Sunday, May 5, 2013

How to Cut a Shaggy Dog's Hair

Some dogs have hair that does not shed and grows constantly. These dogs, such as Old English Sheepdogs and poodles, need regular grooming to keep their coats from getting out of hand. Without regular grooming, their hair can obstruct their vision or trip them up, provide a home for fleas and ticks, become matted and irritating to their skin, and catch dirt and other unhygienic items. Since taking your shaggy dog to the groomer on a monthly basis might get expensive, there are ways to maintain its coat between less frequent visits to a professional.

Wet your dog down. Hair has increased elasticity when it’s wet and is easier to manage when cutting it. If you are going to shampoo and/or condition your dog's fur, this is the time to do it, then rinse the dog off.

Brush your dog, using a metal comb or the dematting rake. Trim out any mats using the scissors, then comb again.

Clip the dog's fur around the undercarriage using a smaller blade. Clip under the arms, the belly and the genital area beneath the tail.

Use a larger blade to clip the legs and the back of the dog.

Use the smaller blade again to clip around the face and the ears. The comb can guide the blade for extra safety.

Brush the dog with the comb or the rake.

Blow dry the dog's hair.

Touch up any uneven patches with the scissors. The haircut you choose might depend on the breed of dog, or the function you want it to have. For example, show dogs usually have specific breed-specific cuts, while pet dogs often require a shorter utility cut to prevent mess or tangling.

Tips

- Praise the dog through every step of the grooming process to make the haircut a positive experience for it. Treats are also a welcome incentive for your dog.

- Start grooming at home when the dog is a puppy, if possible, to make grooming a fixed experience in the dog's life.

Warning

- If you cut the dog accidentally, you can stop the bleeding with the styptic powder. Be sure to speak in warm, gentle tones to the dog if this happens to calm it and maintain the positive experience.

1 comment:

  1. Pet grooming services and dog haircut services in Santa Barbara most of the pet owners have ignored. These types of the services can make your dog feel and look totally new and fresh and these types of services in your budget in Santa Barbara.

    Dog Haircut services Santa barbara

    ReplyDelete