Elevate Your Grooming
"Hand Scissored Poodlington" typographic title in light/dark brown
by Blake Hernandez
Close-up after front pose photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog trimmed with the complete classic Bedlington look
Uppercase letter I dropcap in dark brownn this Poodlington tutorial, I’m going to hand-scissor a mini Poodle and show you the best way to achieve the classic Bedlington look so you can take your trims a step closer to perfection!
Close-up before front pose photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting ready to be trimmed with the complete classic Bedlington look
Close-up side photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a blue haircut clipper used by a man's hands in the dog's low tassel ear area
FIG 1) Start with your clipper work and trim the tassel low on the ear to accentuate the length of the dog’s head. I do this with a #30 in reverse on Poodles that will tolerate it.
Close-up side photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a blue haircut clipper used by a man's hands in the dog's outside corner eye/upper corner ear area
FIG 2) The shave line should be from the outside corner of the eye to the upper corner of the ear in the same blade length you used on the ear.
Close-up angle photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a blue haircut clipper used by a man's hands in the dog's throat area
FIG 3) Shave the throat pattern with the lowest point being level with the dog’s topline.
Close-up rear photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a blue haircut clipper used by a man's hands in the dog's base tail area
FIG 4) Shave a “V” at the base of the tail matching the same length you chose for the ears and neck.
Close-up angle photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a violet curved scissor used by a man's hands in the dog's feet area
FIG 5) To mimic the hare-like feet of the Bedlington, it’s important that you trim the Poodle’s feet to be as long and pointy as possible. Use a curved scissor but keep them long.
Close-up side photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a violet curved scissor used by a man's hands in the dog's edges of feet/toe area
FIG 6) Return the foot to the table and clean up the edges to continue to lengthen the foot from the rear. Repeat this on the hind feet.
Close-up rear photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a white/grey haircut clipper used by a man's hands in the dog's top hock tail area
FIG 7) Clip the dog’s rear angulation with a #5F from the pin bone to the top of the hock to set the pattern before scissoring the legs in.
Close-up side photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a white/grey haircut clipper used by a man's hands in the dog's front in tight/chest area
FIG 8) Take the front in tight as to not leave a heavy chest since the breed we are imitating is lithe. Here I use a #5F as well.
Close-up side photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a large curved grey scissor used by a man's hands in the dog's highest tuck-up point area nearby tail
FIG 9) Hold the tail down and use a large curved scissor to push the curve of the back forward. The highest point of that roach should be directly over the highest point of the tuck-up.
Close-up side photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a white straight scissor used by a man's hand in the dog's high roach point/withers area
FIG 10) Switch to a straight scissor once you’ve hit the highest point of the roach to take it down into the withers.
Close-up photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a white straight scissor used by a man's hands in the dog's ribs area
FIG 11) Another way we illustrate their slender build and nod to the Bedlington breed standard is to imitate their slab-slide ribcage. To do this, use a straight scissor and take off any roundness to the ribs.
Close-up rear photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a white straight scissor used by a man's hand in the dog's thigh area
FIG 12) Use a straight scissor to create a parallel line on the inside of the leg to the outside of the leg. The thigh should show power and strength but continue to illustrate a lithe and slender breed.
Close-up side photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a white straight scissor used by a man's hand in the dog's leg area
FIG 13) The front legs are to be in balance with these parallel lines front and back but with a “keyhole” of light when viewing the dog from the front. So that means the dog’s legs should also be placed touching each other in the front.
Close-up side photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a large curved grey scissor used by a man's hands in the dog's highest tuck-up point area nearby tail
FIG 14) Take the tuck-up from directly under your highest point of roach and angle it down to the elbow as to keep your dog up on leg.
Close-up side photograph perspective of a white colored mini Poodle dog getting trimmed/cut by a white straight scissor used by a man's hand in the dog's high roach point/withers area
FIG 15) The head requires lots of fluffing and scissoring in that straight line to keep a long and narrow head with peripheral vision and full stop.
White Mini Poodles are the best to put in a Bedlington trim because they look so much like the real breed, but any size or color could be practiced on. And in a pinch, this trim could be done on anything curly, such as a doodle or a Bichon.
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