CREATING THE BICHON "LEDGE"

Many people have heard me speak or write about the ledge that is formed over the bichon eyes in grooming our breed. This helps to create a deep set look to the eyes. Sometimes when you look at pictures from the front, you can't see it. Here is a bichon ledge profile view, so you will know what the heck I'm talking about.


I was taught this little bit of grooming expertise by my friend, Diane Betelak, a member of Groom Team USA and a renowned competition groomer and judge. She had learned it from another Groom Team member. That's your background info!

To make the Bichon Ledge, you first start by looking straight on at the face, combing the hair back away from the eyes. Then carve out your eyes, carefully scissoring right on the top of the eye rims to a point just behind the corner of each eye.


The "stop" area between the eyes is cleaned out. I use a blending shear for this, but home groomers can use regular shears. Notice that the eyelashes have been removed. Sorry if you are attached to eye lashes. They tend to give a droopy look to the eyes if left. Off with them!

Next, take just a little bit over the top of the eyes and comb it forward. Nana has a very small head, so this was only about 1/4 inch of hair.


Scissor a small curve from the corner of one eye to the corner of the other. The longest part of the curve is between the eyes. This forms the shape and foundation of your "ledge".


The shape of the curve of your ledge is important. If you make it too pointy, you can create an angry or terrierish look. Although this look is prevalent in the show ring lately, it is not my favorite expression. Here is Claude, a pet bichon who gets a short trim and a pet head. I made his ledge too "angry."


After you get your basic shape, you comb down another small section of hair from the top of the head over your ledge:


Scissor this to the same length as your base.


One more time, a total usually of three times, of combing down and beveling to the original shape, and you should have your ledge. Sometimes you might want to tidy it up from underneath. Here is how Nana's ledge looked when finished from the profile.


By layering the ledge as I have described, you are less likely to have hair that falls into the dog's eyes as it grows out. Isn't this a cool grooming trick? Thank YOU, Diane Belelak for sharing this with me.