grooming bichons

Question
Hi,
I would like to know what kind of clippers and what kind of blades and where is the best place to purchase them? Also when Clipping bichons, do you go vertically do the back and then diagonally on their sides?  Which kind of blade do I use on which part of the body? Do you use clippers on their legs? I know this is a lot of questions,but I haven't been able to find the answers anywhere else. But I do know that if you don't use the clippers in the right direction you can burn hurt your dogs skin. I had a groomer do that before and she had to take antibiotics and steroids to get better and I definitely don't want to them to go through that again.
Thank you so much for volunteering to help others, like me.You are an angel.
Kathy

Answer
Hi Kathy-
Have you ever thought of buying a video? Oster A-5 clippers have been the workhorse of the industry for decades. Oster has booklets and patterns for a lot of clipped breeds.
There are however lots more brands and each has it's selling point- weight, attachments, heat etc.
The higher the number on the blade the shorter the hair but they sell snap on combs that go over the higher number blades to obtain a maximum length.
It is hard for me to say a right or wrong way to clip your bichon because it all comes with experience. Legs are typically scissored after the body is clipped. Clipper burn comes from an overheated clipper or too short a blade not necessarily because it was the wrong direction- a lot of groomers use reverse direction with the longer length blades.
There are so many catalogues on the internet that to say one is better than the other is not true but because I rely on my sources as do many professionals, there may be ones out there these days I haven't even heard of.
My most sincere advice to you is to get a bichon video- either through a local breed club or from  companies like Cherrybrook.com, Petedge, Jefferspets are just a few. Watch it and practice.
More important than clipping is learning the correct way to brush and comb out the dog- regularly. Before you bathe her. Blowing them dry is almost as important as clipping them.
good luck - take your time and don't be afraid to practice - just remember... it grows back!