Coat

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The craze for profuse furnishings peaked in the early 1950s when so much leg hair was exhibited that Scotties nearly lost their tailored, workmanlike appearance. Exhibitors have, to a large extent, returned to sanity in this regard. The furnishings should never be fluffy or matted, nor should they be so long as to drag on the ground.

All four legs and some "daylight" should be plainly visible under the dog. This is accomplished by stripping the furnishings. If done correctly, the texture of the furnishings will also be harsh, although, because the hair is longer, it will feel somewhat softer than the hair of the dog's jacket. Unfortunately, too many exhibitors today shape the leg furnishings with scissors and thinning shears and then restore the texture by adding mousse or hair spray.  Below are some examples of correctly trimmed dogs.

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Chapter 5