How Should a Mini Schnauzer Be Trimmed?

Grooming your miniature schnauzer can be easy if you have the proper tools and some patience. Be sure to praise your dog plenty while you are grooming him. Regular brushing will keep his fur from tangling into mats, but many owners prefer a neatly trimmed coat to keep their miniature schnauzers looking their best.

  1. Supplies

    • There are a number of grooming supplies you will need before trimming your miniature schnauzer. To accomplish a professional look, purchase high quality electric dog clippers with a No. 10 and No. 15 blade. You also need a pair of shears, thinning shears, slicker brush, pin brush, and dog comb. You will likely want to finish your dog's trim with caring for his toe nails and ears as well, so gather nail clippers, styptic powder, and hemostats. Select a dog shampoo and conditioner as well, and bring out your own hair dryer.

    Preparation

    • Brush your miniature schnauzer thoroughly. Use your slicker brush or pin brush and work over your entire dog, paying close attention to his armpits and belly. Work the fur first in the direction of its growth and then in the opposite direction. Brush your dog from head to toe twice and finish with a careful combing to make sure you have worked through any tangles or knots. Use lukewarm water to bathe your dog and rinse the shampoo completely to avoid dry skin. Apply conditioner. Towel dry and finish with your hairdryer on the cool setting.

    Head and Neck

    • Clip the hair above your dog's eyebrows toward the back of his head between his ears using your electric trimmers and a No. 10 blade, or use a No. 15 if you prefer a closer cut. Do not trim against the direction of hair growth as this can cause razor burn and infections. Pull your dog's ears up and back and trim down the sides of his face behind his eyebrows. Still holding his ear, trim from his eye to the base of his ear. Trim his cheeks from his beard to his neck; clip under his face from his beard down his neck. Comb his eyebrows toward the front and trim them straight with your shears. Leave his beard untrimmed unless it is too thick and needs to be thinned.

    Body and Legs

    • Use your No. 10 blade to trim your miniature schnauzer's body, starting at his neck and working down his back. Always shave in the direction of hair growth. Leave a skirt of fur starting around the level of his elbows. You can blend the shorter hair of his back with the longer hair of his skirt using your shears, if you like. Clip his tail as you desire. Some people choose to leave it natural, some like to shave it all, and others like to trim the top half and leave the bottom half longer, mimicking the body's skirt. Clip your dog's thigh following the line of his leg toward his stifle. Use your clippers to trim the fur between the pads of his feet.

    Finishing

    • Use your hair dryer on the cool setting to get rid of excess hair on your dog. Trim his nails with the nail clippers and keep the styptic powder nearby in case you cut a nail too short and cause a quick to bleed. Brush over your dog a final time and trim any stray pieces of fur that look out of place. Keep up with brushing your dog regularly to avoid knots and mats in his coat.