If your dog has started looking too hairy, you can give them a haircut at home and save yourself a groomer's trip. But it is extremely important to know the proper way and tools required for a haircut.
So, if you are looking for some helpful tips on grooming your dog, look no further because this article provides all the essential information on how to cut dog hair to help you safely cut your dog's hair.
Preparing for a Home Grooming Session
Before cutting dogs fur, ensure that they are in a comfortable position. It is better to choose a place with little to no distractions so they don't get tempted to move around. Also, to keep them in one place when grooming dogs, you can use distraction techniques, like offering xylitol-free peanut butter on a licking mat. (xylitol is toxic to dogs!)
Tools You’ll Need for Cutting Dog Hair
Some essential dog grooming tools you should stock before giving your dog a haircut:
Dog brush
Grooming scissors
Grooming clippers
Dog shampoo and conditioner
Dog towel
Step-by-Step Guide to Cutting Your Dog’s Hair
Brushing and Detangling the Coat First
Brushing with a slicker brush before giving your dog a haircut will help remove tangles and mats from their coats. If you have a dog with double coats, such as Huskies or Malamutes, start brushing outward from the skin to detangle the undercoat. Then, brush with the direction of the hair growth. If your long-haired dog has a coarse coat, according to an article by the Spruce Pets, you can use a pin brush and a smooth bristle brush. For a dog with a curly coat, brushing with a soft, curved, slicker brush against the fur helps fluff their coat up.
Bathing and Drying Your Dog Before the Haircut
After properly brushing and detangling your dog’s coat, give them a bath to remove any dirt or mats from their coat for a smooth dog haircut session. And then completely dry or blow dry your dog’s hair because their hair also shrinks when it dries.
Trimming Around the Face and Ears Safely
Start your dog's haircut by trimming hair around the face and ears. Since these areas are delicate, it is a good idea to use rounded-tip scissors to trim around them as the round edge is safer.
Clipping the Body Hair: Proper Techniques for Each Coat Type
Long and Double Coats
Grooming double-coated and long-haired dogs requires proper attention and grooming tools. Clippers are the appropriate tools for double coats and long coats. Using clippers, go in the direction of the hair growth. While keeping the blade flat against your dog’s body (not angled), start on their back toward their tail, then slowly move to their sides and chest/belly. When you proceed to the legs, start at their hips and then move down toward their feet.
Now, you must be wondering why you keep the blade flat. It’s because when you use the blade angled, you may run into your pup’s skin and accidentally cut it, which can be painful for your dog. Also, be cautious when cutting a dog's hair - do not cut it too close to the skin, as this could injure it.
Wire and Curly Coats
You can use a pair of electric clippers if your wire-coated dog has a longer coat or if their coat is matted. Start along their back, from the shoulder blades toward the tail. Then go on to the rest of their body, such as the sides and onto the chest/belly. With the help of clippers, carefully shave their legs, moving from the hips down towards the paws.
Trimming the Paws, Tail, and Sanitary Areas
Pull the fur up between the toes and clip it with scissors. It is a convenient and safer way to trim the paws. With a pair of scissors, you can cut the featherings on their legs and tails. Pull the fur away from the body to see its length and cut it to however long you want. You can use a dog hair trimmer/clipper to shave the hair around the sanitary areas.
How to Even Out the Coat for a Professional Look
You can even out the coat by clipping your dog's hair with the lay of the coat and with light pressure. Moreover, using a leave-in conditioner after a bath or conditioner spraying helps keep the coat shiny and smooth.
Grooming Tips for Different Dog Coat Types
Single-Coated Breeds: Best Practices
For single or smooth-coated dog breeds, the best way to groom their coat is using a bristle brush gently against the lay of the hair and then with the lay of the hair. To remove the dander, get a fine-toothed comb or hound glove. It helps keep the fur shiny.
When bathing your dog, use shampoo and conditioner to keep the coat clean and shiny. Make sure to towel dry and then let the hair air dry.
Double-Coated Breeds: How to Avoid Coat Damage
If you want to avoid coat damage, brush and bathe your double-coated dog once every two weeks. While trimming/clipping dog's hair is fine, make sure to avoid shaving their fur as it can permanently damage the coat.
Curly and Wavy Coats: Handling Matting and Frizz
Curly coats (poodles’ coats) can get matted and frizzy, which may require regular grooming. Regular bathing and brushing with a wide tooth comb helps prevent matting. However, using a conditioner can help you get rid of frizz.
Long-Haired Breeds: Keeping the Coat Tangle-Free
Pet parents of long-haired dogs, such as Yorkshire terriers and malteses often find it difficult to detangle their pet's fur, here are some tips that will help keep the coat tangle-free:
Brush and bathe regularly, as it removes loose hair that may tangle. It also spreads natural oils to keep fur in good shape.
Trim areas that get tangled easily, such as behind the ears and under the armpits.
Using detangling shampoo and conditioner also helps keep the coat tangle-free.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cutting Dog Hair
Not having the proper dog grooming tools: It's important to know that brushes and other tools like clippers are not one-size-fits-all things, you will require different types of brushes depending on your dog’s coat. For example, according to an article by the American Kennel Club, short, medium, and some long coated breeds need bristle brushes.
Using grooming tools too close to the skin or brushing too hard: Avoid using scissors and dog trimmers too close to the skin, as it can cause injury. Also, be gentle when grooming your dog.
Not drying your dog properly after a bath: If you don't dry your dog's hair completely, it can cause skin irritation or fungal infections, which is why it is crucial to thoroughly dry it with a towel or blow dry as soon as their bathing is done.
Conclusion
If you know how to cut dog hair and the right tools to use, you can give your pup a haircut in between trips to the groomer. However, it is better to ask a dog groomer to share some tips with you. Also, remember if your dog is severely matted, the mats may require cutting out, which you must not try at home and visit a groomer.
