For you setter/spaniel/britt folks... I do not clip my dog. I do keep his feathers and paws trimmed with scissors but he doesn't carry a lot of coat so I do not clip the rest as I am worried it would end up coming back longer and need to be clipped regularly... Which leads me to my question. I cannot handle his ears! He's constantly getting terrible mats, and with bird season around the corner it's just a matter of time until they're covered in burrs and other unwelcome tag-alongs. How do you go about shaving the ears? How short do you go? With or against the hair? How do you restrain a high strung dog long enough to get it done (LOL)? I think its in my best interest this year to shave them down. He has mats right now that I'm unable to get out so I think it's my only option.