Dog Grooming Clipping Tips

Long-haired dogs such as cocker spaniels, Maltese and poodles come with the added complication of hair that continues to grow throughout their lifetime. This makes it necessary to give these dogs grooming that goes above and beyond simple bathing. A large part of this grooming is clipping away excess hair to keep the dog clean and cool. Although there are professional groomers to take care of this, they can be expensive. Many people choose to learn how to shave dogs for themselves to avoid this expense.

  1. Start Early

    • It's important to start clipping puppies early so that they get used to the sound and feel. Clippers can be loud, and the fact that they run along a dog's body can be intimidating and shocking to dogs. Like any training, it's easiest and safest to introduce them to this and get them used to it when they're young, small and docile. Sometimes it's easier to take very young puppies to a professional groomer so that they learn about clipping, and then take over the chore when they're older.

    Choose Clippers Wisely

    • Clippers have a wide variety of blade sizes. These blades are numbered and cut hair to different lengths. They are also unique in their ability to deal with longer hair, and in their efficiency against coat textures. Some blades will do well with the long, silky hair of a Maltese but be useless against the short, fuzzy coat of a poodle.

    Prepare the Dog

    • Dogs should be freshly washed and dry for clipping. It's also a good idea to comb out the dog's hair. Clean, tangle-free hair will make the clipping faster and more painless. Anyone clipping a dog should decide on the cut they're giving before they start. Different breeds of dog have different cuts that are breed standard and ideal for that particular dog. Deciding on this ahead of time makes the clipping session easier and faster.

    Clip the Dog

    • Clipping should start where the hair is thinner, like the chin and face, to ease the dog back into the feel of the clippers. The groomer then moves on to the body and legs. Clippers are run against the hair growth for efficient clipping. They are moved in long, slow strokes. During a clipping session, dogs are given frequent breaks in action. This keeps the dog comfortable and gives clippers a chance to cool off.