3. Clipping Your Dog’s Coat

Many people who have dogs as pets often think that clipping or grooming their dogs are a mere mechanical activity for which they will require grooming sheers.

There are very few dog owners who realize that grooming a dog is actually an art and grooming the dog’s nails or fur needs to done in a very careful manner so that no injuries are caused in the process.

Trimming a dog’s fur needs to be done in accordance with each breeds’ specific characteristics. When the coat is not properly groomed, it could lead to accumulation of dirt in the coat leading to matting of the fur.

When the dog’s coat is well groomed, it will help to get rid of fleas, ticks and mites to a greater extent with proper shampooing containing flea and tick medications.

Also, when improperly trimmed, the dog’s skin could start showing signs of skin diseases due to improper care. In case you require them, there are many pet grooming parlors available to groom your pets in a more systematic manner that will leave your dog feeling more comfortable during the process.

Most modern day dog grooming is done with the help of clippers, the same type that is used to cut human hair, like men’s crew cut styles. The advantage of using clippers over scissors is that the hair can be cut away to a specific length easily and uniformly using the different length snap-on attachments that are available with clippers. You can find a variety of grooming sheers at pet stores.

You will want to use the modern sheers when grooming your dogs. In case you are grooming your dog yourself, you will want to make sure the blades of the clippers are sharp. It is best to avoid using blunt grooming instruments because they will not clip the hair as well and will require a lot of repetition with the grooming.

As a norm avoid trimming your dog’s coat during the winter months as fur is a major source of warmth for him. Also, in case of the slightest signs that your dog is ill, avoid trimming his fur until he is in perfect health.

For the best results, try and implement the following:

• Have the clipper head flat against your dog’s coat.
• Move the clipper in the direction of the grain of the hair.
• Be careful not to dig the clippers into your dog’s skin, especially near the facial area and neck.
• Do not use clippers on your dog’s anal muscle as this is an extremely sensitive area for your dog. If you must remove hair from around this area use a pair of safety round tip scissors.
• For a good finished, use scissors to trim any uneven, sensitive or difficult to reach areas after you have clipped your dog.

Using Clippers Safely

Here are some handy tips for getting your dog used to the clippers and keeping your dog looking great:

• Start clipping your dog as early in life as possible; a pup that is used to being trimmed is more likely to adjust to the same activity later in life as against a dog that has to undergo trimming for the first time during his adulthood.
• Choose the clipper blade that works best with the specific type of coat your dog has so that you can achieve the result you are looking for.
• Compare the sound levels of various clippers and choose the quietest one. Loud buzzing noises that clippers can make would scare them just as it would scare one of us!
• Read about your dog’s breed standard for clues about how your dog’s coat should look and how to make it look that way.
• Check web sites for tips on how breed club members clip their dogs. Some breed clubs provide free guidelines on how their dogs should look.
• Have a professional groomer demonstrate to you as to how your dog’s coat must be clipped. Most groomers and breeders are happy to spend a little time helping you get the act right.
• Clipper blades can become extremely hot, especially when you use them for a long time. If you accidentally burn your dog’s skin, chances are that she will remember the mishap and associate pain with the clippers. This in turn will make your efforts to clip your dog’s coat more and more difficult each time.
• Always use clipper coolant or lubricant on the clipper blades to keep them from getting too warm and burning your dog’s skin. Some can be sprayed on the blades to cool them down before you resume work.
• Make sure though, that you wipe off any excess lubricant lest you end up getting oil all over your dog’s nice clean coat. Coolant or lubricant is available separately through pet supply catalogs and on the Internet.