How to Trim the Hair on a Dog's Flaps

Maintaining a dog's appearance often entails soapsuds and splashing water. Trimming hair is also on the list when it comes to dogs with long hair, especially in and around the earflaps. Keep your dog's ears maintained by trimming the ear hair on the exterior and interior of each flap with scissors and hair clippers. Trimming the hair on a dog's flaps not only prevents grime from sticking to the hair, but it also wards off ear infections.

Things You'll Need

  • Chair
  • Spray bottle
  • Brush
  • Straight blunt-tip scissors
  • Electric hair clippers
  • Guide comb
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sit on a chair or bench, and sit your dog on the ground in front of you with the left or right earflap facing you. Sit smaller dogs on your lap or on a table with their earflaps facing you.

    • 2

      Lay each earflap over the palm of your hand. Gently brush your dog's ear hair with a comb or bristled brush appropriate to the hair type. Using a spray bottle, spray water onto the top surface of each earflap if the hair is coarse. Then brush the dog's hair to loosen knots.

    • 3

      Wedge the top of the earflaps between your thumb and index finger to hold it securely. Then lift the earflap away from the dog's head. Hold the scissors in your other hand, and carefully begin to trim the hair around the outer edge of the ear. Trim the hair half an inch from the edge of the skin, parallel to the edge of the ear, to prevent cutting the dog.

    • 4

      Select a guide comb that is suitable for your dog's hair type, and snap the guide comb into place over the blade on the clippers. Combs with a lower number allow owners to cut hair at a shorter length than combs with a higher number. Guide combs are used for an even cut, and prevent nicks on the dog's skin when used properly.

    • 5

      Place each earflap flat against the dog's head, and hold the bottom tip of each flap in place with your index and middle finger. Slowly run the clippers over the top surface of the dog's ears, following the direction of the hair, to trim the ear hair. Gently press the clippers against the dog's skin for an even cut.

    • 6

      Snip the hair inside your dog's ears, if it lets you. Lift each earflap and place the flaps against the dog's head to prevent poking the ear canal. Carefully trim the inner ear hair with the scissors, following the direction of the hair. Trim the ear hair one inch from the inner skin surface to prevent cutting the dog.