Show Grooms vs. Pet Grooms

Perhaps earlier this year you were able to catch the Westminster Kennel Club's annual Dog Show, held in New York's Madison Square Garden.  It is without a doubt the granddaddy of all dog shows, and for me, it is a pleasure to watch.  Along with the fun of seeing all those dogs walking around and strutting their stuff, it is also interesting for me to see all the ways that these dogs are groomed in their show style grooms which are quite different from the typical pet style grooms we see on most dogs.

For example, take a look at what a Shih-Tzu looks like in a show groom next to a typical family pet's style...

Show Groom

Pet Groom

As you can see, they almost look like two different breeds of dog.

Take a look at these two Standard Poodles...

Show Groom

Pet Groom

Notice the similarities between the clips performed on these two poodles; their faces and feet are both clipped short. 

Here's another example, the Miniature Schnauzer,  one of my favourite breeds of small dogs...

Show Groom

Pet Groom

The first dog is in the proper breed style with a short clipped back and head, legs scissored into columns and the face and eyebrows trimmed into the Schnauzer's hallmark look.  The second is a bit different, as he still has the beard, brows and short clipped back, but his legs are trimmed shorter and the skirt is just a little bit longer than the back.  The pattern is the same but the second dog's owners will have much less brushing and combing to do, as Schnauzer's fine coats tangle and mat quite easily.

And since we all love dog pictures here is one final example...

Show Groom

Pet Groom

The dog on the left is a Springer Spaniel in full show style.  He has a robust plume on his chest and his ears are long and tassled.  His skirt and featherings are trimmed but left long while his back and head are clipped quite short fading into his longer furnishings.  The handsome devil on the right is my boy Wallace, clipped short on the head and back using the same clip pattern fading into his longer furnishings on his chest and belly.  As you can see they are trimmed shorter on his underside and legs for easier maintenance.  Wallace loves to get outside and explore and it's not unusual to find burrs and other bits of nature in his coat.  Keeping his skirt and furnishings shorter makes it much easier to find and get rid of these things without too much trouble.  His ears are also tassled, which the picture doesn't illustrate very well, but they are not quite as long as the dog on the left, again for easier maintenance and so they don't dip into his water bowl when he's thirsty.  

I'm sure you are noticing a pattern by now.  Pet style grooms are keeping in the spirit of the breed standard clip while altering it slightly (usually by going shorter in spots) for functionality and ease of upkeep.  Neither show grooms nor pet grooms is right or wrong.  It is up to each owner to decide what grooming style suits their lifestyle and personal preferences.  

Here are some things to consider when deciding how to groom your pet:

Budget

For starters, as you might have guessed, show grooms require a groomer with a great deal of skill and experience.  However, "pet grooming" is the service provided by most commercial dog groomers. There are far less groomers with the ability to execute show grooms and as such you can expect to pay more for these services.  

Maintenance

Unfortunately, the problem with many show grooms (take the Shih-Tzu for example) is practicality. A dog with a show groom will require a great deal of upkeep and maintenance.  This includes not just regular brushing and combing, but more frequent bathing and clipping to maintain their look.  If you've got the dedication and time to handle a hairstyle such as this, your reward will be a beautiful and lustrous coat for your dog that will no doubt turn heads wherever he or she goes!  

Lifestyle

The rambunctious and playful nature of a family pet's day will lead their coats to becoming dirty and tangled. In addition, the elements, water in particular, can wreak havoc on a dog's coat as constantly getting wet and drying will further tangle and mat the coat.  All in all, the typical family lifestyle is generally not suited to show grooms.  

What about mixed breed dogs?

Another thing to keep in mind is that when it comes to mixed breeds, pet grooming is almost always the way to go as there is no defined 'breed clip'.  Dogs like the golden doodles below can be groomed in almost any fashion to suit their owners' tastes and needs.  Just take a look at the differences in the clips on these two.

Remember, there is no 'right' or 'wrong' way for your dog to look.  Your dog is a part of your family and you are the one who decides what they look like.

-Peter