It is very important to trim away hair that would otherwise get coated with bodily wastes. For male dogs, trim an extra inch or three in front of the penis, as the urine can hit long fringes and contribute to skin rashes and infection. Female dogs should have hair clipped around the vulva.
Sanitary trims, sometimes called “potty cuts,” keeps heiny hair free of tangles, mats, and traps for urine, feces, dirt, associated bacteria and odors. Besides the ick-factor, these things not only spread around your environment, but also leave your dog at risk for developing irritation and infection if left unchecked.
With clippers, trim the belly fur around your dog's potty area. Using the clippers, move down and away from the potty area, keeping the clippers off the skin but trimming the hair short. With scissors parallel to your dog's skin, trim the tip of the fur that will always get wet after going potty.
How often dogs need a sanitary trim depends on their breed, however most dogs will need a sanitary trim every 4-6 weeks.
Wash the dog. Give your dog a bath and let him dry thoroughly before you clip him. Avoid clipping a dirty dog if at all possible. The dirt will clog the clippers and make your job difficult.
You don't mention what type of dog you have, but as a professional groomer for close to 20 years, it is customary to not cut poodle ears and to save tails if possible. The reasoning behind these rules of thumb is that growing ear hair and tail hair takes much longer than hair on the rest of the body.
Regardless of the approach used, the timing remains the same. Tail docking should be performed on newborn puppies between 2 and 5 days old.
In general, it is good practice to avoid touching your dog's tail, unless you suspect injury or need to check the areas surrounding a dog's tail.
His sanitary area should be kept rather clean to avoid infections or discomfort when going potty. Whether you're waiting for bathtime or cleaning outside of bathtime, your dog's private areas will need to be cleaned on a regular basis or when they are especially dirty.
Trimming your dog's rear end may not be the most fun you will have with your dog, but it's an important task of grooming your pup. If his fur is long and becomes matted, he could also be tracking feces in and out of your house in this nest of fur.
Self-Rinse and Dry Shampoos
Self-rinsing shampoo can be found in many pet supply stores. The formula is quite thin compared to traditional shampoos and requires no rinsing after use. Simply work it into the urine-soaked fur until a light lather forms, then blot the area with a paper towel and brush.
Baking soda naturally neutralizes odors. Sprinkle it liberally on the damp area or even an old urine stain, and work the powder gently into the fibers of any fabric, rug or carpet. Let the baking soda sit overnight for maximum odor absorption, then vacuum it up to remove the smell completely.
Unlike people, who get haircuts with wet hair, always start with a dry, clean dog, Benesch said, and only use the tips of sharp shears to trim your dog's feet, face and tail, which will prevent you from cutting your dog if she moves suddenly.
Tail docking is a surgical procedure recommended to be done by a veterinarian, regardless of the age of a dog.
When a dog's tail is docked, they can develop an infection or even a nerve tumor called a neuroma. Either of these will be painful, and could even cause the dog to become overly protective of his tail. Dogs use their tails to communicate with each other and humans to express happiness, fear, anger, and excitement.
A dog's tail has 20 vertebrae (although some breeds with short tails have less) and can pack a pretty good wallop. Happy tail syndrome in dogs occurs when this strong tail repeatedly hits solid objects with force during a wagging session, resulting in the thin skin of the tail splitting open.
One of the hardest parts about working at a dog grooming salon is keeping up with the cleaning. We have a constant flow of dogs coming in and out of our facility. Some people think that professional dog groomers just playing with puppies all day, and they are wrong!
They'll either "band" the tail, cutting off the circulation to the area until it comes off on its own. Or, they'll cut off the tail with a sharp implement, such as a scalpel or scissors, cutting through the muscle tissue, cartilage, spinal column, and nerve endings.
Dogs are happier after grooming due to the many health benefits and overall cleanliness that it provides. Grooming also provides an opportunity to be social with other dogs and groomers. Although some dogs may feel down after grooming, this quickly goes away and they truly appreciate the benefits of grooming.
Groomers use non-slip surfaces. To help dogs stand still and steady, groomers invest in special non-slip padding for appropriate surfaces such as grooming tables or bathtubs. It helps prevent fatigue which makes for a calm dog.
It's best to brush your dog's fur before bathing them. This will remove any loose fur and debris from the coat, and also makes sure that any mats or tangles are brushed out, as these will be more difficult to remove when wet. Make sure the water is around the same temperature as the dog's body.