Grooming Terminology
Dog grooming refers to both the hygienic care and cleaning of a dog, as well as a process by which a dog's physical appearance is enhanced. Grooming covers anything from clipping nails, a bath, expressing anal glands to a haircut. So if you ask to have your dog groomed, what exactly do you want? Pet owners and groomers sometimes have a hard time understanding each other. Here's a glossary of some of the most common words and phrases used by groomers to explain certain everyday grooming procedures and coat trims so that, you too, can speak groomer:
Common Grooming Terms
Clippers - A razor-styled tool used to take length off of a dog's coat. Different blades and snap-on combs allow groomers to cut hair at different lengths. The longer the coat desired, the lower the blade number used to achieve that effect. For example, a number 4F blade will leave approximately ½-inch of fur while a number 7F blade will leave about 1/8-inch of fur.
Hand Stripping and Plucking - This is a technique used to remove the dead outer coat of wire-haired breeds (like most terriers), either with a stripping tool or fingers.
Scissoring - This is a technique using scissors and a metal comb to complete and finish the trim. This is usually done when one wants the dog to be trimmed longer than a clipper blade will allow. It also is used for finishing trim work on a dog's face, feet and tail areas.
Thinning - Thin certain areas of the body that may be thicker in proportion to the rest of the coat. If you have a dog with think fur and want the fur thinned all over, you want a bath, blow out, brush and undercoat rake or furminator.
Skirt - The long hair that falls on either side of a dog's body between the front and back legs to create a skirt look.
Feathers - The fringe of hair along the back and front of the legs of some dogs.
Pants - The long hair on a dog's back legs.
Hand Stripping and Plucking - This is a technique used to remove the dead outer coat of wire-haired breeds (like most terriers), either with a stripping tool or fingers.
Scissoring - This is a technique using scissors and a metal comb to complete and finish the trim. This is usually done when one wants the dog to be trimmed longer than a clipper blade will allow. It also is used for finishing trim work on a dog's face, feet and tail areas.
Thinning - Thin certain areas of the body that may be thicker in proportion to the rest of the coat. If you have a dog with think fur and want the fur thinned all over, you want a bath, blow out, brush and undercoat rake or furminator.
Skirt - The long hair that falls on either side of a dog's body between the front and back legs to create a skirt look.
Feathers - The fringe of hair along the back and front of the legs of some dogs.
Pants - The long hair on a dog's back legs.
Basic Cut Terminology
Schnauzer Cut - Leaves longer hair on the dog's legs while trimming the back and sides very short; a light fringe of hair is left on the lower side of the dog's body and a little mustache cut sculpts the hair around the dog's face.
Cocker Cut - Very similar to the Schnauzer cut, but without the shape angles. The straight lined pattern is set and the legs and skirt and left full. The face is shaved.
Lamb Cut - The lamb cut is great on fluffy dogs. The body is cut at your desired length while the legs are left fluffy, but are scissored to be neat and blended into the body.
Lion Cut - The rear of end of the body is shaved close to the skin while the top part is left long to attain the lion look.
All Over Cut - The fur is cut to one length all over the dog's entire body (not including the head, ears, or tail).
Teddy Bear Cut - Leaves approximately one to two inches of fur length around the dog's entire body with a rounded cut around the dog's face; the soft undercoat which is generally exposed by this type of cut gives the dog a downy and soft teddy bear coat.
GI Cut - The body, head, ears and tail are all shaved.
Kennel Cut - An all over length set either with a blade or guide comb, but with Clean Face, Clean Feet as well as a Top Knot.
Shell Out/Maternity Cut -The belly area is shaved all the way up to the arm pit area and includes the arm pits.
Sanitary Cut - Shaving the fur away from the groin and genitals, including the rectum, for sanitary reasons.
Cocker Cut - Very similar to the Schnauzer cut, but without the shape angles. The straight lined pattern is set and the legs and skirt and left full. The face is shaved.
Lamb Cut - The lamb cut is great on fluffy dogs. The body is cut at your desired length while the legs are left fluffy, but are scissored to be neat and blended into the body.
Lion Cut - The rear of end of the body is shaved close to the skin while the top part is left long to attain the lion look.
All Over Cut - The fur is cut to one length all over the dog's entire body (not including the head, ears, or tail).
Teddy Bear Cut - Leaves approximately one to two inches of fur length around the dog's entire body with a rounded cut around the dog's face; the soft undercoat which is generally exposed by this type of cut gives the dog a downy and soft teddy bear coat.
GI Cut - The body, head, ears and tail are all shaved.
Kennel Cut - An all over length set either with a blade or guide comb, but with Clean Face, Clean Feet as well as a Top Knot.
Shell Out/Maternity Cut -The belly area is shaved all the way up to the arm pit area and includes the arm pits.
Sanitary Cut - Shaving the fur away from the groin and genitals, including the rectum, for sanitary reasons.
Head Terminology
Clean Face - Shave the face clean and very close to the skin.
Top Knot - A top knot refers to the top of a dog's head. It should be round and blended into the body.
Tipped Ears - The top 1/3rd of the ear is shaved, leaving sharply pointed ears.
Top Knot - A top knot refers to the top of a dog's head. It should be round and blended into the body.
Tipped Ears - The top 1/3rd of the ear is shaved, leaving sharply pointed ears.
Feet Terminology
Clean Feet - The feet are completely shaved exposing the nails and the entire foot up to the ankle area.
Round Feet - Fluffy feet that are scissored neatly without exposing the nails.
Tight Feet - Between Clean and Rounded Feet. They expose the nails, keep the feet free from matting, but are not shaved close to the skin.
Round Feet - Fluffy feet that are scissored neatly without exposing the nails.
Tight Feet - Between Clean and Rounded Feet. They expose the nails, keep the feet free from matting, but are not shaved close to the skin.
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