Clipping a dog is clearly far more difficult than a horse!

S

silverbreeze

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 March 2009
Messages
732
Location
Cheshire
Visit site
No pics sorry as I am too ashamed to put them on the public forum (joking, i actuallyhaven't got one) but I thought I would just see if anyone else assumed that their fantastic clipping skills on their horse could be carried over to their dog?

I attempted to trim my springer at the weekend as he is so fluffy (apparently they can go like this after castration) and he looked such a mess.. I got my proper dog clippers and attempted to trim the fluff and keep him looking as natural as poss which I did fairly well on Friday night. I then decided yesterday that he still looked like a sheep so number 3'd him all over.

He does look a lot better but it is so difficult not to miss bits and I am now stuck with what to do with his head and tail. i don't want to clip his head as I like his ears to be hairy so i trimed the back and underneath but he still looks a bit like a lollipop! And his tail now looks like it belongs on an afgan! I have trimed it a bit now but to anyone who is potentially going to attempt to save money and DIY trim (used in the losest possible way!) their dog.. I sincerely hope you're better at it than me!

P.s. Any tips on his head and tail?!
grin.gif
 
PMSL - I feel your pain given the unholy mess I made just trying to trim the fur on Henry's paws (no injuries but not a pretty sight!)
grin.gif
I was going to get clippers but have chickened out!

We must have pictures so that we can fully sympathise
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
i just use my horse clippers on my spaniel!! he loves it and lies perfectly still - a bit fiddly but gets it done! oh - and a v close shave but that's fine - he suffers erally badly in the heat - i let it grow back out for winter and worst case scenario he has a fleece rug
wink.gif
(he's old and arthritic so i can't let him get cold)
 
lol.. I shall attempt to get some tomorrow when I am back at home. OH has the pleasure of walking him like that today as I am staying at my mums. To make it worse i told him he wsan't allowed to trim him as he would make a mess of it!! I should've let him then I would have someone to blame.

My lad still has fluffy slippers as I felt I had done enough damage at that point and the clippers were red hot as I had faffed so much already!
 
clip over the head and just over the bump at the top of the ears, look at the ears and you will know where i mean (bout 1/2 - 1 inch down ears!) Hold tail out straightish then comb tail downwards towards floor then cut in a curved shape shorter at end of tail than the base! Hope that helps! If he is docked then shave all hair off tail!
cool.gif
with dog clipping always go with the hair the way it lays, not like horses where u go against it!
smile.gif
 
Ah now I wish I had known that yesterday!! lol. I did start going with the hair but didn't appear to get rid of his wool. TBF though I am very impatient and the number 3 attachment I had wasn't actually for those clippers so may well have hindered my attempts.

I shall attempt the tail and head tomorrow, he isn't docked so is very long and skinny in the tail. I shall post the results.. I suppose practise makes perfect; any takers?
smirk.gif
 
You went against the hair!!
shocked.gif
grin.gif


Poor Mutt!
grin.gif


You might have been better trying to hand strip the fluffy fur TBH, he will just get fluffier now he is clipped! Bit late now though
grin.gif


I'm sure he doesn't care and it will grow back, so I wouldn't worry
grin.gif
I want pictures though
grin.gif
 
I know about them getting fluffier and that was why I tried to neaten it rather than scalp him but just didn't get the fuzz off and I got impatient!!
I have been using a stripping comb but he just will not let me do it on his back legs, he goes mental!! He was letting me on his body but this just accentuated his pantaloons!! He looked like a pirate!

Will it grow back more fluffy even though I didn't scalp him?? I'll just have to keep taking off the fluff with the stripping comb as it comes through. is there anyway for me to revitalise it or am I now done for and destined to own a fluff ball?..
 
If it makes you feel any better, this is what happened when Merlinsquest took her clippers to her Schnauzer...........Poor Zac!!!
grin.gif


Before
IMG_0130.jpg


After
IMG_1806.jpg


What about using a thinning rake instead of clipper?
 
lmao.. I am actually in tears laughing at that.. Everyone in the office thinks I have finally cracked!! That does make me feel a lot better and I am glad I am not the only one who makes an attempt themselves!!!
 
ROFL - poor little Zac, looks a bit shell shocked!
grin.gif
grin.gif
grin.gif


Silverbreeze re your description of the pantaloons - are you sure your dog isn't just getting ready for 'Talk like a pirate' day?
grin.gif
 
Dear god MQ WHAT did you do to that poor poor dog.
im sitting in the living room on my own with the dogs (jrt's so safe re clipping) and im laughing out loud and almost pee-ing my pants
Tell me its gown back and looks normal again?
 
Ohhh I was soooo tempting to get my clippers out on my poodle today, also thought the same - I clip my cob, how hard can my dog be lol perhaps not I also think my OH would kill me!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think Horse magazine should deviate for a while and give a masterclass in clipping dogs by the sounds of all of us!

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, I'll do it....oh...but wait, that'd be putting myself out of a job.
shocked.gif


Dog clipping isn't rocket science - but tis a whole lot easier once ya know how!


Bummer, I only got a fifth for this hand scissor effort.
DillonatSPGA09.jpg
 
Zac the Schnauzer lol!!!!! He looks seriously cross in the after pic, poor pooch! Teehee Merlinsquest that is funny. All joking aside, even if not the perfect clip, as long as a dog isnt clipped too close and the skin caught or too hot from the blades, am sure 'most' of them are grateful for it in this weather
 
Yep, patience and in that dog's case, about two and half hours of scissoring (so patience from the doggy, too!) and probably a good 90 minutes of bathing and brushing beforehand. And about 8 or 9 months of getting the coat in to condition by babying it every week with special shampooing, conditioning, brushing, and trimming....
 
On a serious note, to further twinkletoes' statement - too short a clip can not only do damage to the follicles, but it can also expose dogs to sun burn. I won't clip a dog shorter than 3mm, or in dog grooming clipper terms, a 7F. I never use this reverse, but always with the growth. If you're struggling to get the finish smooth, try using a soft slicker brush to fluff up the hair and then clip, fluff/clip fluff/clip til it's smooth. Also, a clean, freshly washed and dried coat clips best.
 
From the photo it didn't look too short - but I must admit I don't know what a No 3 equates to. Does it seem longer than 3mm? If so, then you should be fine.
wink.gif
 
ahh, so much better. Very handsome. I keep looking at the before and after shots though to cheer me up. (sorry if that sounds a bit mean!)
It doesn't fail to make me smile, I think admin should sticky it as a feel good pic for those moments when we're all feeling a bit down
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top