Shaved legs in Texas

[Cat Crazy]

I had a lovely customer come in today with her Maltese mix, Oliver. She told me about Oliver's last haircut. They had been in Texas and went to a groomer there. The groomer left about an 1" of hair on the dog's body, but clipped the hair on the legs quite short (I'm thinking about a 1/4") The front legs were clipped short up to the elbows and the back legs were short to the hocks. Oliver generally gets an "A" comb all over and then tidied with the thinners. Once I had Oliver all dried I could see the difference in hair length quite clearly. There didn't appear to be any blending. Mom didn't ask for this clip and Oliver is never matted so he certainly didn't need his legs shaved. This woman was so gracious. She didn't speak badly of the groomer. The only theory she could come up with was that the legs were shaved short because of all the fire ants and other bugs in the area.

So, Texas groomers.....have you seen this "style" around town? Is this a Texas trend? Are fire ants that big a problem?

[Particentral]

I am not in TX but I have seen it and it comes from someone taking the blade backwards on the leg trying to get it smooth. Someone may have heard "If you go backwards it looks smoother with less scissoring" and taken it too far. I had a girl work here that did that with poodles. Even with a 7F on the legs, she would go backwards up the leg instead of scissoring up the stickie outies.....she doesn't work here any more....

[Pixie]

I was thinking it was like the do I gave Toby last year, because of the snowballs he always brought in the house. I called it the "footstool" cut! LOL

Can't figure out why for Texas though. I lived in Texas for a few years and I don't remember fire ants being a big problem.

[brownlikewoah]

I'm willing to bet the groomer was newer, and widdled down the legs with overzealous scissoring

[vikingsen]

I've never seen that style. I am in El Paso. It does sound quite......interesting though.

[Cat Crazy]

I was thinking it was like the do I gave Toby last year, because of the snowballs he always brought in the house. I called it the "footstool" cut! LOL

I do that clip for a few dogs here as well in the winter - I call it the "sheep" clip because of the big woolly bodies and leetle sticks for legs.

[suzy6469]

I don't know about Texas but I have a little Shihtzu that mommy wants that done to... I hate it looks like the poor guy is walking on stilts. To make matters worse they want a skirt... Looks awful always feel like asking them not to tell people where they get him groomed.....Sorry about their bad experience.

[windfall4]

I've actually had a few clients ask for this cut. About an inch on the body and then shave the legs with a #7. I tell them that it'll look funny, but they insist. A lot of the people around here have acreage and the sticker burrs are HORRIBLE here. I guess it keeps the dog from dragging a bunch of debris in the house. I didn't do Oliver though...lol. Plus, I only do this cut if the owner insists.

[odette]

I've seen it, not in Texas. 2 yorkies looked like the groomer put a bowl over them, 10 bladed the legs, scissored the body even with the briskett

[sittingpretty]

I bet little Oliver was very odd looking! You may be right about the desire to watch out for fire ants. We have them in FL. too.

I have a few clients that request the "high-waters" look for their dogs, mostly shih tzu and a few poodles. These folks want to avoid the wet soggy hair that comes from just being in the grass during the summer early in the morning. Also, we have little hitch hikers in the grass, that stick to everything! the dogs are odd looking, no doubt about it, but it works for the owners!


sittingpretty

[Maltese_mama]

I've actually had a few clients ask for this cut. About an inch on the body and then shave the legs with a #7. I tell them that it'll look funny, but they insist. A lot of the people around here have acreage and the sticker burrs are HORRIBLE here. I guess it keeps the dog from dragging a bunch of debris in the house. I didn't do Oliver though...lol. Plus, I only do this cut if the owner insists.

That was my thinking too. I hate burrs, I made the mistake of taking Bailey to a local, more woodsy park one time and he was covered in the darn things. I did manage to get them all out and I've never put him in a "footstool" clip. I can't imagine it looks good, but I guess it would be more convienent. He does bring them in the house and I find them in my socks and stuck to blankets, etc.

[Makere]

im in FL and do that clip to one llasa, mainly because of the twigs and stickers he brings everywhere (and the fact that his dad likes to cut them out with craft scissors grrr) I call it his "yak" clip

[RudyRoo]

I've done a clip some what like that before on a Yorkie. They were going to the beach and mom wanted the legs short so she dind't have to deal with sand & wet legs. Was weird looking, but mom was happy. I told her she had it backwards, most people wanted a shorter body and full legs, but she wanted a full body and short legs,, she just laughed.

[petgroomaustralia]

I like Yak clip. I think it should be officially known as the Yak clip..lol

[Cat Crazy]

Too funny...

I was watching Animal Cops, which follows SPCA officers around Houston, Texas and I saw the same shaved legs groom on a cocker spaniel that had been recently adopted. This dog had the skirt left and long hair left on the upper parts of the legs.