For many dogs, the “long hair, don’t care” mantra won’t cut it. Poor grooming leads to tangling, knotting, or matting of the hair. Even a small tangle can already cause significant discomfort for your pooches! Regular grooming also helps vets to spot a brewing skin condition.
While dog salons and vet clinics can pamper your furbabies, you can also do some tasks, including learning how to use dog clippers. This skill comes in handy when:
Are you ready to learn? Let’s begin!
Although you need brushes and combs, the star of any hair cutting activity is the pet clipper.
What are the best pet grooming clippers? Here are the features to remember:
Hair clippers also need blades, and they differ in sizes and designs. Some are skip-toothed, which have wider gaps in between, or fine-toothed. The first one is better for coarse, curly, and matted hair. Meanwhile, sizes come in different numbers. The higher they are, the finer the cut they produce.
If you want to know where to buy pet clippers, you can spare yourself the hassle by getting them online. Hero Pet Supplies offer:
Choosing pet hair clippers also depends on the dog’s coat, which falls into two categories:
A double-coated dog grows an undercoat, which is the closest to its body, and ground hair, which you see often. Both coats can have different textures and lengths, with undercoats often shorter.
The quality of the coat can also vary:
Knowing the coat of your dog is essential, because not all dogs may need a regular shave. Take, for example, double-coated dogs.
It may be unwise to clip all the undercoat hairs all the time since the process doesn't prevent shedding. The quality of the new growth may also differ from their old coat. Often, it becomes coarser or rougher.
This coat also helps dogs regulate their body temperature as the season changes. However, double-coated pooches may need a good shave somewhere in the belly during summer. This way, they can feel cooler when they sleep or lie down on surfaces.
A smooth coat may have finer or thinner hair strands, which means the ideal clipper blade should have a fine-toothed comb. Meanwhile, grooming or shaving a terrier may involve removing the stray hairs first.
It’s not enough to know how to use dog clippers. You also need to learn how to create a relaxing atmosphere during grooming sessions.
Like in humans, stress can have profound adverse effects on a dog's health. At the outset, they may sprint away at the sight or sound of the clipper. They may move a lot, increasing the risk of injury and incorrect shaving.
They may also lose their appetite or spend more time alone. Some may become more aggressive or experience behavioral issues, while others may struggle to get an enjoyable sleep.
How do you create the right atmosphere during grooming? Here are some tips:
A significant part of learning how to use dog clippers correctly is taking your time, because:
Before you even turn the clipper on, check the dog's hair for any sign of matting, broken coat, or knotting. You may have to untangle the strands or remove the stray ones.
You also have to assess the texture and length of the hair. These factors will determine the ideal blade number.
Most of all, when learning how to use dog clippers, you must observe the direction of hair growth. Clipping against the grain may increase the chances of skin injuries, such as cuts and ingrown hair.
Clipping your dog’s hair can be nerve-racking, but these tips will help you feel more confident quickly. When you need an extra ounce of self-esteem, just remember, personally grooming your dog is another opportunity to bond with your pet.