Many dog breeds require regular trimming because of the type of fur they have but how do you give the best haircuts for dogs? It can actually be pretty simple to do at home (and can save you the money of going to a local dog groomer) but you have to make sure you know some basic knowledge of dog grooming to help your pooch feel safe and comfortable during their cut!
In this post, we are going to talk about how to choose the best tools when doing haircuts for dogs, how do this with a nervous dog and the step-by-step process for the best haircut your dog has ever had!
Haircuts for Dogs – Tools to Use
Before you just dive right in, it’s important to make sure you are using the best tools. Just like you probably wouldn’t want your hairdresser to grab some kitchen shears for your haircut, you want to make sure you have access to the tools that will make the overall haircut easier for you and your pooch. Let’s take a look at what you’re going to need.
Brush or comb
Before you get started with snipping away, you want to make sure you are brushing out your dog’s fur to remove any tangles or knots. A good brush will be dependent on the breed of dog you have – for example, metal pinned brushes are great for dogs with long coats while rubber teethed brushes work well for short-haired dogs.
Scissors
Not all scissors are the same! Getting sharp, professional grade scissors are best for your pooch so they cut the hair easily and don’t pull on the fur, making it uncomfortable for your dog (and more nerve-wracking for you!)
Clippers
Clippers are safe and easy to use when you choose a well-made and reliable set of electric clippers. These are particularly great for dogs with curly hair.
Haircuts for Dogs – Step-by-Step Guide
In order to make this experience a seamless one for your pup, you want to expose them to the different tools slowly over time. For example, if you are using electric clippers, start with turning them on near your dog and letting them get used to the sound before just starting to clip their hair. That way, when you start to use the clippers near their body, they won’t get nervous and try to bolt.
Once your dog is familiar with the actual tools and seems comfortable, then you can proceed with the actual haircut. Here are the steps you want to follow:
Bath your dog first – Before you start snipping away, give your dog a bath to clean the hair and remove any dirt from it (particularly if you have a dog who loves to play outdoors). For more on bathing dogs, check out our recent blog post!
Brush out their fur – You also want to ensure you are brushing out any potential tangles or knots before you start snipping away. Dry out their fur (you can use a hair dryer on a cool setting or a professional dog dryer) and give them a thorough brushing.
Use clippers – In general, you want to start by using clippers on your dog first – they are safer than scissors and will actually get the haircut over with faster. Most clippers come with guards that can be used to cut the hair to various lengths (just like human clippers). If you aren’t sure which length to go, start with the largest and then work your way down. Always work in the direction of the hair growth versus opposite.
Be careful with matted fur – If your dog has very tangled or matted areas of their fur, be extra careful around these areas. Often this happens close to the skin so it can be very painful if you try to force clippers through this area. If need be, leave these areas to be removed with scissors later on.
Switch to scissors – Once you’re done with the clippers, you can use the scissors to touch up and trim hair around your pup’s legs, ears and face. Because your pooch may make sudden movements, be careful to move slowly and be ready to pull the scissors away to avoid poking your pup with the sharp ends
Tips for Nervous Dogs
Having a nervous dog is pretty normal when you do haircuts for dogs, especially if they are early in the experience. And, if they have moments where their hair is pulled or it is painful when it is cut, they can associate the haircut with a not so fun time! If you have a dog that is very nervous and it makes the haircut next to impossible, you have a few options.
Consistently reward your pup
Giving your dog rewards throughout the process can help make the dog feel more calm and focused on the treats they are getting instead of the clippers working away behind them. Praising your dog will also help. This is particularly easy if you have a second person there who can consistently reward your pooch while you are trimming their hair.
Calming Chews
As with many situations where your dog may feel anxiety, an option you can explore are calming choose. These chews have properties that help ease anxious feelings which may help you when it comes to giving your dog a haircut
Professional Groomer
If you feel that you just aren’t able to do haircuts for dogs at home, you may want to explore looking for a local groomer. There are many groomers who come to your home and also local places you can take your pup where experienced groomers can help get your pup looking and feeling their best.
Start Early
You’ll notice a common theme when it comes to dog grooming and how to get your pup as comfortable as possible with all the different grooming requirements. It’s important to start early! The earlier you can expose your dog to the process, the more they are going to get comfortable and see it as a part of a normal day. Even as simple as exposing your dog to the clippers (by turning them on and off until they don’t care about the noise) is going to make the actual haircut that much easier.
And, as we always say, an obedient dog makes life much easier! If your dog is well trained, they will have more trust in you when you ask them to perform certain commands. If you feel your dog could use some extra obedience training, I highly recommend you check out Brain Training for Dogs where they can learn obedience commands, build their confidence, and develop a closer relationship with you (which comes in handy when you are giving them haircuts!).
For more information on Brain Training for Dogs, check out my honest review of the entire program. I used this program with my own dog and was surprised at how much it impacted her confidence and how well behaved she has become!
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
