In this lesson, award-winning stylist Suesan Watson takes us back to the basics: a simple #5 all over trim with a nice round head. It may not be very exciting, but it's one of the most commonly requested trims we get.

 

Sue does this exact haircut every day in the salon, just like you. Once the dog is bathed and blown dry, the trim should only take 20 to 25 minutes to complete. Neat. Clean. Tidy. Those are the goals of a #5 all.

 

Sue says it's important to know your coat types. You will have three blade options to work with. She walks you through the steps to determine which blade will work the best based on the type of fur the dog has.

 

Even though this dog is good for most of the grooming process, she is a bit fussy on the legs. That doesn't faze Sue. She calmly continues to work with the fussy dog. Sue explains how she's handling the dog and why. The corrections she makes are effective. The dog settles down nicely with Sue's gentle - yet firm - handling techniques.

 

When you're dealing with this basic trim, there's not a whole lot you can do with the body. But the head? That's another story. As Sue says, "The face is the most important part. It will make the entire groom. You need to spend time." She shows you how to do a very cute head. Not only is it quick, it instantly gives the dog a youthful face lift.

 

Sue reminds us, that even with these basic, short haircuts, it's important to pay attention to the details.Those details will bring your clients back every time.