National Dog Groomers Association of America (NDGAA) National Certified Master Groomer (NCMG)

For the Scottish Terrier, the throat and forechest are clipped, but the line must blend just above the prosternum to leave enough hair to fill the front and create the proper square silhouette. Clipping too low or leaving a sharp line ruins the breed’s required sturdy, blocky appearance.

Under AKC breed standards, Poodles under 12 months of age may be shown in the Puppy Clip. The Sporting Clip is for the Stud Dog/Brood Bitch classes, while the Modified Continental (without rosettes) is acceptable for adults but not the primary requirement for a puppy.

The stifle is the canine equivalent of the human knee, located on the hind leg. Setting the correct angulation over the stifle is crucial for shaping the hindquarters of breeds like the Bichon Frise and Poodle.

The American Cocker Spaniel standard requires a smooth, seamless transition from the short, flat back to the longer furnishings. Sharp lines or ‘shelves’ are considered severe grooming faults in this breed.

Dogs with a collapsing trachea must never have pressure applied to their neck, as it can trigger severe coughing episodes or respiratory distress. A figure-eight harness or crossing the loop under the leg safely secures the dog without compromising the airway.

A rolled coat is achieved by systematically stripping a portion of the longest topcoat every few weeks, creating successive layers of growth. This ensures the dog always maintains a harsh jacket and a proper profile without ever being completely bald.

The Bichon Frise head must be scissored to appear completely round from all angles, with the ears blending invisibly into the headpiece. A bell shape is characteristic of a Poodle’s ears, and a chrysanthemum shape is typical of a Shih Tzu.

Double-coated breeds like Huskies rely on their topcoat for insulation against both heat and cold, as well as protection from UV rays. Shaving them disrupts this natural temperature regulation and can permanently damage the coat’s texture and growth cycle.

For the Miniature Schnauzer, the rear pattern involves clipping the back of the hind legs down to just above the hock joint, leaving furnishings on the front of the legs. The point of rump is the starting point for dropping this line down the back of the leg.

The Westie head is uniquely styled into a round, chrysanthemum shape with the tips of the ears (the top third) shaved or scissored short so they distinctly prick through the halo of hair. It is not a perfect sphere like the Bichon, nor a long brick like the Scottish Terrier.

The English Springer Spaniel pattern requires the throat to be clipped in a clean inverted ‘V’ or ‘U’ that ends at or just above the prosternum (breastbone). This highlights the dog’s clean neck and shoulders without stripping the forechest of its required feathering.

The cut percentage of a thinning or blending shear is dictated by its tooth design. Fewer teeth with wider spaces generally remove more hair in chunks, while more teeth with narrower spaces remove less hair and create a softer, more blended finish.

In the Continental Clip, the two hip rosettes must be round and placed symmetrically over the hip joints (the pin bones). They serve to balance the dog’s conformation and must be sized proportionally so they do not look too heavy or too sparse.

The Kerry Blue Terrier requires a highly stylized, scissored coat that flows elegantly. The neck must blend seamlessly into the back and shoulders without any harsh lines, shelves, or abrupt changes in length, showcasing the dog’s graceful silhouette.

If a quick bleeds uncontrollably despite styptic powder, it may indicate an underlying clotting disorder. The groomer should apply sustained pressure and elevate the limb. Using superglue or improvised cauterization is dangerous and outside the scope of a groomer’s practice.

The occiput is the bony prominence at the rear of the skull. In Poodle grooming, the topknot is typically scissored to blend smoothly from above the eyes back over the occiput into the neck hair, maintaining the dog’s elegant profile.

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is unique among terriers because its coat should be abundant, soft, and wavy, presenting a natural appearance. Sculpting the dog with clippers or stripping it to look like a harsh-coated terrier (like a Kerry Blue or Schnauzer) is heavily penalized.

Setters (Gordon, English, and Irish) traditionally have the top third of their ears clipped or thinned so the ear lays flat against the head, which accentuates the clean lines of the skull. The lower portion is left long and feathered.

For Poodles, the base of the tail is shaved (usually about one-quarter to one-third of the way up) to show the rectum and keep the area sanitary. The remaining hair on the upper portion of the tail is scissored into a round pompon that encompasses the tip of the tail bone.

The Bouvier des Flandres is defined by its rugged, tousled appearance, including a prominent beard, mustache, and heavy eyebrows that form a square headpiece. Shaving the face ruins the breed standard silhouette; minor thinning is the professional compromise for pet maintenance.