How to Shear a Dog

While most of the time it's not necessary to shear a dog the same way you would shear a sheep, extreme heat, fleas or skin diseases may mean your dog is more comfortable with most of his fur coat sheared off. The tools used are counter-intuitive; it's easier to shear a dog with regular clippers, while pet shears will typically only be used to follow up and clip away any excess fur remaining. Make sure not to shear your dog in cold climates because without his fur to insulate him, he could become very uncomfortable or even develop hypothermia and possibly die.

Things You'll Need

  • Pet shampoo
  • Clippers
  • Shears
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Instructions

    • 1

      Spread out a tarp or cloth to catch the dog hair as it's sheared off.

    • 2

      Wash your dog with a high-quality pet shampoo. Let his fur dry completely before attempting to shear him.

    • 3

      Secure the dog by his collar with a ceiling-mounted restraint. This can be as simple as looping one end of a leash around a ceiling hook, then clipping the other end to the dog's collar. Make sure that the leash is loose enough so he can sit or stand without any tension on it, but short enough that he can't wander away or lay down.

    • 4

      Start the clippers. You can play around with them and run them across your own skin to verify that they won't hurt the dog or bite into its skin. This also gives the dog a chance to get used to the sound of them.

    • 5

      Use one hand to hold the dog still. Some dogs may have to be held against your body or held by an assistant.

    • 6

      Run the clippers along the dog's skin, starting on its belly and working toward its chest. Be careful not to pinch any folds of loose skin around the leg joints or backside.

    • 7

      Continue shearing the dog with the clippers, running them against the direction the hair naturally lays. Usually the hair lays front-to-back, so in most cases you will be running the clippers from the back of the dog forward.

    • 8

      Use shears--sharp scissors specifically intended for dog grooming--to trim away any fur you couldn't get at with the clippers or around sensitive areas, like the face, eyes, nose, ears or backside.