It's not something I would do to be honest, given we are meant to be an untrimmed breed lol

me and a razor would be fine - me a razor and a st bernard well i dont know esp as mine all like to paw at me when they can!
even though i have a steady hand and patience i dont think the dogs would stand still while i did it! suppose if its done from young they would be ok with it tho!
i say let them go all natural!!!

the great thing about the horse razor is there is no way it can cut them and as you raise a saint puppy to be mouthed and length of ears checked for the ring brushing your hand over the muzzle is just another way of getting them to stand still for the judge to do ths, we also trim under bellies and ears and shape up the back hocks. It gives the dog a much cleaner line in the best of group line especially if you are in between say a doberman and a boxer.

After reading your standard it doesnt state the you are a untrimed breed , i wouldnt ever consider showing my dogs under a American judge without the dogs being scultered, if you ever look at the New Foundlands that are all black and gloosy with beauitful defined lines it is because the are scultured and the look makes your head turn.

Hi Sue,Have you got a pic of a Saint sculptured for the ring we all couild see?
Regards
Tony&Bud.

Hi Tony and Bud
If you go to www.dogzonline.co.nz
You can see our dogs by bringing up breed pages .Lusanne Toss out M Toys is a rough coat as all our dogs are and she is trimmed back.
Lusanne Just Deal with it and Lusanne buy a skydancr are only puppies in the picture and are not trimmed back but Chewie is the dog in my site at 16 months. We have our National show in 3 weeks (like your Crufts) so we will post picture of the dogs scultured for thatif you like. Once they are done it is easy to maintain as most weekends we are away at shows, Having the hydo bath and a very strong dryer makes putting there coat were you want it very easy.
Sue

Thanks Sue Lovely dogs!! Good lick at the Nationals.
Tony&Bud.

I guess exhibiters in the States & possible Australia & NZ trim more than us
It doesn't state trimming in our breed standard, however, they are a working breed & way back when they were hoofing people down from mountains I'm sure no-one whipped clippers or scissors out to get their whiskers off!!
Whiskers are an important hunting and orientation tool for dogs - my dogs are just plain dogs 99% of their life - they chase rabbits etc & do dog stuff. They are in the show ring just 1% of their life if that.
Personally I wouldn't interfere with something on them that I think they need - but thats just my opinion.
Toby having whiskers didn't stop him getting the Res CC & I knwo several UK Ch that have never had theirs taken off

Heather

I agree presentation is important. Bud is quite untidy underneath so I will tidy it up to improve his outline his hocks are ok will also tidy feet but I think I will leave his whiskers !!lol I am used to scissoring Standard Poodles and de -hairying Chinese cresteds so feel I have to do something to get them ready other than a bath and brush!!!!!!!!!!!!lol
Tony&Bud

LOL, im forever looking at feet, underline, hocks etc for wispy bits, am paranoid LOL! must say, trimming a saint is far easier than standards!! I watched Mike gadsby at his home prepare one of his dogs, i was in awe of his work, made it look soooo easy!!

Yes Mike is an Awesome scissorer. I find it also relatively easy and sooooo rewarding when you have achieved the desired finish. I like the Sandanavian look where the scissoring is more extreme and really enhances to shape of the dog. A clever scissorer can put shape and agulation into a Standard where there isn't any so you can never really ring judge a poodle!!!!!! I must admit to likeing the way Americans present various breeds for show.
Tony&Bud