How to Cut a Miniature Schnauzer's Hair

Hold the dog's head firmly so he won't be able to jerk his head while you are cutting the hair on his head. A strong grip on the muzzle could save the dog a poke in the eye.

Use the clippers to trim his face, starting at the top of the skull and working toward the nose. Always trim in the same direction as the hair growth.

Trim between the eyebrows. A tidy separation is all that is needed.

Use the fine tooth face comb to comb the dog's eyebrows down. Then use the shears to cut a neat angle. The brows should be short on the outside and long on the inside, nearest the nose.

Hold the ears back and out of the way while trimming the cheek hair.

Leave the beard, but trim the throat and chest hair by working downward. Holding the dog's chin up helps unfold any rolls of skin on the neck.

Put your fingers under the ear, with your palm facing up and clip on top of the ear. Working from the top of the ear to the tip of the ear. With the shears, trim around the leather of the ear, being careful not to cut the ear itself.

Use the clippers and start at the top of his skull and move the clippers down his back. Work toward the tail, always going in the same direction over the back.

Trim the tail on all sides with the clippers. Starting at the base work toward the tip of the tail.

Work in downward angles for the sides of the dog. Think about leaving more of an outline of the dog's profile with the hair underneath rather than the skirt look.

Trim the dog's rear by lifting the tail and clipping horizontally from the leg to the crack on both legs.

Clip the dog's inner thighs and navel carefully in any manner or direction to get a clean looking area.

Try to get an even tree trunk shape when trimming the schnauzer's legs. The front legs should be clipped to the elbow with the clippers, then combed and trimmed with the shears from the elbow to the foot. The hind legs should be clipped down to the hock and then trimmed with the shears from the hock down to the foot.

Lay the pad of the schnauzer's foot on the palm of your hand and trim the hair around the foot, using the nails as a guide. You want the nails to remain covered by the dog's hair.