Many breeds, such as the Yorkshire Terrier, Spaniel, Pekingese, Maltese, Bichon Frize, Poodle (and other dogs without undercoat) require careful grooming and regular haircuts. This does not mean that you need to resort to expensive groomer services. The owner can easily do this himself. We'll tell you how to cut your dog's hair at home, what equipment you'll need, and how to make the procedure completely safe.
Preparatory stage of the pet
Before the process of cutting at home, you need to make sure that the dog’s fur is not wet. Otherwise, there is a risk of injuring the animal's skin. And grooming dogs with wet hair leads to the fact that the cutting parts on the machine quickly deteriorate.
The coat should be combed well. If the dog has too thick coat, it is better to use a special gel. You also need to remove all tangles. Some things can be untangled on your own, but others will have to be cut off. For combing, you can use special tools, for example, a slicker brush, making smooth movements parallel to the skin.
You need to comb everything - from the roots to the ends of the coat. The main thing to remember is that proper pre-brushing is enjoyable for most dogs. If the pet is nervous and snaps, this means that the owner is making some mistakes.
Next, you should wash the dog well with shampoo and rinse the pet. It is advisable to apply a protective balm and allow time for the fur to dry completely. Then you need to comb the coat again and immediately after that start cutting.
Haircut accessories
The set of accessories may be different - it all depends on the thickness and length of the coat. Some people use classic scissors, a comb and a slicker brush. And this is quite enough for a simple hygienic haircut. If you need to remove the fur closer to the skin, it is better to buy a special dog clipper. You can even choose the cheapest one, the main thing is not to use ordinary tools that are used to cut people’s hair, because they are better suited for soft human hair and are not always successful in removing coarse animal hair.
If you intend to frequently groom your dog at home in the future, you can additionally purchase a small grooming table of the required height.
How to cut a Yorkie's head beautifully
There are two main types of Yorkshire Terrier head haircuts: standard (classic, hygienic) and model .
Dogs participating in exhibitions must undergo a classic head trim according to a standard scheme, since the condition and type of coat is one of the evaluation factors.
And model haircuts for Yorkies allow you to emphasize the character and individuality of your pet. Their variety tends to infinity and depends solely on the imagination of the master.
Model haircuts are divided into several popular types:
- short and puppy haircuts;
- imitating other breeds (Chinese Crested, Poodle, Schnauzer, etc.);
- haircuts for boys
- haircuts for girls
Main stages of haircut
Conventionally, a process such as dog grooming can be divided into two stages. Preparatory work - in the form of combing, cutting off tangles and bathing - has already been discussed above.
Next, you need to use scissors to get rid of the split ends, after which you can start cutting the hair from the main parts of the animal’s body: ears, paws, areas near the nose. And only after this you need to trim the dog’s body.
What and how to cut
Now we need to consider how exactly to cut certain parts of the body at home. Here, a lot depends on what goal is being pursued: to create a full-fledged and beautiful hairstyle (for example, some creative backcombing for an upcoming exhibition - see the video) or the owner only wants to slightly trim the fur.
In any case, the basic hygienic haircut at home involves removing hair from the anus area and near the genitals. You also need to cut the hairs from inside the ear. In certain breeds of dogs, the hair grows thickly near the eyes and interferes with them quite a lot, so it also needs to be trimmed.
The hair in the belly and groin area can be easily removed with a machine. Just be careful so that sharp instruments do not injure the animal’s nipples.
With paws, everything is individual. Basically, in large dogs, it is enough to remove excess hair with scissors, which sticks out beyond the pads.
The neck and body are also trimmed with a clipper. In these areas it is advisable to leave hairs at least 20 mm long.
The tail is trimmed based on the wishes of the owner. Usually everything here is subjective: some people like more voluminous creative “fountains”, while others like neatly trimmed ponytails.
Criteria for choosing a trimmer for dogs
Having decided to buy a power trimming tool to care for a pet, the owner should familiarize himself with the basic selection parameters so that the purchase turns out to be useful and effective. You need to pay attention to the following points.
Case material and form factor
When purchasing a device in an online store, it is difficult to evaluate the quality of the case material and the ease of holding it in your hand from a photo. Therefore, it is recommended to find out more information about the model you like on thematic forums and read user reviews. Typically, devices are made of durable plastic or metal. Cars in a plastic case are lighter than their metal counterparts.
