Pro Technique: How to Set a Topline

The topline is the making of a groom. You can trim a dog's legs and face beautifully, but if the back rolls and dips, the whole outline looks untidy. A clean, deliberate topline is one of those skills that separates a competent finish from a really polished one, and the good news is that it is far more about method and eye than about any special tool. Let me walk through how I set a topline on the salon floor, from the level back of a schnauzer to the softer, more sculpted lines you get on the breeds.

The word topline simply means the outline of the dog's back, from behind the withers along to the base of the tail. Setting it means shaping the coat so that line reads the way the breed, or the pet trim, intends, whether that is dead level, gently sloping or subtly arched.

Prep is everything

You cannot set a line on a coat that is not ready, so do not rush this.

1. Brush and comb the back coat right through to the skin. Any mat or clump left in will sit proud and throw your line out.
2. Bathe and, crucially, dry properly. High-velocity dry the back coat so it stands up and lies evenly. A well dried, lifted coat is what lets you see and cut a true line. A flat, damp or curly coat hides every dip.
3. Comb the coat up and out so it stands, then let it fall naturally. You are shaping what the coat actually does, not fighting it.

Setting the line with clippers

On many breeds the back is taken down with a clipper, and this is often where the topline is established.

• Choose your blade or comb length to suit the coat and the finish the owner wants, then work in long, smooth, even strokes from just behind the withers back towards the tail, following the natural line of the spine.
• Keep the clipper flat and moving at a steady pressure. It is uneven pressure, digging in here, lifting there, that creates ridges and hollows.
• Work with the lie of the coat, and keep checking the line from the side at the dog's own level, not from above. The topline is judged in profile.
• Blend the sides into the back smoothly so there is no shelf where the top meets the flanks.

Scissoring a topline

On longer trims and the more sculpted breeds, the topline is scissored, and this is where a good eye really shows.

1. Comb the coat up so it stands, then let it settle.
2. Work along the back with the scissors held flat and parallel to the line you want, taking small amounts and combing through frequently to check your progress.
3. Cut into the coat to shape it rather than sawing straight across, so the finish stays soft and even.
4. Step back and view the dog in profile at eye level after every few passes. Toplines go wrong when you keep your head down and never check the whole outline.

Groomer's tip: Judge and fault a topline from the side, at the dog's own height, with the coat combed out and settled. Standing over the dog looking down flatters everything and hides the dips. Get your eye level with the back and the truth of the line shows itself.

Blending, hand-stripping and finishing

A topline should flow into the neck at the front and the tail set at the back with no hard joins. Feather those transitions in with thinning shears so nothing looks abrupt. On harsh-coated, hand-stripped breeds, the topline is often set and maintained by hand stripping rather than clipping, pulling the coat to keep the correct length, texture and colour, which gives a natural line that clipping simply cannot match. If you want to develop that side of the craft, our hand stripping in York leans on exactly this work.

Breed differences change the line

There is no single correct topline, because different breeds are built and shown differently, and even pet trims echo those shapes.

• Level backs. Many terriers and breeds like the schnauzer want a straight, level topline, firm and clean from withers to tail.
• Gentle slopes. Some breeds carry a topline that falls away slightly towards the rear, and forcing it dead level looks wrong on them.
• Soft or arched lines. Some coats and outlines call for a softer, gently rounded shape rather than a hard line.

Know the look you are aiming for before you start cutting. General grooming references and breed information, including the overview of grooming techniques on Wikipedia's dog grooming page, are handy background, but a clear picture in your mind of that particular breed's outline is what guides the scissors. When in doubt, agree the finish with the owner first, especially on a pet trim.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my topline keep coming out uneven? Usually because the coat was not dried standing and combed out first, so dips are hidden, or because you are checking from above rather than in profile. Dry and lift the coat, then view and cut the line at the dog's own eye level.

Should I set a topline with clippers or scissors? It depends on the trim. Shorter clipper finishes establish the line with even clipper strokes, while longer and more sculpted trims are scissored. Harsh-coated breeds are often set by hand stripping. Match the method to the coat and the intended look.

How do I know what topline a breed should have? Learn the intended outline for that breed before you start, level, gently sloping or softly arched, and keep a clear mental picture of it. For pet dogs, confirm the finish with the owner if the breed shape is not being followed exactly.

How do I avoid a shelf where the back meets the sides? Blend the transition with thinning shears, feathering the coat from the top down into the flanks so there is no hard clipper or scissor line. Check the blend in profile as you go.

Written from the salon floor by Lucy, City & Guilds Level 2 & 3 qualified groomer and owner of Fluffs, a one-to-one dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York. For more professional grooming guides, explore the Fluffs grooming blog.