Quick Tips for Clipping Dogs

It’s that Hairy Time of Year and Crufts Week!

For dog owners who are inspired after watching the best of the best, we have a few helpful tips to start you off on the path of tidying and trimming for leisure, comfort, and show. 

Struggling with mud, dander, and shedding hair? These are all the same problems we encounter with tidying up our horses, just on a much smaller scale.  Whether it’s a quick tidy round the paws and chin, or a new haircut from nose to tail, some products can make the job quick and easy as well as give your dog a super smart look for the springtime!

Tips for getting a smooth finish

It’s always best to start with a clean coat.  This makes easy work for the blades, and the finish is far smoother.  Wash and dry the coat first, or brush thoroughly.  Ensure all tangles and thick mats are carefully combed out.  If there are mats, carefully tease them out with a slicker brush or comb.

Clip in the direction of the coat             

If you are familiar with clipping horses, you will be used to clipping against the coat to give a close finish.  For dog grooming and clipping, clip in the direction of the hair. There are so many grades of snap-on blades available to give the finish that you require for the type of breed you are clipping.  We always suggest asking for advice from a professional dog groomer or checking with breed societies to get advice on the type of blade to use. 

Using Add on Combs

Add-on combs are often included with a new set of clippers or trimmers, so check before buying any additional ones.  They are designed to slip onto a blade to give a graded and softer-looking finish.  They are a useful addition to the dog grooming kit and for horse owners, they can be useful for grading down the backs of hair legs to give a neat smooth finish.

Shedding coat but don’t want to clip?

An easy, effective, and humane shedding tool is the Mars Coat King designed to get into the bottom layer and take out the dead, shedding hair.  It will also thin out a coat that isn’t shedding, giving a stripped, tidy look, but without the discomfort.  Available in narrow and medium wide heads and grades from fine to coarse.