Advice! It is better to refuse the purchase if, upon visual inspection of the trimmer, chips and cracks are found on the body.
Adjusting the length of the cut wool
This is one of the important selection criteria. Thanks to the ability to adjust the length of the cut, this trimmer makes it more convenient to treat different places on the animal’s body.
Dimensions and weight of the device
It is more efficient and easier to work with a device of small dimensions. The hand does not get tired so quickly, because cutting a haircut is not a quick procedure. A heavy, large machine is more difficult to control. It is advisable to choose a model with a convenient design, productive, but oversized .
Haircut recommendations for owners
Today you can find many video tips on how to properly groom a dog. For example, when grooming, it is not recommended to twirl the dog. The pet is already worried about manipulations over it, so there is no need for unnecessary movements. It is better to walk around the animal yourself. The only exception is the need to trim large representatives in the abdominal area - here you will have to lift the dog by the front legs to gain access to its “belly”.
Dogs should always be groomed in the direction of hair growth. The only exceptions are the paws of some breeds, which must be cut in the opposite direction.
Wahl KM5 – professional model
The machine is designed for use in professional grooming salons. The ergonomic case has a special coating that prevents it from slipping out of your hand. The reduced noise level has a beneficial effect on the behavior of the animal during the grooming procedure.
The device is equipped with a sharp A5 standard knife. The block can be quickly removed, allowing you to change or clean the knife without any hitches. Thanks to the considerable length of the cord, the master can move freely around the room.
Advantages:
- rotary motor;
- power – 24 W;
- long network cable – 4.2 m.
Flaws:
- poor equipment;
- works only from the network;
- high cost - 15 thousand rubles.
Safety precautions and first aid
With any haircut at home, it is important not to overdo it and not remove the hair to the very base. If a person is not a professional in this matter, then he may even accidentally damage the animal’s skin.
If your dog rarely gets his hair cut at home and is afraid of this process every time, then you need to be doubly careful. After all, she may accidentally jerk and prick herself on the scissors. Therefore, all movements must be confident, but careful. To make the dog less worried, you should sometimes stroke it and talk to it.
If the skin is accidentally damaged during a haircut, the wound must be treated with an antiseptic. If the eye is injured, you should immediately take the animal to the veterinarian.
Photo gallery
You will find more photos of various haircut options below.
Photo 1. Creative poodle haircut
Photo 2. Trimmed Central Asian Shepherd
Photo 3. Four model dogs after haircuts
Video about dog haircuts
From this video you will learn how to cut your pet's hair yourself. The video contains basic recommendations, following which you will certainly be able to make your pet into a beauty queen (or king) with your own hands!
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Product comparison table
| Model | Power type | Power | Blade material |
| Andis PM-1 | From the network | 15 W | Carbon steel |
| Ziver-202 | From mains and battery | 15 W | Ceramics |
| Oster Home Grooming Kit | From the network | 12 W | Alloy steel |
| Moser 1400-0075 Animalline | From the network | 10 W | Precision ground alloy steel |
| Wahl Animal Bravura Lithium 1870-0471 | From mains and battery | 20 W | Chromium-plated |
| Moser MAX 45 | From the network | 45 W | Stainless steel |
Ziver ziver-214 barracuda (20.zv.067)
The Ziver Ziver-214 barracuda brand device is designed for grooming and cutting animal hair. It has a hair trimmer, a bone grinder, an electric toothbrush and a powerful and super quiet 10W rotary motor.
The product has three speed modes: 7000 rpm, 5500 rpm and 3000 rpm. The model is capable of operating on a single battery charge for about 180 minutes.
The battery of the device is quick-removable. The model also has a quickly removable ceramic cutting blade and battery overcharging protection. The product can operate both from the mains and from a battery.
A USB cable for charging is supplied with the device (without an adapter); any regular USB adapter is also suitable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emvagU_nCLA
In addition, the kit includes a brush for cleaning knives, special oil for lubricating them, and instructions in Russian along with a warranty card.
Characteristics:
- Battery life is 180 minutes.
- Power supply: mains, battery.
- Knife speed - 7000 rpm.
Possible problems
No matter how correctly the job is done, you may encounter a number of problems in the process of grooming your pet. You can solve them if you know how to act in a given situation. What to do if the dog becomes aggressive and bites? What to do when your dog won’t let you cut his hair? How to cope with grooming an animal whose fur is very fluffy and very tangled?
