I have to slightly disagree with this. Although, I don't think "pet" dogs need the "show trim", I do think you should look after the coat as it should be. I strip my gwp and would never approach him with clippers. He has a wiry coat and I want him to keep a wiry coat. I think that when researching a breed, you need to look into the grooming requirements as well - obviously not top priority but should be there. I would never get a poodle or a breed that needed a lot of work on the coat as I am not so committed but when I have a wirecoated breed, I make sure he his "wirehaired".
My springers, I run a coat king through them and trim their ears. I have in the past clipped my eldest springer and her coat is pretty rubbish now so I certainly won't be clipping my young springer.
JMO of course.
Helen
I think it's great that you're committed to keeping proper texture on your own dogs. I just don't think it should be a requirement, or that owners should be guilted into it. Maybe it's because I'm in the US, but in our society, dogs are often a commodity, easily discarded for something "better" whether that means easier to maintain, younger, newer, less hairy, less shedding, whatever one's definition of "better" entails. I see so many dogs who don't get any grooming at all and their overall health suffers. I've seen maggots in neglected coats among other horrendous things. I'm happy to see ANY pet owner who maintains their pet's coat regularly and keeps them comfortable. In an ideal world, all terriers would have wiry coats, spaniels would have the proper harsh textures, but I'm just happy to see them loved and well cared for, if softer in coat and of less desirable color. It's a compromise I can live with. Things may be different in other countries aside from the US, so I don't know if that has any bearing on views or not. I have a Schnauzer, myself, (among several other breeds of dogs) and his coat is clipped. Of course, it's soft, faded looking and definitely doesn't have the proper texture. However, he is clean and comfortable. My lifestyle just does not allow me the time (nor desire, to be honest) to keep him stripped out. I have done it before and he was absolutely perfect, but, pheh! He was a foster who became virtually unadoptable, so here he is... clippered and stuck with me . I reckon I pick and choose my battles. I feel that spaying and neutering, regular health care, and regular grooming if it does mean clippering are paramount to things like proper coat texture.
Again, I am tickled pink at those pet owners who are willing to make that commitment. I just don't think other pet owners who do not should have to feel like less of a responsible owner.
Ooops just noticed above that Horsefeathers has some poodles in her pic - they are gorgeous - not in one bit lumpy, bumpy or bald
Actually, one of them IS sporting the showy "lumpy, bumpy and bald" trim at this time
. I've been praticing my show trims because I'm considering showing Standard Poodles. If it weren't for needing the knowledge and experience, heck no, I'd shave it all off. I still may. It's really a LOT of work maintaining a Standard Poodle in show coat. I'm thinking more of showing my next favorite breed, Lhasa Apsos, rather than the Standards I love so dearly. I've managed maintaining those coats before and it's not quite as involved. With so many fosters and my own permanent resident dogs, I kind of have to compromise with my time.
Tmink29, your groomer sounds like a keeper!
