Airedale Haircut - Step-by-Step by Becky Preston

Step 1: Completely brush out the coat using a slicker brush to get any loose hair out. Remember that the higher the number on the blade the shorter it will cut. Always clip with the grain of the hair.

Step 2: Use a #10 or #15 blade to clip the stomach from the belly button back and the inside of the thighs. Clip the underside of the tail and the butt to where the “swirl” of hair on each side begins. Clip the inside of the ears.

Step 3: Starting just behind the head, use a #5F or #7F blade to clip the majority of the black part of the coat (jacket). Include the top of the tail. This will leave the shoulders and the underside of the neck long.

Step 4: Run the clippers down the back of the legs to just above the hocks.

Step 5: Starting at the point of the hip, use the same blade to clip the thighs diagonally to about half way down the hock.

Step 6: If you want contrast between the jacket and flat work ( this is the shoulders, chest and underside of the neck), use the next shortest blade on this area. Ie: use a #7 if the jacket was done with a 5F, use a 10 if the jacket was done with a 7F (this will make the cut very short). On the shoulders, stop just above where the leg and shoulder meet. ( you can feel a dip there).

Step 7: Starting just above the eyes, clip the top of the head, blending into the hair at the back of the head. Clip the cheeks from behind the eyes and the outside of the ears blending into the neck.

Step 8: Starting at the outside corner of the eye, clip the hair in a diagonal line to the corner of the mouth, leaving the hair above this line long. On the underside of the muzzle, starting about 1/3 of the way back, clip the hair to blend into the neck.

Step 9: You can also clip the hair from the lower edge of the lip. This will help when clipping the underside of the muzzle. Stretch the lip by inserting a finger and pulling the lips straight back. This will help prevent accidentally cutting the lip. Clip to the fold of skin about 2/3 of the way up the lip. Be very careful not to cut the lip.

Step 10: Finish the beard by brushing the hair on either side of the muzzle straight out. Trim the hair with scissors so that none of the side hair extends past the cheek when you look at it from the front. Brush the hair on the top of the muzzle straight up and trim so that it is even with the top of the head. Trim the lower beard to blend in with the rest.

Step 11: Comb or brush the leg furnishing straight out from the leg. Using the scissors or a #4F clipper blade, trim the leg hair to form a column. The length is up to you, but remember extremely long hair is mostly dead hair, keeping it 1-2 inches long will look the best. Blend the top of the leg in to the shoulder.

Step 12: On the rear legs, brush the longer hair forward. Trim the hair to follow the line of the leg from the hock to the belly. On the lower part of the leg, trim hair into a narrow column. The amount of hair on the front and rear legs should be about the same, otherwise the dog will look unbalanced.

Step 13: Pick up the feet and trim the hair from between the pads (this should be done on a regular basis so that mats do not form between the pads and cause sores). Trim the hair on the outside edges of the pads.

Step 14: Put the foot down and tidy up the hair to give a nice rounded effect.

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