What to do with an aggressive, biting dog?
Before starting the procedure, the dog needs to be walked and fed. It would be a good idea to give him some kind of treat. Excitement, screaming, sudden movements can quickly be transmitted to the dog, making it angry. If during the procedure the pet becomes aggressive and biting, attempts to cut it should be stopped and your four-legged friend should be calmed down. You can try to cut the animal again no earlier than in a week.
During this period, it is necessary to accustom him to good behavior during any manipulations with the fur. While pretending to cut the dog's hair, the owner should treat him to something tasty. There are dogs that only experienced groomers can groom. These are representatives of the dominant and nervous types. Large and particularly aggressive dogs are muzzled before the procedure begins.
Some owners of four-legged aggressors have the idea of putting them to sleep during the procedure. However, veterinarians do not recommend resorting to such a measure.
What to do if a naughty dog is not given a haircut?
Why doesn't my pet allow itself to be cut? If a dog does not give in and actively struggles when trying to approach it with scissors or a clipper, most likely, it is simply afraid of strange tools and does not understand what they want to do with it. In this situation, you need to do the same as in the previous one, i.e. postpone the procedure for a while and gradually accustom your pet to actions with its fur.
The dog will eventually relax so much and get used to the constant manipulation of his fur coat that he will calmly take the haircut. Sometimes animals become very nervous and cannot be calmed down. Then you cannot do without the use of light sedatives.
How to trim a very neglected dog?
The only way to deal with a neglected dog whose fur is very matted and tangles have formed all over his body is a clipper haircut. The pet will not become bald after this procedure; the machine will only remove all dense hairballs. The height of the coat of a dog with a clipper will be from 1.5 to 5 mm. If it is healthy, it will grow quickly and evenly.
Ziver ziver-214 barracuda (20.zv.080)
The Ziver brand model Ziver-214 barracuda is a hair trimmer, a nail grinder and an electric toothbrush. The product has a quiet but powerful 10 W rotary motor.
It also has three operating speeds - 7000 rpm, 5500 rpm, 3000 rpm.
The product can operate on a single battery charge for up to 180 minutes and has a lithium-ion battery that can be fully charged in 180 minutes and has no memory effect.
The machine has a quick-release sharp cutting knife and is protected against battery overheating. The model can operate both from a battery and from an electrical network.
The device comes with a grinder attachment, a toothbrush attachment, a USB cable for charging, and a simple USB adapter.
In addition, the kit includes a brush for cleaning knives, special oil for lubricating knives and instructions in Russian along with a warranty card.
Characteristics:
- Intended for dogs.
- Battery life is 180 minutes.
Moser rex mini 1411-0062
The MOSER Rex Mini 1411-0062 brand model is used for grooming animals. This small device is recommended for cutting small pets - dogs, cats, etc., for edging paws and faces.
The product has a powerful polarized anchor motor, due to which it operates very quietly and ensures smooth operation.
The high-quality steel knife of the device is sharpened using diamond grinding.
The high speed of the anchor polarized motor at a voltage of 240 V produces 3000 rpm and ensures smooth and silent operation of the equipment and does not create a stressful environment for the pet.
The knife of the product is 32 mm wide and is made of well-polished steel and securely fastened with screws. The machine has one attachment made in the form of a comb with the ability to adjust the hair length from three to six millimeters.
Characteristics:
- Knife width - 32 mm.
- Power - 5 W.
- Voltage - 240 V.
Preparation
Dogs are trimmed in a fashionable manner to achieve an attractive appearance. Trim hygienically: long hair gets tangled and tangled, dirt gets stuck in it, it is often easier to trim than to comb and wash. Trimmed to alleviate the condition: in summer, long-haired breeds suffer from the heat.
In any case, before you start cutting your hair, you need to prepare. You can’t take scissors in one hand, a human machine in the other, put the dog in the bathtub and immediately get down to business.
The first stage is training . Few animals will immediately agree to scissors and a scary buzzing machine right away. They teach it gradually, when the puppy is still small. They are taught to follow the “sit” command without looking back at the stimuli. From time to time they turn on the machine over the ear and reward him for his lack of fear. From time to time they touch the fur with scissors - they don’t cut, but they reward him for his patient and calm attitude.
