As you can see here, under his eyes, we've got the double coat there. In between his eyebrows, you’ve got her hair there that needs to come out on the other side and here, it’s all untidy and bits and pieces. Now then, lots of people have problems finding out how much to take here. First of all, look at your head, where are the natural eyebrows? The natural eyebrows start obviously over the eye. In black and tans it’s very easy to see because the tan meets the eyebrow. In brindles, it’s a little more difficult but nearly all of the dogs that you will come across have the different colored eyebrow. So that’s the bit you leave initially and combing it forward just to illustrate the point. So if we match that with that visually, we now know which part we have to take out. Again we use the same technique, lift, grip and pull.

And I don’t know if you can see why I do it that way, but only a few come out at a time that way, can you see? Forward, grip, pull, lift, grip, pull and we take it out right the way through. This is why it’s quite easy because if you get an argumentative on it and hang on to the beard but Mike is quite cooperative and quite a good boy.

In a few seconds you’ll see the expression starting to come and that way, you can alter it. Most of the emphasis to get the head expression you want is funny enough underneath there. Many breeders like to leave that quite long and have the beard coming forward from there. I’ll show you how some of the kennels do it, like that. I personally don’t like that. I like to have it sculptured. Can you see, that’s an effect, it’s not what I use but you can if you prefer, that’s your expression, it is not incorrect. Ideally I have always, and a lot of people agree with me, like to take an imaginary line from the corner of the eye to the corner of the mouth. So we’re talking a line there. And everything that side of that line comes out on a strip, leaving of course things forward of that to make the beard prominent and smart.

I’ll show you the comparison now. First of all let’s groom him. Oh this is not finished yet but it gives you an idea of the different styles, that’s the one I prefer, that’s the one other people prefer. You can't leave him outside, so we’ll do three other sides to match.