the length of hair kept in balance as further growth occurs.

Final Trimming- front and rear views

Maintaining the Show Coat

Bringing your Miniature Schnauzer into show coat is only the beginning. To keep a show coat going longer requires considerable time and effort. The hair will constantly grow, and continued adjustments are required. The head, cheeks, ears and front section, as well as under the tail will need to be stripped or clipped almost weekly. The shoulders will need occasional blending and thinning, using the stripping knife. After the dog has been in full coat for a month, begin weekly thinning of the neck and body by finger stripping longer hairs as they appear. Hair between the pads and inside the ears should be cleaned out at all times.

Before each and every grooming session, reassess your dog, both standing and moving. Become more and more aware of his virtues and faults, and always trim with these in mind. Each grooming session is a learning experience, and often a revelation, as you discover some new way of providing a better balanced and more finished product.

There are no shortcuts to good grooming. Experience is the best teacher. No, experience is the only teacher!

A well groomed Miniature Schnauzer in prime coat.