Introduction
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This photographic overview of grooming a Kerry Blue Terrier
is intended to
help beginning and novice Kerry owners understand the Kerry trim
and learn
how it is achieved. It is also meant to help amateur Kerry groomers
improve
their techniques, and introduce nongrooming Kerry owners to trimming
techniques they can pass on to their local groomers. Ultimately,
it is
hoped that this presentation will peak the interest of nongroomers
and
encourage them to learn more about trimming their dogs themselves.
Although an aura of mystique surrounds the art of masterfully
sculpting a
Kerry, anyone can follow these clear, sharp photographs and the
guidance of
Arlett van Dijk. By visualizing the "lines" of the
Kerry--lines that your
eye can be trained to see--for each part of the Kerry anatomy,
the basic
pattern of the Kerry trim becomes apparent. How to achieve those
lines, and
what tools are used to create them, are concisely described.
Before and
after shots provide comparison and make the trim pattern clearly
visible.
The photographs are arranged in a series of "mini-lessons"
on each part of
the Kerry's anatomy--feet, ears, head, shoulders, tail, and so
on. This
organization makes it easy to find specific information, and
allows you to
pick and choose areas to concentrate on. The sequence of the
mini-lessons
can be varied, and indeed, every professional Kerry groomer has
his or her
own perferred order.
No pictorial guide to grooming a Kerry can possibly include
everything you
need to know to groom every part of a Kerry, and that is not
the purpose of
this one. Indeed, whole articles have been written on trimming
nails,
clippering between the pads, and teeth cleaning, and no doubt
new articles
could and will be be written about every facet of grooming a
Kerry. So
where possible, this guide includes hotlinks to additional information
and
resources to help move you beyond the introduction. But for those
of you
who are truly serious about grooming your own Kerries, nothing
can compare
with the experience of actually watching a professional Kerry
groomer
transform your own dog. This sort of "nearly hands-on"
experience is
invaluable and should not be foregone in favor of written guidelines.
Whether your goal is to ultimately turn your Kerry into a
groomed-to-the-nines masterpiece, or to just tidy him up between
scheduled
grooming appointments, let this pictoral guide serve as your
first step into
the wonderful world of Kerry grooming.
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