On the Chicago Dutch clip, the Poodle’s feet, face, tail, stomach and neck are clipped exactly the same as instructed for the Dutch clip . The only difference is in the setting of the body pattern: instead of a clipped strip that runs from the base of the tail straight up the backbone to the neck, on the Chicago Dutch, the strip is clipped from the base of the tail up the backbone only to the last rib.

Here is the Chicago Dutch clip step by step:

1. Stand the Poodle with his hindquarters facing you. Use your comb to make a part completely around the dog’s middle at the last rib. Be sure the part is even. Starting at the base of the tail, clip a strip straight up the center of the back, between the hipbones, to the part line at the last rib. To correctly proportion the width of the strip to the variety of the Poodle, use a #5/8 blade on Toys, a #7/8 blade on Miniatures and a #10 blade (or #15 if you like a closer clip) on Standards.
2. The next step in the Chicago Dutch is to make a circular cut on each side of the hindquarters to complete the pattern. Start at the center strip, about 1 to 2 inches forward of the hipbones and, with the same blade, clip a circular cut on the side of the dog. Then clip a strip on the other side of the dog that exactly matches the first side. To assure total balance and proportion, these guidelines can be increased or decreased in accordance with the dog’s size.
3. Using the same blade, clip the hair on the dog’s middle between the circular cuts on each side of the hindquarters and the part line around the last rib. Be sure the clipped lines are straight and that there are no untidy hairs between the circular cuts.
4. Once the body pattern has been set, be sure that all trimmed areas are clipped to the same length, especially if you have used one of the narrow cutting blades to clip the center strip. When used against the growth of the hair, these tend to cut close. For a professional finish, all clipped areas should look even and smooth.
5. Shape and finish the back legs and hindquarters with your shears as instructed in steps 12 and 13 for the Dutch clip. Remember that there should be a smooth flowing of lines from the body coat down the leg and that the coat should be beveled at the pattern lines to look smooth. Practice will help you learn to bevel the hair where it meets the clipped areas into the sculptured look perfected by professional pet stylists.
6. Comb the hair on the back, over the ribs and on the shoulders and chest up and out to fluff the coat. Scissor the jacket to the same length as the hindquarters, following the natural contours of the dog’s body.
7. Shape and finish the front legs with your shears as previously instructed in steps 14 and 15 for the Dutch clip. There should be a smooth flowing of the lines from the body coat down the leg, and the hair should be beveled at the pattern lines with curved shears to look smooth.
8. Comb the ear feathering downward, then round the ends with your shears to remove any straggly hairs or excessive length for an overall balanced appearance.