CPG Breed-Specific Grooming Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which technique is the correct method for maintaining the harsh, wiry coat texture of a Wire Fox Terrier to AKC standard?
- Electric clipper shaping
- Hand stripping (Correct answer)
- Scissor-only trimming
- Thinning shear blending
Correct answer: Hand stripping
Hand stripping removes the dead outer coat by the root, preserving the dense, hard texture that defines wire-coated terrier breed standards.
Question 2: The Airedale Terrier show trim requires the topknot, beard, and leg furnishings to be:
- Clipped short and smooth
- Left completely natural with no trimming
- Longer than the body coat with a tidied outline (Correct answer)
- Shaved to the skin for a clean silhouette
Correct answer: Longer than the body coat with a tidied outline
In the Airedale show trim, the head, beard, and leg furnishings retain length while the body is stripped close, creating the characteristic contrast.
Question 3: When grooming an American Cocker Spaniel, which area requires the most careful attention to prevent matting and ear infections?
- The topline between the shoulder blades
- The long, feathered ear leather and canal opening (Correct answer)
- The rear hocks and pasterns
- The base of the tail
Correct answer: The long, feathered ear leather and canal opening
Cocker Spaniels have heavy, pendulous ears with dense feathering that traps moisture and debris, making ear maintenance critical for health and appearance.
Question 4: A Golden Retriever's coat is described as the breed standard. Which statement is correct?
- The coat is single-layered and should be trimmed to a uniform 2-inch length
- The coat is double-layered; only the feet, ears, and tail are neatened (Correct answer)
- The coat is corded and must never be brushed out
- The coat is wire-textured and requires hand stripping every 6 weeks
Correct answer: The coat is double-layered; only the feet, ears, and tail are neatened
Golden Retrievers have a water-resistant double coat; breed standards call for tidying natural-growing areas like paws, ears, and the tail's underside only.
Question 5: The standard Poodle's 'Continental Clip' for the show ring requires which of the following features?
- A shaved face, feet, and base of tail with rounded pom-pons on hips and rear legs (Correct answer)
- A fully scissored body with a parted topknot and long ear feathering
- A lamb trim all over with slightly longer legs
- A shaved body with a full mane left on the chest and shoulders
Correct answer: A shaved face, feet, and base of tail with rounded pom-pons on hips and rear legs
The Continental Clip includes a shaved face, feet, and tail base with pom-pons on the hips (optional), rear legs, and tail tip—required for Poodles over 12 months in AKC conformation.
Question 6: Which grooming approach is correct for an Irish Setter's silky, mahogany coat?
- Regular hand stripping every 8 weeks to maintain texture
- Scissoring and thinning to enhance the feathering while keeping the body coat flat (Correct answer)
- Electric clipping the entire body to a uniform length twice yearly
- Cording the coat to form long rope-like strands
Correct answer: Scissoring and thinning to enhance the feathering while keeping the body coat flat
Irish Setters have a flat, silky coat; groomers tidy the ears, chest, belly, and legs with scissors and thinners to accentuate natural lines without altering texture.
Question 7: When setting the neck on a terrier breed during hand stripping, where does the stripped area typically end and the coat on the skull begin?
- At the base of the occiput
- At the break of the shoulder (withers)
- At the mid-point of the neck
- Directly behind the ears at the occiput (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Directly behind the ears at the occiput
In terrier presentation, stripping begins directly behind the ears at the occiput, creating a smooth blend from skull into neck and down the back.
CPG Breed-Specific Grooming Standards 2
Which technique is the correct method for maintaining the harsh, wiry coat texture of a Wire Fox Terrier to AKC standard?