AN INTRODUCTION TO CLIPPING YOUR DOG


This is a brief introduction to instructions for grooming and clipping your dog.  The link to the detailed clipping instructions is at the bottom of this page.  These instructions for dog grooming are designed to make it as easy as possible for you to do the job yourself, explaining how to work in a pattern so that you get the job done as quickly as possible with the best possible result.  It may take time and a few tries before you feel totally comfortable clipping your dog. 

By clipping and grooming your own dog you get to bond with him/her better and I am sure that he/she will be much happier by being neat, tidy and clean.  By spending this time with him/her you able to keep check on your dog's general health and wellbeing.  The more you practice the easier it will become - follow the instructions and the quicker you will be getting the grooming and clipping done.

You can purchase  DVD instructions for 'do it yourself dog grooming' at Amazon.com which will demonstrate how easy it is to handle the equipment and how to give an overall clip.  Some grooming clipper sets come with DVD dog grooming instructions also.  Another way to learn hands on instructions is to do a dog grooming course. 

Overview Of Clipping

If your dog is matted then clipping his body with a 3mm (No 7) length blade will make it easy to get underneath those matted areas.  Grooming a dog with a brush in this condition is going to pull and hurt him so it is best to just shave the coat short.  If the dog is very matted close to the skin you may find that the clippers don't go through the matted parts very easily.  Keep nudging the blade to get through but be careful not to cut the dog's skin.  The whole body area should be clipped the same length to make him look even all over.  Generally, the anal area, the area under the tummy at the back end and top inside back legs are clipped shorter than the rest of the body (usually the no. 10 or 15 blade, see section on blades).  This means it is easy for grooming these parts in between  and will prevent matting as well as keep the anal area from getting messy.  The rest of the underneath of the dog can be clipped the same length as the body length.

For a dog who is not matted you can choose to leave the cut at a longer length.  You have  choice of which blades and lengths to use - refer to our page on dog grooming blades.

The ears and tail can either be brushed and trimmed off with the scissors or clipped off with the same length blade as you use on the body.  If you choose to brush the ears and tail out then just make sure there are no knots. It is easy to check this by just running a comb through.  If there are knots still in the coat the comb will get stuck.  You may need a dematting comb if the knots are difficult to get through.

Once the dog has been bathed and blow dried you will notice that the coat will appear uneven.  This is because clipping your dog's coat while it is dirty will never give you an even cut.  To make the dog look tidy all over you will need to clip over the dog again with the clippers and using the same length blade.  This will be easy now as the bulk of the clipping is done on your dog and from here it is really just a tidy up.  If you don't mind the uneven look then all you need to do at this point is tidy the face up.  It is easier to trim the face and ears when the coat is clean.  You can also tidy around the paws also with the scissors if needs be.  And if the tail needs a trim use the scissors to trim into a half moon shape.                        

Care and Comfort of the Dog

Whilst going through the instructions please remember that the handling and comfort of the dog is paramount.  Dogs should not be manoeuvred in a rough or harsh manner.  If you have trouble with your dog wriggling then I would suggest that you get some help - maybe a friend or family member to help keep the dog still by holding some dog treats and rewarding him/her only when being still while having their clipping or grooming.  Refer to our page on dog grooming training for further training ideas.  If you don't have available help then a natural calming herbal remedy gives great results for relaxing your dog.

 If you have all the dog grooming supplies and your work area set up  then you are ready to follow these instructions:-
How To Use Your Dog Clippers

How To Trim Your Dog's Face, Feet and Tail

Grooming and clipping your dog is pretty easy to learn and once you've mastered the skill you will be able to do it at your own leisure plus without the frustration of trying to find a groomer to do the job for you. 



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