How to Give a Mini Schnauzer a Haircut

You can take your miniature schnauzer to a professional groomer for a haircut, or you can do it yourself at home. Schnauzers are typically given a distinctive type of haircut that is uniform among the breed. Your decision of whether to cut your dog's hair yourself or take it to a professional should be based upon the temperament of your dog, your patience and whether or not you have the time to do the job yourself.

Things You'll Need

  • Electric dog clippers
  • Blunt-nose scissors
  • Slicker brush
  • Dog comb
  • Regular shears
  • Thinning shears
  • Dog shampoo
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Instructions

    • 1

      Start by trimming the head and eyebrows using electric clippers. Oil the clipper blades often as you cut, and always trim with the grain of the hair. The hair at the top of the muzzle should be parted, combed downward and cut at a sharp angle toward the outer corner of each eye with the shears. The longest part of the eyebrow should be one-half the length of the muzzle. Clip the ear area carefully in the direction of the hair growth, holding the ear firmly as you clip. Trim any loose, ragged edges with scissors.

    • 2

      Move on to the body of your dog. Using a clipper blade, follow the direction of the hair growth from the back of the head to the base of the tail. If cowlicks are present on the chest, use the thinning shears to blend those areas and make them less obvious. Leave a slightly longer belly fringe around the body back to the hind legs.

    • 3

      Clip the entire tail if you want to, again following the direction of the hair growth. If you wish, you may clip the top edge of the tail and leave a feathery fringe along the bottom of the tail.

    • 4

      Finish with the rear, belly and leg areas, facing the dog's rear and starting at the outer edges and working inward. Concentrate on making these areas neat, tidy and free of mats. You can use your dog comb to work out mats instead of trimming them away. Cut around the paws in a circular fashion, and leave the hair longer as you work down the legs. Use the thinning shears to blend any differences in length.

    • 5

      Brush and comb your dog thoroughly, and then bathe it with lukewarm water and a mild dog shampoo, being careful not to get any water in the ears. After the dog's bath, comb its hair again, starting with the front legs and working your way back. Take care to brush the leg hair upwards and then down while watching for mats. Comb the eyebrows down toward the nose and the beard forward and under the chin. Don't forget the brush the shorter hair on the body to stimulate the skin. The beard and legs should be brushed and combed several times a week to prevent matting.