Need suggestions on shihtzu puppies groom

[Chihuahuafan]

I have two 4 month old shihtzu puppies coming in for their first grooms on tuesday. I have already met both of them and actually was able to trim up their faces, rouns feet and do nails and sanitarys already the day they were in for a vet appointment. My bosses friends dogs, so I just helped them out but atleast they did schedule a full groom appt. after. Anyways...I have groomed many of these pups before but they also weren't my bosses friends eeek! They said just don't make them looked chopped up, but shorten the lenght a bit. Great...So what I'm thinking is use a long attachment comb on them instead of the typical 5/8 blade I use alot and then scissor the legs up. Problem is It still always looks choppy I think with an attachment comb on these guys. The hair looks about 2 inches or 2 1/2 all over, they just want the ends basically taken off the body to give it a cleaned up look. I don't have a clipper vac unfortunately and I don't have alot of confidence yet when it comes to trying a comb in reverse especially on a jumpy puppy. What would you guys/gals suggest I do, besides run for cover haha! If it wasn't my bosses friends puppies I wouldn't be so nervous and I'd just do it and explain that it will look a little choppy due to being a jumpy puppy if it didn't turn out perfect. I'm hoping that you guys will have some suggestions on how to get a perfect long puppy trim done on these two pups. Thanks in advance.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

Awww, relax, anything you do will look good, I promise---just bathe them WELL, and hand dry with a low setting and that makes a huge difference. Then, comb them FIRST!!! Comb the whole body, armpits etc.

To use a comb, start LONG. Stand the dog on its hind legs with the hair ALL combed back toward the tail. That way you'll take less hair off should you decide the comb is the right length.

Don't go in reverse or it'll be too short. Just go with the grain, combing the hair the direction you are clipping.

Scissor the feet round like a bear, bevel them if you can, and scissor the legs more than clip them with the comb. They look like little bears. You can do it!

Tammy in Utah

[diamienono]

What I would do, is leave their length, but even it out with your scissors. They still have their puppy coat. Here is Maggie. She is 6 months old. the owner did not want anything done but her face and feet.

[Kim in SD]

Is there supposed to be an attachment w/that lisa? I don't see a maggie.
Anyway, I would do what Lisa said or you could go over it with a comb attachment. I just brush it backwards and run over it a million times w/an attachment, scissor the rest.
Don't sweat the petty stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff!! You'll do fine.

[shrek]

I do a 3/4 or 1" snap on with the growth. About a 1.2 " behind the occiput do body, chest, legs, and tummy. Go over all legs like cylinders with your scissors. Round feet, scissor in skirt line. Head I do a 3 finger head with short visor, straight lines under chin and sides, tip long ears or #4 lightly over top then outline with scissors, finish tail. Customers like it.

[BeyondBlessed]

To use a comb, start LONG. Stand the dog on its hind legs with the hair ALL combed back toward the tail. That way you'll take less hair off should you decide the comb is the right length.

Don't go in reverse or it'll be too short. Just go with the grain, combing the hair the direction you are clipping.

Scissor the feet round like a bear, bevel them if you can, and scissor the legs more than clip them with the comb. They look like little bears. You can do it!

Tammy in Utah

I did this EXACT procedure yesterday on a 4 month old Shih/Maltese pup. They were afraid that it would be choppy, but knew that some coat had to come off for maintenance. I finished with thinning shears and they LOVED it!

(Truth be told, I didn't have the heart to take a blade to that coat either. It was so pretty and they are only puppies for so long)

[PAWS]

Where's the pic, darling?

[diamienono]

I uploaded it. Hmm why did it not go? Try again. OH, it will not let you post a pic that you have in another thread. So here is a different angle.

[Helly]

What I tend to do in these situations is scissor it wet. Section the hair, lift it straight up, and scissor just the ends that are uneven. Take the next section and do the same. It's just like your own stylist would do with your hair.

Blow it dry, tidy the feet, face and tail, do a sani and it's done.

[sheilabgroomer]

When in doubt I scissor cut. I am more confident w/my scissoring than w/comb attachments because I just recently started using a combs and a cliper vac. I did do a puppy yesterday that I used an E comb w/the iVAC and it came out really nice. He had a super dense coat though and I think that makes a big difference. If the puppies have thinner coats then I would scissor.

[Bearmtn]

I scissor cut puppies, as I can get a much more even look that way, just as a hair dresser would. Helly said she does it wet. I do it dry, as you can work with the natural curl better when it is dry, after the bath. I do a lot of adult shih-tzus that way too, and yorkys. It is better to do pups that way anyway, because you are not scarying them with the clippers.