Which blade arrangement is used to clip the outside of the West Highland Terrier's ear leather and the inside?

Which blade arrangement is used to clip the outside of the West Highland Terrier's ear leather and the inside?

• A. Outside #40, inside #10
• B. Outside #7F, inside #5
• C. Outside #10 or #15, inside #40
• D. Outside #4, inside #7

Answer: (C)

The essential idea is that different areas of the ear require different blade lengths to shape a clean, breed-typical silhouette while keeping the inside safe and neat. Using a longer blade on the outside of the ear leather helps maintain a defined outer edge and a balanced look with the rest of the head coat. Trimming the inside with a very short blade creates a tight, close finish near the ear canal, reducing bulk and helping the inner area stay clean and less prone to matting or irritation. So, outside with a longer blade (like #10 or #15) and inside with a very short blade (like #40) gives the best combination: a crisp, smooth outer contour and a neat, close inner area. Using any other pairing would either leave too much length around the outside, making the ear look ill-defined, or leave excess hair inside the ear that can trap wax and debris and look bulky.

The essential idea is that different areas of the ear require different blade lengths to shape a clean, breed-typical silhouette while keeping the inside safe and neat. Using a longer blade on the outside of the ear leather helps maintain a defined outer edge and a balanced look with the rest of the head coat. Trimming the inside with a very short blade creates a tight, close finish near the ear canal, reducing bulk and helping the inner area stay clean and less prone to matting or irritation.

So, outside with a longer blade (like #10 or #15) and inside with a very short blade (like #40) gives the best combination: a crisp, smooth outer contour and a neat, close inner area. Using any other pairing would either leave too much length around the outside, making the ear look ill-defined, or leave excess hair inside the ear that can trap wax and debris and look bulky.