Hi,

I have been asked by a friend to trim an Irish Setter pup for Manchester. Can anyone just give me an explanation on the finer points? She has a book which she says is good but i'm just wondering how close on the neck and ears  you have to trim back. I am a groomer  and have Goldens so i will be confident doing it just want to make sure he looks spot on for his show. 
Thanks

Mel.

I think that there are some setter exhibitors on the board but I would say that a book isn't good enough for a show trim.  In all breeds, the current fashion affects trimming so you really need someone who is currently exhibiting to show you what to do.

It's also not just about the trim generally, but trimming to show off your dog's best points and to disguise what's perhaps not so good. You can make a poor dog look good and a good dog look awful by the wrong trim for the dog. 

I'm also a groomer but would spend days sitting ringside at Champ Shows before taking on a show trim in a new breed.

Hi, I've been showing  Irish Setters off and on since the 70s, so I'll try to help.

There won't be too much to do on a six month old puppy. It's really just a case of tidying up. The feet will need to be trimmed around and the feathering beween the toes taken off. The front of the neck should be trimmed close with thinning scissors down to the sternum. There is a new fashion with ears to leave them natural, allowing the feathering to grow long. Personally I prefer to trim around the shape of the ear, and the feathering thinned out with the thinning scissors. The tip of the tail should be trimmed so that it doesn't look too long. I gather up all the feathering, which there won't be much at 6 mo, and trim close to the tail tip with the thinners.  That will probably be all that's needed with the puppy.

Good luck for the show.

Dawn R.

Thank you Dawn, thats really helpful. Unfortunately i don't have weeks to spend ringside watching the breed as this pup needs a tidy up for Manchester so i will do my best.

Mel.x

Sounds like Gordon ears

Jill

i don't have weeks to spend ringside watching the breed as this pup needs a tidy up for Manchester so i will do my best.
I suppose that's the difference.

I havent been showing for quite as long as nursery and although I do do some trimming I usually leave the tricky bits to someone a more experienced !!

Just one thing to add on, dont trim so close on the neck that it looks like the pup has been shaved, ive seen some in the ring that look like their owners have had the clippers out on them.  I believe the onus is for the dog to be trimmed but not look like its been trimmed, especially with a pup.  Hope you see what I mean, you dont want them shaved like a poodle !!

Agree about the natural ears, ive tried leaving my non show dogs ears natural and I just cant do it, I get the scissors out to "tidy" them and end up trimming them right back !!!

Hi Melissa

I have sent you a pm.

Jenny

Thank you for your help. I have details of someone within my breed who also shows Irish Setters so i will get them to check him over.

Best Wishes

Mel.x