How to Trim Pet Hair

People often consider their pets as members of their family and want to provide the best care possible to their creatures. This includes properly grooming the pets. Proper grooming keeps pets happy and alerts owners and vets to possible physical disorders, injuries and irritations the pet may have, as asserted by ThoughtsFurPaws.com. Part of grooming a pet is trimming pet hair or fur. All pets have different professional trimming procedures based on show guidelines and species, but a basic set of trimming procedures will get any pet owner started.

Things You'll Need

  • Pet brush
  • Pet comb
  • Grooming scissors with blunt tip or electric grooming shears
  • Newspaper
  • Broom or vacuum
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Instructions

    • 1

      Decide on the style and length you want for your pet's fur or hair.

    • 2

      Sit with your pet and spend a few minutes petting and talking to him. This will put the pet at ease and get him used to your hands being on him.

    • 3

      Lay down a few newspapers and place your pet on top of them.

    • 4

      Brush your pet's entire coat to remove loose fur or hair, continuing to talk gently to your pet as you work. If you encounter snarls, take the time to work them out without yanking, using a pet comb if needed.

    • 5

      Comb your pet's hair in the opposite direction of growth. Pull gently at the hair to get any loose hair or fur not removed by brushing and combing.

    • 6

      Grasp tufts of hair or fur one at a time and snip them near to the desired length. Dog-names-and-more.com recommends starting with the undercarriage and then working on the back, tail, neck, muzzle, ears and paws individually. Grasp the pet around his midsection and support him with your arm in a loose hug so that he stands on his rear legs to access the undercarriage more easily.

    • 7

      Recomb the hair or fur in the direction of growth. Assess the results of your trim. Repeat Step 6 as needed until the cut is even.

    • 8

      Give your pet a nice lukewarm bath to remove any remnants of trimmed hair. Blow the fur or hair dry if temperatures are cold so the pet doesn't become chilled. Brush out the pet's coat.

    • 9

      Gather up the newspapers with the fur and hair on them and throw them away. Sweep up remaining fur and hair with a broom or vacuum.