The Essential Tool for a Good Dog Hair Cut (Clippers!)

Cutting your dog's hair at home can be a great time and money saver. It can also be a great source of frustration if you don't have a quality set of dog clippers at the ready. By doing a little research, you can make sure this frustration never manifests.

Cutting Your Dog’s Hair - It’s Not Just a Beauty Thing

At first glance, we may be inclined to think that getting our dog a hair cut is primarily a means to get them to look their best. And there is indeed something to be said about a dog that has a proper upkeep in the fur department. However, the need to maintain a good coat goes beyond vanity.

For one thing, tangled clumps of fur known as mats can form over time on a non-groomed dog. While these can be unsightly, they can also cause distress to your dog’s skin, as the roots of the hair involved in the mats could be tugging on the flesh in unnatural and painful directions. Additionally, a well-trimmed coat will provide less of a haven for fleas and other similarly undesirable critters, which in turn could make your dog less susceptible to skin infections.

The Right Tools for the Trade

The most important think you'll need to cut your dog's hair is a good set of clippers. There's a lot more to this process than going to the local pet store and picking up one that looks good. There are metrics you must consider before pulling the trigger on a pair, including dog breed and how your dog handles sound.

Even when you buy a clipper that suits your pooch, you should realize that putting them to use properly is not something that you’ll grasp instantly. Just like cutting human hair, cutting dog hair is something that requires patience and a steady hand; skills that will be honed over a period of time. In fact, if you’ve never cut dog hair before, you’d be wise to prepare yourself for a little bit of difficulty the first couple of times.

When you start to clip, you’ll want to leave at least a half-inch of coat on your dog for element protection. You should make sure you take an extra measure of care when you trim around your dog’s more sensitive areas, such as his paws, tail, head, and face. A good clipper will have special attachments to help you get work in these sensitive areas without incurring damage to your dog.

Taking Care of your Clippers

Clippers should last a long time, as long as you maintain them properly. Making sure you periodically check and clean the clippers between uses will make sure they perform the task they were meant to do correctly. Moreover, checking them out will make sure your dog receives a consistently good hair cut every time.

There are two parts to a clipper that you’ll want to check. The first part you’ll check is the unit itself, and the second part you’ll check is the blade. When you check your clipper, always make sure the device is unplugged.

When you inspect the unit, you’re going to want to make sure none of the parts look worn or busted. If the brushes in the unit have been worn down to about half their original length, you’ll want to swap them out. You’ll also want to remove any hair or debris that may have accumulated within the device’s vents.

Maintaining clipper blades take a little extra work. You’ll want to make sure the blades are cleaned, properly oiled, and sharpened before every use. Failure to do so will provide your pooch with a less-than-stellar experience.

A Good-Looking Dog, a Good-Feeling You

Once you get the hang of using and maintaining clippers, giving your dog a hair cut will not be much of an ordeal. Your dog will be in a happy space, because you are not only making him look good in a caring way, you are also preserving your health. Moreover, you'll be in a happy space, as you will be able to take comfort in knowing that you have an important hand in preserving your buddy's overall well-being.