The Brittany Forum

gundoglover

Would it be possible to post some before, during and after photos of a Brittany being show trimmed for competition in UK or Europe?

I confess to following the American style trimming because that's what I have been taught.

I have tried to understand how to trim UK/French style from the posts on this forum but a picture speaks a thousand words, as they say.

Edited for clarity

Patricia · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:21 am Post subject:

Hello and Welcome...
There are certainly 2 of us who groom as profession here...Gill Tully and myself, anyone else here?
I suggest you look at the pics on this Forum, many are exhibited too. Look under SGWC, trials etc section of this Forum for instance.
You will see dogs there retrieving woodcock etc...who belong to Guy. Those dogs are shown too and require nothing more than their photo to go into the ring.
We do NOT follow American fashion here in any shape or form Rolling Eyes

Thinning scissors are used, NEVER clippers.
In France, the ears are thinned out( the fringings), trousers too,
and in between the toes. Round ears with small scissors or thinning scissors. I prefer them as the Brittany should remain looking natural.
Many of the Brits pics on this Forum are good exemples of this.
I noticed Waldos's bitch. Being liver I would " strip" out all that dead hair and take the hair off her ears.
What you do with the tail is another story!
Some here like long trousers, I think taking off most of that hair makes them look shorter. That is what the French do. You can also lightly trim/ thin out the hair by the throat, NEVER shave it.
Check out also pics on the French CEB, also the CEB magazine( which I recommend) That will also show you the true French type, very different to many American types.
That subject has been pretty well discussed on the American Yahoo group!

gundoglover · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:44 am Post subject:

Many thanks, Patricia, for the directions and locations of photos. Much appreciated!
For the long tails (Aust only allows undocked unless vet certifies born with a bobtail), I am thinking of adopting the fashion of the English Springer Spaniel exhibitors over here who trim all the feathering off the tail. I think this leads to a better balance in the dog and less of a "settery" appearance. I am interested other people's thoughts on this.