Whether you like it or not, haircuts are a part of life. Every few weeks or months, the hair on top, or the bottom of your head, needs a good trim. It's the same for your little buddy too. Except, of course, their entire face is usually covered in fur. Fur that can easily become caked in mud and dirt after a few moments exploring. Of course, you could take your furry friend to a professional groomer. But they don't always come cheap. Besides, sometimes they might not be open, or you simply can't make it out to an appointment. Don't worry. Take a breath. We've got you. Read on and discover everything you need to know about how to groom a dog face.
What you'll need:
- clippers
- scissors
- brush
- towel
- one happy dog
Help them relax
Plenty of dogs, especially those with a tonne of energy, can have trouble staying put. If that sounds like your pet, try taking them for a long walk to tire them out before fetching the scissors. The more relaxed your dog is, the more likely they'll sit still when you start trimming. This is especially important when grooming a dog's face. The last thing you want is to poke them somewhere sensitive while they're moving around! If possible, start grooming them when they're young. That way, they will learn to be still when it's time for grooming. And who knows, you might not need to tire them out before bringing out the hair bib!
Make sure you brush their fur regularly
Do yourself a favour and pick up a dog brush suitable for your dog's hair as soon as possible. Get into the habit of brushing their hair every day if you can. The less matted their hair, the easier it'll be to trim. You'll also be able to spot problem areas immediately.
If you want to know what kind of brush to use, we'll break them down by hair type. For long hair, use a pin brush. A soft-bristled brush works well for hair. And for shorter, wiry hair, use a metal comb.
Clean the face and hair
Use a damp towel to clean around the eyes. Dog tears contain waste products that can stain their fur. Of course, you can try and stop the cause of stains before they even start, and save yourself the trouble. Try Tear Stain Remover Soft Chews. They're tasty treats that can target the causes of dog tears.
Then, use the towel to clean the outside of their ears. You don't need to worry about cleaning the inside; their bodies take care of that themselves. What's more, you can actually do more harm than good!
Finally, clean the dirt from around their mouth.
Brush them often
Brushing their often, just like ours, will help to remove mats and tangles, making it much easier to give your dog a haircut! The type of brush you use will depend on the hair type your dog has.
- Long hair - pin brush
- Average hair - soft-bristled brush
- Short hair - metal comb
Give them a good scrub
It's best to clean them up before a cut. Make sure you wipe away any tear stains and other types of dirt that will get in the way of your scissors. Carefully clean the area around their eyes, the outside of their ears, and around their mouth.
And a brush, too
Get the aforementioned towel out; we're going to use it to catch most of the hair you cut off. Put your dog on top of it, ideally on a flat surface like a table or a hard floor. Then, brush out as many tangles and mats as possible, gently as you go. Don't worry about particularly bad areas, we can get rid of them in a sec.
It's clipping time
For dogs with longer hair, part it into smaller sections and tie them up. It will help you make a more even cut. Then, get the clippers and start by clipping off those pesk mats. When they're gone, make sure hair all over the face is clipped at the same level. For a better cut, clip along the hair rather than against the grain. If the clippers start heating up, let them cool off.
For the body, start along your dog's back, from the shoulders down to the tail. Take your time, this isn't a race! When you're happy with the length, work down to the front of their torso. Even as you go. Then, when you're on to the legs, start at the shoulder and carefully work down to their paws.
Then, get your scissors
For the more sensitive areas around the eyes, nose and mouth, it's best to use a pair of scissors as they're more precise and less dangerous. With patience, carefully trim around their eyes so they can see! Then, work your way down to the muzzle flap. When that's done, finish around their nose. Cut as close as possible.
Give them a good shampoo
Finally, wash all that hair off with Animgo's Grooming Shampoo. Its all-natural blend of oils and aloe vera will help you get all the excess hair off and protect their coat too.
Now you know how to give a dog a haircut! Congratulations. You're one step away from opening your own salon. Or, at least, confidently cutting your dog's hair.
