How to groom your Miniature Schnauzer.
Schnauzers need to be groomed every 6 to 8 weeks. They need their coats brushed weekly to remain mat free and looking good.
A schnauzer should have nothing sticking out anywhere when finished grooming. They do not have a hula skirt that sticks out, nor an apron haning over the chest. A properly schnauzer should look like a little wind up toy. When they move their legs and body are clearly visable.
Schnauzers need to be groomed every 6 to 8 weeks. They need their coats brushed weekly to remain mat free and looking good.
A schnauzer should have nothing sticking out anywhere when finished grooming. They do not have a hula skirt that sticks out, nor an apron haning over the chest. A properly schnauzer should look like a little wind up toy. When they move their legs and body are clearly visable.
This shows the rear leg brushed out but not scissored. See how it compares to the nicely scissored front legs? It's all messy and has no definition. When the hair is left shaggy without scissoring up to even out it the hair tips, it allows the hair to mat quickly and constantly.
Take the rear foot and hold the leg out like this. Then scissor the length you want. I like about 2 inches. Start at the foot and scissor up to the body. Make sure to give the dog's leg shape and show the angulation.
Now both front legs and chest are scissored. They blend into the body with nice clean lines. This is a great length for a pet. It's more than enough to make the dog look good and short enough it's easy to brush. Note that nothing sticks out. There's just clean lines to define the shape of the dog.
This is a side shot showing the scissor work. Once this was done I went back over the body and smoothed out all the rough edges. I had taken the skirt with a 4F going down the body. After that I scissored to even up the edges and blend the short to the longer. The eyebrows on a schnauzer are cut close to the outside corner of the eye. They are scissored from the outside corner of the eye to the outside edge of the nose. They are combed down on the face. They are divided by holding the shear in a straight line from the outside edge of the nose to the inside point of the eye divided into 2 eyebrows. I normally make my own shorter because my dogs dig for moles & the eyebrows get messed up.
This is T'Molly all groomed. I do this length in warm weather. If it's cold I leave the jacket and skirt a little longer. Her body is done with a #4F going backwards against the grain of hair growth. This leaves it so smooth there are no clipper marks! I finish off the clipped areas with a shedding stone. The ears and potty track are done with a #10 with the hair growth. Pads of feet are done with a #30 or #40. The skirt is taken with a #4F going down the sides to make it real close but still there giving her some shape.
This photo shows the eyebrows for a pet. They can be shorter depending on the owner's preference. There is no shelf hanging over the outside of the eye. They are divided the width of the muzzle. The head should look brick shaped and long. The beard should not stick out on the sides. The bridge of the muzzle is NEVER shaved! All that does is make the hair grow straight up and into the eyes. Never carve under the eyes. That gives a hollow look.
This shows how the front looks. Note there is no shaggy hair haning off the chest like an apron. Those white patches are clipped the same as the back! Feet are trimmed close & show the toenails.
All these photos are just examples of pet grooming with a clipper. A show groom is much different with a stripped jacket & legs are much fuller etc. Pet grooming is adjusted to the dog, their type coat, living conditions & owner's preference. Let's face it, the dog who lives on the farm or near water will have to be clipped shorter than an apartment dog.
All these photos are just examples of pet grooming with a clipper. A show groom is much different with a stripped jacket & legs are much fuller etc. Pet grooming is adjusted to the dog, their type coat, living conditions & owner's preference. Let's face it, the dog who lives on the farm or near water will have to be clipped shorter than an apartment dog.