<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> The Standard Presentation - Camerata Reg'd Kennel
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Highlights:

· Coat

· Colour

· Head

· Neck

· Forequarters

· Hindquarters

· Gait

· Presentation


 

Presentation (trimming or grooming): I too feel like most exhibitors, that Bedlingtons should be presented in a neat trim. I further feel that the trim should compliment the outline of the dog and not be used to create a false one (which is easy to do with a soft and thick white coat). If I had my way, all Bedlingtons would be shown sopping wet or shaved down close. However, one needs to have some coat to judge texture!

      The Breed Standard specifically asks for coat on the body to be no more than one inch in length. Last time I checked, the topline was considered part of the body and so was the rump. Maximum one inch there too!

     My preference is for a short coat on a show dog. Mainly because, when the dog has a good outline provided by nature, the best way of enhancing that through trimming is to show it! Profuse leg hair could be the culprit as to blend in lots of leg hair, one needs to leave quite a bit more on the body else the dog may look as though it is wearing cowboy chaps.

     For show presentation I clipper the dog with a #7 blade on his neck (that's right, no mane of hair on the back of the neck) and shoulders, #5 blade all over the body (including the topline) and blend in the leg coat to match. All of this is done about four weeks before the show. I find this helps improve texture (and often colour as well) not to mention promoting a thicker coat that is healthy and new. I leave no large "bob" on the back of the skull as it will only make the skull appear longer, thereby disrupting the requirement of the muzzle being longer than skull. While there is a "bob," it must be tapered.

     Manes on the back of necks are often used by exhibitors to try to make a dog appear shorter in back when viewed in profile. This is totally incorrect, as our Standard wants our dogs to be slightly longer than tall. Manes can and do make the neck itself look clumsy and thick.

     Feet should be trimmed to expose the toes on all legs. This accentuates the correct "hare-foot." Feet left enveloped in a mass of fur end up making the dog look clumsy and not at all "light on his feet." This trimming of the feet should expose toes to the first knuckle, not the whole foot as in the Poodle.

     Bathe the dog yes, but do so knowing that it will make the coat softer for the show. Many do bathe their dogs the day before and some do it every day of a show weekend. My preference is to do it 3 or 4 days before the show so that the coat has some time to regain its texture. A proper coat remains clean a good while longer than a soft coat. Some choose to sacrifice showing proper coat texture in exchange for a perfectly even finish in trimming. Priorities lie in different places.

     Remember, exhibitors of wire-coated terriers would wash only the leg furnishings before a show for fear that they will soften the dog's required wire coat with a bath.
 

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