Want to know how to clip your dog at home and save money on professional grooming fees? All you need are a few simple tools such as clippers, a slicker brush and scissors.

1. Beginners Guide To Dog Clipping
For manycanines,brushingisthe maincomponentof routine home grooming.Butalsoforlotsof
dog typeslike Poodles,ShihTzu’s,aswell asothermanicuredtypesclippingisalsoneeded.
Recognizinghowtoclipyourpet will alsoeliminate the costof visitingagroomereveryfew weeks.
What You Will Need:
A quality wire slickerbrush (the self-cleaningkindisbest)
A steel comb
A demattingtool (if yourdoghasdevelopedmats)
A goodsetof cordlessdogclippers
A groomingtable (optional)
Althoughthismayseemlike quiteaheftyinvestment,all the above itemsexcludingthe grooming
table can be purchasedforaround $100 - $130. That figure isforpurchasingqualityproductsthatif
takencare of,can last youfor years.
Manicuredtypesshouldhave theircoatsclippedevery4-6weeksinorderto maintaintheirshape.
Groomerseitherstrip,clipper,orhandscissor(dependinguponthe type) toobtainthe appropriate
lookthat theircustomersseek.The jobneededforsome breedsmayseembafflinginitially,butonce
learned,preservingthe manicuredlookathome will certainlybe well worthit.
Checkout yourcanine'sbreedspecification.While youare perhapsnotinterested incompetingfor
"finestinshow,"these breedstandardsare writtentoindicate the ideal cutforyourpet'sparticular
comfort,healthaswell asway of life.
Note the professionals.Yourvet,groomer,breederorhandler/trainerwill discusscertain
informationthatwill be veryimportanttoyoursuccessinclippingyourpet.Theymightalsoshare
some "methodsof the trade."Seeingaprofessional groomerworkwithyourcanine will prepare you
for exactlywhattoanticipate andaidyou inconqueringany stressandanxietyyoumayfeel about
the clippingprocedure.
To do the work right,youhave to acquire the appropriate devicesforthe task,whichwill dependon
your breedof pet.
Beloware several commonproductsused:

2. 1. Brushes:All coatsshouldbe extensivelycleanedoutbefore clipping,sobuyaqualityslickerbrush
as well asa comb to take out any sortof tanglesanddeadareas of the coat. Dependingonyourdog,
slickerbrushes,pinbrushes,de-sheddingdevices,strippers,andalsoacomb may be necessary.
2. Scissors:Everypet hasparts on theirbodythat will needtobe hand-scissored,andyouwill want
properhair reducingscissorsfora cleanerandsharpercut. Workingwithbluntscissorsisnot
recommended,theycanslipandcause cuts and nicksto yourdog.
3. Clippers:Humanhairclipperscanbe utilized,yetformore specificrequirements,buyingclippers
specificallymade fordogswill provide abetterresult.If youhave abreedthat requiresanextensive
amountof clippingwork,spendthe extramoneytopurchase ahigh-grade,durablecanine clipper.
Cheaperclippersare notalwaysheavy-dutyorresilientenoughtocutthrough thicker,stubborn
layers.
4. Clippercide aswell asCoolingLubricant:Clippersbecome hotonsteel partswithouttheirplastic
cuttingguards.Using the bladeswithone of these lubricatingsubstanceswill aidinthe coolingdown
of the steel.Clippercide isusedtocoatthe metal bladesbetweengroomstogetridof any fungusor
bacterial depositthatmayremainonthe clippers.
5. A GroomingTable:While youcouldclipyourdog withoutagroomingtable,forbreedsthat
require more accuracy andto achieve the ideal appearance,acanine groomingtable wouldcertainly
be an excellentinvestment.Itelevatesthe pettothe appropriate heightandlikewiseensuresthe
dog issafelyfixedinone location.
Everytype reallyhasitsown demands,soitisbeneficialtoinvestigate exactlywhatthose are.Here
are a fewclippingideas:
1. Beginningwithaguard cutterthat takesoff lesshair.You can, if youfeel necessary,switchoverto
a much shorterguard whichwill achieveashortercut,yet youcannot putback hair that hasalready
beenremoved!
2. Neverclipagainstthe hair,alwaysfollow the directionof growth.Clipperscouldpinch,getholdof,
or cut skinfoldsthatobstruct the blades.
3. Don't applytensiononthe clipperwhile clipping.Justlightlymove itacrossyourdog.Otherwise,
pressure cancause clipperburn,whichwill be sore foryourpetandresultina red,scabbyarea

3. withinafewhours.Razor burntakesplace most inthe delicate areaslike the face,groin,eartipsand
alsobelly,soextracare is neededwhenclippingthese parts.
4. The metal componentsof the clippersdogetveryhot!Theywill burn.Alwaysensurethe plastic
guard isfittedwhenclipping.If youhave tomake use of the clipperswithoutthe guardforspecific
locations,startwiththese areasanddo thembefore the bladesgetachance to heatup.Make sure
that at regularintervalsyouare touchingthe bladestosee exactlyhow warmandcomfortable the
steel is.If itis hot,quitthe joband allow the clipperstocool before returningtogroom.
5. Be verymindful utilizingthe clipperonor aroundsensitiveareas.The bellyaswell asgroinare
bothlocationsthatrequire youto be the most mindful.Keepaneye outfornipplesonthe belly,in
bothmale and female dogs.
6. Dependinguponhowmuchloose skinyourpethas,while clippingwithone hand,holdhisskin
tightwithyourother hand.Thiswill allow the clipperstoglide smoothlyoverthe skinandthe coat
withoutcatching.
7. Rememberthe feet!Manypetdogshave hair onthe bottomof theirfeetthatgrows throughout
theirlife.Use asmallersizedclipperorscissorsto reduce thishair.
8. Never,everclipperunderatangle or mattedarea.Your clipperswill becomestuckinthe coat and
alsopull againstthe skin.Alwaysgetridof tanglesandmats witha goodslickerbrushor dematting
tool before clippingyourpet.
Many terriersare not actuallysupposedtobe clipped.Inordertopreserve the appropriate structure
of theircoat,it shouldbe removedbyhandwithaunique tool.Priortostrippingaterrierscoat for
the firsttime on yourown,ask a well-informedbreedspecialistwhoisskilledinthisandtheywill
showyouhow itis done.
Yorkies,Shih-Tzu’s,andMaltese are normallyhandscissoredtokeeptheirhairoverall length.If
you've chosennotto keeptheirhairlongthenthe favouredstyle togowithisa puppycut.Scissors
are alsousedto maintainthatappearance.
Manicureddogscan require agreateramountof upkeepcomparedtoothers,howeverby
purchasingthe righttools and alsohavingan understandingof exactlywhatyourdogissupposedto
appearlike,youcan start to clipyourpetin yourownhome withease.You'll discoverthistobe a lot
lesscostlycomparedtothe regularmonthlyexcursiontothe groomingparlour andyourpetwill
much preferyoudoingthe job - it will reinforce andbuilduponthe alreadyclosebondthatyou
share withyour dog.