How to Give Your Dog a Haircut at Home

There are several breeds of dogs, including golden retrievers, Newfoundlands, Yorkshire terriers and Cavalier King Charles spaniels, that require regular haircuts. If allowed to continue growing, these and other breed's hair would become a gnarled mess that would be covered with dirt and fecal matter. Regular trips to the groomer for haircuts will become expensive. Save money by cutting your dog's hair at home.

Things You'll Need

  • Towels
  • Newspaper
  • Metal comb or pin brush
  • Baking soda
  • Dog shampoo
  • Electric trimmer
  • Sharp scissors
  • Dog treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set the dog onto a towel or pile of newspaper. This will make cleanup less daunting after the hair cut is finished.

    • 2

      Comb through your dog's fur with a metal comb or pin brush. Remove any tangles and knots from the coat and sprinkle a small amount of baking soda onto any difficult snarls to remove them.

    • 3

      Wash your dog's coat with dog shampoo. Wet its fur and work the shampoo into the coat starting at the tail and moving forward to the face, paying attention to avoid getting soap in the dog's eyes, nose and mouth.

    • 4

      Rinse off the dog shampoo well with warm water. Do not allow any soapy residue to remain as it will cause irritation to the dog's skin.

    • 5

      Set the dog back onto the pile of newspaper or towel and dry your dog's fur with a towel and brush through it again with the metal comb or pin brush to remove any remaining tangles or knots.

    • 6

      Trim away 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the dog's fur, depending upon its length, on the main part of its body with an electric trimmer, according to Vet Info. Clip the hair in the direction of its growth to prevent accidentally nicking or cutting the dog.

    • 7

      Examine the fur around the dog's face, ears, feet and backside. Clip this fur with a small pair of sharp scissors. Feed your dog a treat to keep it calm if it begins to squirm during this procedure.

    • 8

      Comb the dog's fur a final time with the metal comb. Remove any tangles and examine the fur for any spots you missed. Trim any fur you missed with the initial cut with the scissors.