Critique this cut...

[Mo-N-Me]

I'm posting this for learning purposes really.
I groomed this dog 4 months into my grooming training, in a competition. (4.5 years ago).

BRAVE GIRL!!

I'll add some of my own observations once others have added input.

[Mo-N-Me]

One more for the road...

And yes thats my "crabby" face behind there...lol!

[petstylist]

Wow if thats 4 months into your training what does your grooming look like now? The only thing I would have done differently is left a bit more hair on the back of the hocks for more angulation and made the sides of the topknot straighter, but I learn to groom poodles on show poodles so I tend to go to the extreme on things like that.
Oh and I might have left more hair on the chest at the elbow so it all blends together as one piece.
But looks good, for someone who has 4 months of training!
Now show us a current groom!! I bet its great.
Tammy

[Mo-N-Me]

Thanks Tammy...I was pretty proud of myself for that groom back then.

I'm currently working my mini into a true puppy cut, and once there I will definitely post pics of her.

I agree, more hair on the hocks...tighter topknot, no definition to front legs, and fuller chest. But I nitpick to even more of a degree...

A) scissor marks on jacket...
B) improperly dried...hair is NOT straight enough
C) pattern is not a good choice on a roach back dog
D) his rear is too rounded, and also makes the roach back more apparent
E) shave on feet should be a tad higher, and alot more neatly rounded at bottoms

Regardless, I still pat myself on the back for having the gumption to even put myself into the ring that early in my career...but that is how you learn!

I volunteered, at one of the petsomethings, to compete. Nobody else was interested. This was someone elses 'request' dog that I was allowed to use. I was ill prepared. Never seen or worked on the dog prior to THAT day....lmao! I was sweating bullets through the whole thing, 2 hours zipped by, I was so stressed out...

More feedback please...

[Raggs]

I'm with Tammy on that, also the head is a little flat. But you did a great job for being new at it. I want to see pics of dogs you do now too... I bet they look awesome.
When I learned to groom my boss taught me how to hand scissor poodles. Wow, what a job. I am never doing that again. Well for standards anyway. Takes way to long and I don't have the patience for that. Especially since I only pet groom and don't show groom poodles. I've show groomed Wheatons, never doing that again either... I lost all my pics of them too, bites butt. I wanted to make a portfolio and put those pics in it, but grrrrr.....

[Bearmtn]

I you did great for the amount of time that you had been grooming. You pretty much know what is wrong, and you only had 2 hours, when you had only been grooming such a short period of time. I think I would have brought the waist band back a little more, by maybe widening it and giving it a little more rounded look. It would have been easier to scissor out if the blow drying had straightened the coat more. Like Tammy, I'd like to see what you do now.

[Pixie]

You did a great job for only 4 months training. You have a good idea of the things that needed improvement, those are the same things I saw too. There is one thing that I noticed that I don't think has been mentioned. I feel that the top knot is too much over the eyes, maybe too heavy. I like to see the eyes a bit more, maybe that is because most of the poodles I groom are black and their eyes are hard to see.
Please post some of your more recent pics, would love to see how far you have come.

[Pixie]

I forgot to ask. The two hours you were given, was that from start to finish or after the dog is dried? Couldn't possibly be from starting with a bath, if so that may be why it isn't as straight as it could have been, that's movin' !!

[sheilabgroomer]

Wow, you were a brave girl!!!! Bless your heart, you look stressed in the third pict. As far as critiquing, you said it all!
The first thing I noticed was the scissor marks (looks like you can see her ribs..lol), and that the hocks were to "skinny" for the rest of the legs. The top knot should have been "tighter" and like you said the stretch drying needed a little improvement. Also like the others have said I am dying to see your grooming now almost 5 yrs later! I bet we will be saying WOW!!!

[winterroo]

Carla, I noticed in the background the MPPGA sign. I think I was at that competition-competing as well...

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

My sentiments exactly: WOW, that was at FOUR months? I want to go to your school. I mean, I can look at it and see that it's not going to take First place for Groom Team USA maybe, but that is a GREAT poodle especially after 4 months of training, very well done.

I can't really critique it when that is probably what my poodles look like right now. Poodles are hard for me for some reason. I don't see things very symmetrically, I guess.

Tammy in Utah

[PoodleMom]

The coat being curly was the first thing that I noticed, but I think it looks GREAT for someone only grooming for that short of time. I can't wait to see your puppy cut!

you most definitley pat yourself on the back for jumping in the ring. I was totally unprepared for my 1st creative, but I don't regret it a bit. I know what to do next time. Have you been competing since then?

[Mo-N-Me]

That was 2002, I competed again in '03 and haven't since.

I want to compete this year...

[rapuzzled]

I am VERY impressed as well. There is no way a I would have made a dog look like that after four months of training! I was still working on perfecting shavedowns, lol.

[doggroomer123]

wow...great job for being experienced for only four months. i went to your website and looked at the pictures of dogs that were groomed at your place...very nice. great job on the poodle.