How to Trim Dog Tail Hair

To keep your dog's fur unmatted and clean, it needs to be groomed. You can provide upkeep in between visits to a groomer by trimming its excess fur. One thing to keep in mind--you should not trim your dog's hair with shears designed for human hair. Dog fur is much thicker than human hair and can't be cut properly with regular shears. Instead, use dog grooming clippers to give your pooch a new look.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog grooming brush
  • Dog shampoo
  • Towel
  • Hair dryer
  • Dog clippers
  • Dog grooming scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush the coat of your dog with a dog's grooming brush. This will remove dead skin and shed fur and help de-mat the coat.

    • 2

      Full up a utility sink with lukewarm water. For larger dogs, you can hose them down in your backyard. Apply shampoo to the dog's fur (about an eighth of a cup). Work the shampoo into a thick lather. When finished, rinse the dog's fur completely so that there is no shampoo left.

    • 3

      Towel dry the dog, especially the tail, ears (inside and out) and face. Completely dry the fur using a hair dryer.

    • 4

      Place the dog on a table or chair so that he is closer to you.

    • 5

      Hold the tail out straight with your nondominant hand. Feel the tail to ensure you are trimming only the fur, not the actual tail. Use the clippers to trim the fur along the hair grain, on the top, the bottom and the sides of the tail. Use the scissors to trim the hair around its rear end.