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.
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.
Wet, clean and conditioned hair will stretch a little more, allowing a longer blade to get under the mats. Wet shaving is a technique that uses the pliable nature of wet coat to save some length with ease.
Can you use clippers on wet dog hair? You can shave your dog when its hair is wet. In fact, it is something that many professional groomers do and they call it wet shaving.
Dripping wet hair is pretty much impossible to cut properly with clippers, so don't even try. A good towel dry helps prevent the clipper blades rusting and makes it much easier for you to achieve the style you want.
Dogs such as golden retrievers, German shepherds, Siberian huskies and any dog that seasonally sheds huge clumps of fur (part of its undercoat) should never be shaved. It is a misconception that shaving will help keep a dog cool on hot days.
It depends on the groomer, whether they bathe a dog before grooming or not. Some groomers will clip and thoroughly brush out a dog before giving a bath and washing them. The dog groomers use this approach as it will prevent damaging the grooming equipment and might bring a better finish.
Groomers rely on clippers such as the Andis AGC2 or the Wahl KM10. Both clippers typically come with a number 10 blade to get you started.
Generally, a groomer will use a small or portable air dryer on the dog. Air dryers are especially beneficial when it comes to dogs with thick fur or an undercoat. Sometimes, a groomer will use a kennel attached to a blow dryer.
A damp coat can lead to matting and will provide an ideal environment for skin infections and other conditions such as hot spots.
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.
If it's just one or a few mats, you can cut them out. Unless your dog is going to be in a competition, it is ok to simply cut the mat out. Pull the mat away from the skin, so you can see all the way down to the skin and slowly cut the ball of hair away, using the thick part of the scissors—not the tips.
Brushing your dog after their bath will help remove any extra dead fur and detangle their coat. As you get more comfortable with blow-drying, you can start brushing while drying to save time — but it does take practice!
Generally speaking, a healthy dog with a short, smooth coat and no skin problems doesn't need to be bathed often. In most cases, dog baths are more for the benefit of their pet parents than for the dogs themselves. Even so, it's a good idea to bathe your pooch at least once every two to three months.
If your pup has a positive experience at first they will not have a problem with coming back, but if your dog has a negative experience, such as an accidental cut or a shave, they can become traumatized.
It can make your dog feel uncomfortable. While some people don't believe that pets have feelings, we happen to believe they do. We've seen some mighty uncomfortable dogs who were shaved too closely. The result was behavior issues, increased "negative" behavior, and what we think is a depressed dog.
The two layers of fur grow at different rates. Shaving can cause permanent damage to the coat, causing it to be unbalanced and unable to provide adequate insulation and protection. As a result, the coat may grow back in uneven patches, have a ragged or unkept texture or may never grow back at all (shave shock).
The dematting process involves taking small sections of hair at a time and working to release the mats utilizing dematting tools and products and then brushing. If the matting on your dog is severe, the safest and most humane way to remove the mats would be to clip his hair short.
If you're really struggling to remove your pup's mats, take him to the groomer. While it may cost you some money, it will save both you and your dog a lot of anguish. If you find your dog is developing mats, increase the frequency of grooming appointments to help keep them at bay.