Need Blending Help

[BeeJL]

A shaggy mess of a Norwich Terrier comes in to be groomed about every 10 weeks. I am having trouble making him look right. I have a good picture of a Norwich but can't make him look like it. He is 3 years old and has no manners as far as being groomed--his mom was doing him and letting him get away with stuff. Did I take too much off his sides? If I leave more on he looks like a little meatball. Comments on the rest of the groom are also welcome. I try not to spend a lot of time fussing over little details because the two of us only have so much patience for each other but I do think he needs to look better.
Bee

[PrincessPoodle]

I think part of it is that the dog has longer ears and muzzle than the perfect breed standard Norwich. I don't really get a lot of these dogs, but I'd try leaving a little more fuzz on the top of his head and muzzle (almost like a westie) to shorten it all up.

Good luck!! I know how frustrating it can get. Especially with those spirted terriers!

[RudyRoo]

I looked up the breed in Notes, the line should go lower on the shoulders and curve up a little higher on the rump. PP is right, his ears and muzzle are a bit larger,, but you can't fix that,,,lol. When I 1st started grooming, I was so scared I was gonna mess up I came up with a fool proof way to set a pattern and blend. Example: I would start with a 3 blade to set the lines, then use my 4 & blend, then the 5 etc,, you get the idea....That way,. if I was off a bit, it didn't take a chunck of the coat off. You know that saying, you can take more off, but you can't glue it back on,,,lmao.

[Canopener Sally]

I think the contrast of color between the body and the "fringe" isn't helping your blending case. If you're not stripping, nothing you can do about that. What are you using on the jacket area?

[4sq]

not the best angle on the photo, but I'm sue you did your best. I would leave some hair growing over the ear opening, based on what i can see in photo. Also, I can't tell if it because of the lead or not, it looks like the neck could be tighter behind the ear to lengthen the neck. I clean ff the entire back of the ear. Norwich do not have a skirt, so i would go lower on the sides and pluck or thin to get rid of the line. I would take the front of the upper arm tighter to define the "ruff". Does "Notes" talk about the throat? If you clean the throat, you can make the ruff more defined. If the dog is longer in body ,you can make the ruff shorter to avoid extra length to dog. I can't see the back end ,under tail etc., I hope that is helpful. please post anything you need claified

[BeeJL]

Thanks everyone for looking at this for me. I am stripping- no blades used. His whole body looks like the long part when he comes in. When I pluck the long hair there is only short hair left and it doesn't blend. Does he need to come in more often so I can roll the coat?

[BeeJL]

I hope that is helpful. please post anything you need clarified

I'll leave some hair in front of the ears--not sure why I messed that part up.
The hair on his neck did not want to come out. Should I use thinning shears?
Go lower on sides - Do you mean all of the way down so there is only long hair on the stomach?
I did the back end like a Scottie.
Sorry for all the questions. I learned a lot about Scotties in school and thought this would be similar but my results weren't very good.

[4sq]

Whats left is probably undercoat. I don't know why the neck is tough to pull, but I would not thin it with shears. The dogs I pull infrequently have a sharp line on the underline lso because I spend so much time trying to pull down the jacket I run out of time to do more detailed work on the furnishings. I can't see the head so nothing to add on that part .If you can get front view of ruff that would be useful.

[Canopener Sally]

When I pluck the long hair there is only short hair left and it doesn't blend. Does he need to come in more often so I can roll the coat?

I had the same problem with a Norwich I groom. She was so overgrown, I pulled so much on the body, the underline didn't look blended. As more some layers come in, this will be resolved. I've got her on every 4 weeks. I would find it very frustrating otherwise.

[epilady]

He looks great!

You did a nice job, just starting behind the elbow get in there and pull off the rest of the lighter colored hair. On a pet that only comes in irreguarly, you are not going to be able to have a finished pattern look , if that makes any sense.It does need to rolled to establish the pattern, I would not sweat it too much. He does need the rest pulled off however, and it should be done soon or you are going to have different lengths.

[BeeJL]

!

He came back and this time I got rid of the "skirt". I have another one who looks and acts like he could be this guy's brother but the other one is a Cairn. I'll start a new thread under hand stripping because these two dogs are making me realize that I don't know @&#% about terriers. At least the city pet type.
Bee