Pup tip: Let your dog stand or sit on an elevated table before the barber session. This gives you better access to their coat. Going against the normal flow of hair creates lines on their coat. Hair clippers come with different guards to cut hair at different lengths. Always start with the largest clipping guard and move to the smallest. Ensure the clipper is placed flat on the coat while shaving.
After the neck, move to the back and abdomen. Be very careful about sensitive areas like the underbelly, underarm, and hock. If shaving these areas with a clipper irritates your dog, switch to a pair of scissors. Always hold the point of the scissors facing away from your pup and trim away with the scissors. Lastly, trim the head, legs, and tail. These should be the last areas to shave as you might anticipate the most movement.
If possible, have someone hold your dog while you carefully trim them. Hold your dog's head very still while grooming their face. Brush their face to expose long strands and trim away with the scissors. If you opt to use only scissors, thinning scissors might be preferable as they don't leave straight scissoring cut lines behind, so the result tends to be more natural. Trim the ear flaps, the sides of the face, and below the jaws. Do not forget to trim the eyebrows, especially for dogs that grow a lot of facial hair.
Trim one leg first, and then move to the next. With a pair of scissors, trim between the paw pads to remove excess hair. Paw pad hair tends to harbor a lot of germs.
Brush the tail first before trimming with a clipper or scissors. Hold the tail steady and gently trim away to the tip. Pup Tip: Always have treats to keep your dog busy while shaving them.
Overgrown nails can cause walking difficulties in dogs. There are also slicker brushes for removing mats and dead hair; rubber curry combs to polish smooth coats and remove dead hair; clippers, stripping knives, rakes, hair dryers, and other grooming tools. When brushing, always check for burrs and other stubborn plant material; mats, which most frequently form behind the ears and under the legs; and any cuts or scrapes on the skin itself.
All dogs shed, though some definitely shed more than others. Regular brushing will help keep shedding under control. Your dog should have regular, but not frequent, baths, depending on the breed and coat of your dog. Too-frequent washing removes natural oils and causes the coat to become dry and harsh.
When necessary, use a mild shampoo formulated for dogs. Stand the dog in a tub or basin, and put cotton balls in his ears and a couple of drops of mineral oil in his eyes. Wet the dog with warm water and apply shampoo from the neck back.
After lathering and scrubbing, rinse your dog thoroughly with warm water. Comb or brush as required. Nails must be kept short for the feet to remain healthy. They can also break easily.
This usually happens at the base of the nail, where blood vessels and nerves are located, and precipitates a trip to the veterinarian. Most have safety guards to prevent you from cutting the nails too short. You can see where the quick ends on a white nail, but not on a dark nail.
Clip only the hook-like part of the nail that turns down. Many dogs dislike having their nails trimmed. You can make it a painless procedure by getting your dog used to having his feet handled in puppyhood. If you accidentally cut the quick, stop the bleeding with some styptic powder. Clean the outer part of the ear only, using a damp cloth or a cotton swab soaked in mineral oil. Never force anything into the ear.
Some dogs need the hair plucked just inside the ear to keep air circulating; ask your veterinarian if this is necessary for your dog. Clean slight discharges with a moist cotton ball.
If your dog balks at having his teeth brushed, get him used to it by rubbing his teeth and gums with your finger.
A professional groomer has these readily available, but will charge you more than what it cost to buy the tools outright from the store. Save your money! You can purchase clipper blades, combs, and brushes at any pet store; from PetSmart to the small boutique around the corner.
When purchasing hair clippers, blades, nail clippers, and slicker brushes, do your research. There are many different kinds of tools out there that often it can get overwhelming when standing in the aisle at a pet store. To eliminate confusion, and buyer hesitation, research either online or talk to a groomer about which types of tools are best suited for your needs. Depending on your dog, you may already be aware, but loud noises can surprise or even distress them. Test different clippers and get the one that makes the least noise; it will make the experience better for both of you.
While grooming, it is important to keep all outside distractions to a minimum; such as keeping others away from your pet, whether they be other people or other animals.
How can you keep from doing this? By keeping your clippers sharp. Grooming dog clippers should be kept sharp at all times because, like cutting your own hair, a sharp scissor can easily slice through hair without causing any tugging or discomfort to your skin.
They also should be sharp because for some hard to reach places, like around the head and ears, you may only be able to cut with the top of the clippers. Dog hair is unique in the way it grows because it can change directions at specific parts of the body.
Because of this, cutting in the right direction can take some time. Make sure you pay attention to the direction the hair is growing to ensure that the cut is smooth, even, and fits with the existing coat. Hold your dog to avoid sudden movement. This broad level of service not only relies on your dog to stay still, but it relies on you as a pet parent to provide preventative care that will make their visit worry free.
When a trip to the salon involves repetitive brushing in the same area, whether there are tangles or matting, it can burn sensitive skin. Similar to brush burn, razor burn happens when an area is shaved very close to sensitive skin.
It can also be caused from a dull or hot razor after shaving through thick matted, or pelted, hair. Keeping your dog brushed between visits, and using the right kind of brush, can help reduce the need for excessive brushing, or shaving close to the skin.
When a dog has tight matted hair, the blood flow is restricted to that area. When that matted hair is removed, blood rushes back to the area quickly, which can cause a large blood blister called a hematoma. Brushing your dog properly in between visits will help reduce the risk of matting, and can save your pup from this painful experience. Irritation and discomfort can come from this process when attempting to pluck hair that may not be ready to come out yet.
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