This is not a bad grooming by any means. The dog is neat and attractive, but the groomer has not quite captured the real Bichon Frise look. I applaud this groomer for her willingness to accept coaching and try to change. I hope I can be helpful.
Let's compare this head with a with one of my better groomed heads and see what we might discover. Believe me, I do not consider myself as having arrived at the perfect Bichon head. Some of my grooms are better than others, and some are barely acceptable. Good Bichon grooming is rather elusive, something that we keep chasing....
In looking at the two pictures, what stands out the most to me is that the shape of the head #1 is not round. The ears have not been shaped into the circle as they have on head #2. The top of the head on Bichon #1 has been shaped separate from the ears. The sides of the ears should be scissored into the circle. Even though there is no actual separation across the top of the ears on Bichon #1, as you would do on a poodle, there is some slight indentation, which yields a more poodley result.
Another area where I see differences is under the eyes. Bichon #1 seems to have been scissored under the eyes, and it was nicely blended into the muzzle. Any chiseling under the eyes, however, leads us to a more poodle look. It also looks as though the face is wedge-shaped, or tapered, so as to be shorter at the mouth and wider at the cheeks.
Most importantly, there seems to have been scissoring in front of the ear, between the corner of the eye and the base of the ear on Bichon #1. OKn the true Bichon head, this area is barely touched. The hair is groomed straight out from the corner of the eye to the side of the ear.
Tilting Bichon head #2, we have another perspective:
Little or nothing is removed from the sides of the muzzle. The top of the bridge of the nose is cleaned off from the stop (between the eyes) to the nose. But there is little blending on the sides of the nose and muzzle. This is especially true if the dog has a long muzzle.
Let's look at a Bichon head from the side:
Unfortunately my hand is in the way, but you can begin to see how the back of the ear is scissored very close, and forms a reverse "C" shape from behind the ear to under the chin. Also in this picture you see the famous Bichon "ledge" or "visor" in front of the eyes that gives depth to the expression. You can see how the back of the head is shaped into the neck. This is a pet trim without an exaggerated neck. Ideally, you want to create an arched neck that extends to the withers even on a pet. It does not have to be 3" long, however.
Contrast this with the back of this head:
This shot reveals two things - the ears are distinctly separate from the sides of the face, and the top of the head slopes off at the back.
SUMMARY OF DO'S AND DON'TS IN CREATING THE BICHON HEAD
DO'S
- Ears are scissored into head piece.
- Eyes are cut out on top of eye.
- Top of head slopes into arched neck.
- Muzzle cleaned off but not tapered.
- Top of head is scissored into a circle, the widest part being the sides of the ears behind the eyes.
- Ears are not separate from head.
- No chiseling under eye.
- Back of head not too short or abrupt.
- Do not scissor sides of muzzle.
- Top of the head is not shaped with sides of face, but with sides of the ears.
Specialty. Groomed by Rick Day. I am unworthy....
Barbara, I just wanted to thank you for presenting all the great information on your groomblog. I've been grooming bichons for a few years but I have ALWAYS struggled with those ears! Particularly the backs. Once I saw some of your photos of the backs of the ears, something (finally!) clicked and It has really helped my heads come together. Although I don't groom professionally, my own 2 bichon girls look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLexi (big bichon) was clipped with a laube snap on 1/2 on the body, legs, neck, head scissored.
Darby (retired show bichon) was done with a laube snap on 1 1/2, head, neck, legs scissored. They could both walk into a ring, honestly, they are quite pretty!
I check your blog regularly and always admire your dedication and knowledge!
:)
Tiffani (from bf-l)
Tiffani, thank you for posting your kind comments. I'm delighted that I could be of assistance. The back of the ear and sides of the neck was a difficult place for me to master in my Bichon grooming. I am glad my explanation of the reverse "C" works for some.
ReplyDeletePlugging my own wares here, (and why not), I can be seen doing the entire Bichon head on my short video, "Scissoring the Bichon Head" available at www.shop.bbird.biz
See ya' there!
Barbara,
ReplyDeleteI just ordered the "Scissoring the Bichon Head video" but no scissors. I do feel I have to chisel a bit under the eyes of my own Bichon-mixed boy, as he has so many problems with allergies and staining. He was a rescue and likely a puppy mill dog with questionable breeding. But he is such a happy little Bichon that his personality wins everyone over, regardless of looks. Anyway, back to the point of grooming, the only scissors I have are the blunt-tipped ones I use for around the eyes. What scissors would you suggest for the ears and face?
I highly recommend using curved scissors for Bichon heads. They make getting round shapes ever so much easier.
ReplyDeleteIf you are creating a small head, a 6.5"-7.5" length is perfect. If you are shaping a larger head, more of a true show dog head, you might want a larger curved 8-9".
I recommend that novice groomers use smaller shears until they are using the full length of their blades to cut. Then you can graduate into a longer blade.
Contact me through www.shop.bbird.biz if you would like further help.
groomblog.blogspot.com; You saved my day again.
ReplyDeleteu rock... Did picture one today and striving for pic 2 in future. Actually seems like less work, the correct way... Can't wait to give a whirl.. Ty so much..
ReplyDeleteNew groomer
thank you , thank you, You made some things clear. I just cant get the cut right.
ReplyDeleteme