Schnauzer (Miniature)

MICHELLE WEBER

RUBY

In this relaxed but detailed tutorial, Ruby the Mini Schnauzer gets a cute teddy bear trim. She’s clipped, but her coat is still strippable, and Michelle demonstrates how carding maintains texture and colour. If your clients love a scruffy look with tidy edges, this is a great one to study.

PART 1 The groom starts with a card-out to remove undercoat and even the surface before clipping. Ruby is clipped with a yellow comb attachment, avoiding damage to her wire coat. Michelle explains how to balance softness and evenness, especially on dogs whose owners prefer a natural finish.

PART 2 - The head is built using soft curves and plenty of thinning. There’s a clear process for setting landmarks like stop, eye corners, and ear base. The result is a soft, rounded face that doesn’t look too sculpted, with techniques that work well on dogs with lower coat volume or regular clip schedules.

PART 3 Tidy little feet are scissored carefully, and column legs are shaped with minimal coat removal. The tail is blended into the body to avoid harsh transitions. A final pass with a fine carding knife removes fuzz and loose undercoat, encouraging texture and helping owners manage shedding at home.

Study Notes and Key Concepts

    • Card before and after clipping to maintain texture and support coat growth

    • Use coat kings, knives, and fine rakes depending on the area and coat density

    • Longer comb attachments prevent over-clipping into undercoat

    • Scissor lightly and avoid taking too much off when chasing evenness

    • Work from defined points (stop, eye, ear) to create symmetry

    • Use thinners to soften edges and maintain scruffy character

    • Tails are shaped but left natural

    • Feet and legs are carefully sculpted with minimal handling for nervous dogs

    • Final card-out encourages growth and reduces hair shed at home