Hair Cuts for Schnauzer Dog Breeds
Schnauzer dogs are easily recognizable by their distinctive facial features, which include arched eyebrows, a mustache, and whiskers. There are three breeds of schnauzers; the standard schnauzer, the giant schnauzer and the miniature schnauzer; which all have the same basic appearance, but differ in size. Since the schnauzer is a common show dog, there is one specific way that groomers tend to cut their hair, so that the dog is in compliance with show standards.
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Basic Grooming
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Schnauzer hair should be kept short for the dog's comfort. Schnauzers have extremely thick coats, which need to be brushed daily to prevent knots and matting. Schnauzers do not shed, and as such, any knots that do form need to be cut or combed out by the dog's owner. It is recommended that schnauzer owners get their dogs trimmed semi-annually, simply to keep the fur length uniform. Schnauzers that maintain short hair cuts are easier to groom on a regular basis.
Schnauzer Facial Hair
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These schnauzers have fine, full beards. A defining feature of the schnauzer breed is its beard. Schnauzers tend to feature long, carefully shaped and cut beards. According to breed standards, the beard should be cut parallel to the head in order to make the face appear more rectangular. Schnauzers also have thick, bushy, eyebrows, which are carefully tailored and groomed. Groomers should comb schnauzer eyebrows forward, and cut in a V toward the center of the face to maintain the bushy effect.
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Show Dogs
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Show dogs are groomed in a very specific manner. There are specific grooming guidelines for schnauzers that participate in dog shows. Miniature, giant and standard schnauzer haircuts all follow the same general pattern. The hair on their heads should be trimmed so that their heads look rectangular. The hair on their bodies and tails should be trimmed close, to about an inch long, integrating the dog's wiry top coat of hair into their soft undercoat. Schnauzers' leg hair is kept long, ideally fluffing away from the dogs' limbs, creating a column effect.
Do-It-Yourself vs. the Groomer
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A schnauzer at the groomer Owners of schnauzers know that their dogs require meticulous grooming, whether it be a simple trim or a haircut, to ready the animal for a show. There are extensive guides to be found that detail extensively the tools and steps necessary to give a schnauzer a haircut at home, but certain aspects of grooming show dogs, such as stripping off the top layer of fur or trimming a beard in compliance with breed standards, require practice and experience to be executed properly.
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References
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