Hula skirt on black cocker at Westminster?

[bullylover21]

Hey all

I'm not sure, but the black cocker on Westminster last night looked like it had a hula skirt!... The tan and party cockers Looked like they had nicley blended skirt, but I could have sworn I saw the sharp line between the top and the skirt on the black one...It made me cringe...cute dog though...was I seeing things? Could this be coming back into style? uggg....

[petstylist]

Show cockers have their coats hand carded/kinda stripped and thinned to keep texture/color. I didnt see the black cocker but I doubt that it was clipped into a hula skirt if it was being shown.

Tammy

[workingchihuahua]

i was there and i thought the lines were a little pronounced also on the blacks. used it as a lesson for my newbie daughter about blending

[scullysmom]

what about the westie?

[KarlaSnyder]

It can be really difficult, if not impossible to erase that hula impression on a black cocker that has a less than perfect coat texture. The blacks unfortunately are lacking in that area. Linda Pitts is a fabulous cocker groomer and handler. That particular dog is an English bred dog. Top winning cocker this year. Was surprised he didn't make the cut.

[hairdevil]

Those dogs are groomed to perfection....we just aren't use to seeing such high quality dogs! lol They were all beautiful! heavy coats...niceeeee

[sheilabgroomer]

Absolutely beautiful!!!! I loved watching them trot across the floor. The way that their coats move is just so lovely! I am glad though that I wasn't imagining the line on the black Ckr, it looked like it was higher on the body as well. Maybe that style is coming back?

[Helly]

Absolutely beautiful!!!! I loved watching them trot across the floor. The way that their coats move is just so lovely! I am glad though that I wasn't imagining the line on the black Ckr, it looked like it was higher on the body as well. Maybe that style is coming back?

Where they place the line on a show dog depends on coat texture and conformation. A lot of black cockers seem to have a definate change in coat texture from the back into the skirt. The coat on the back is less dense, and lays smoother. Then you get to the skirt and it's a thick as wool and has a different texture. You have to work with what you have, and where the change is.

Also, sometimes you set the pattern higher or lower to disguise less than perfect conformation. I remember Carol Sommers saying "Give me a dog with enough coat, and I'll carve a show winning schnauzer out of him. Even if he's half poodle." And she was half serious. Grooming can hide a multitude of faults...until the judge gets his/her hands on the dog.

[k9stylist1968]

The Emcees kept repeating that mantra about "a good groomer can carve anything out of a pile of hair"....

[syphol]

Here are the dogs in question for people wondering.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

Thanks, Syphol.

There is a clear "line" on both. The furns on that westie are very low, very nice. I'm not used to seeing them that low, though I know it depends on the physical build of the dog. Looks very nice. I can't see the cocker very well, but I DO see that line.

Interesting, maybe we shouldn't all be so worried after all?

Tammy in Utah

[pink]

I could see those lines just a bit much..your right these dogs are groom to perfection,that's why those line should not be seen...I think,but that just me...
BUT still never the less,they looked pretty good...

[pamperedpups]

Beautiful dogs!

Edited.

[DogChic]

dumb question....

being a pet groomer, i can probably speak for most of us, and say that I have never handstripped a cocker. with pet grooming it is easy to blend the back into the furnishings with skip tooths & thinners .... but if you are handstripping a cocker how do you transition into the furnishings?

i know nothing about handstripping ... but that is what the picture looks like to me ... as if there's just not much transition.

[eastwickecs]

stripping a spaniel

The hardest thing for a pet groomer to do when getting a dog ready for conformation is to leave hair where you would never leave it on a pet trim. I still have to drill this through my head when I am working with my English cockers. I also groomed one in a grooming competition and it was completely different. Stripping an English cocker is different from an American cocker in where the lines are set and Americans usually have much more coat. On the EC the pattern is almost like a setter, where the skirt will angle slightly upwards and there is stripping on the rear legs. But to blend it depends on the coat type, with that AC from Westminster he has a very thick coat and if she tried to blend it you would see definate marks. You can use some thinning shears, and we use grooming stones sometimes on certain areas. But the biggest thing to do with a coat like that Am. Cocker is to blow dry it as you brush the coat down straight. Lots of work, they do an amazing job.