As a responsible dog owner, taking your beloved pet to a groomer is a must-do. But you don’t have to do it every time your dog looks a little bit dirty because you can do most of the work by yourself, like trimming their fur, for example. Now, let’s learn how to use the grooming tool!

Watch The Pros at Work from Videos

Trimming a dog is, of course, different from the way you trim an adult or a child. You can’t just assume you know what you’re doing because it can be dangerous to yourself and your dog. Therefore, you should do your research first before you start to turn on the clipper. And the best way to do this is by watching how professional groomers do their job. 

You can try to learn from YouTube channels such as eHow, AnimalWised, and My Favorite Groomer. They show you the step-by-step visual guide to using a clipper for trimming dogs. Prepare yourself to take some notes. Remember that you must not use the clipper as you watch the video. First reason, your dog may feel agitated by the clipper sound, and if you don’t pay full attention to how you handle them, you may end up getting bitten or even worse. Second, you can hurt your dog if you don’t use the clipper correctly. Therefore, just watch the videos and concentrate.

Learn from Your Groomer

What’s better than watching YouTube videos? Watching the real thing at work in front of you directly! And for this, all you need is to bring your dog to a groomer and learn from them. It is totally okay to ask questions there. Explain to the groomer that you want to know how to give a proper trim using the clipper that you have bought. 

Always Be Gentle

As explained above, a clipper can make a dog feel uneasy and scared. Sometimes, you even have to introduce the tool to your dog first. You should not expect to be able to use it on your dog in one go. Be gentle when you handle your dog while holding the clipper. And always remember that if you yell at your dog, they will associate your anger with the tool. It won’t get the job done but worsens it. 

To make your dog feel familiar with the clipper, try to rub him with it as if it were a brush. Don’t turn the clipper on just yet when you do that. After you notice your dog feeling comfortable with the clipper, turns it on. Don’t place the clipper too close to your dog. Make them get used to the vibrations and noise first. Every time your dog shows an acceptive behavior, you should always praise them. Once you pass this stage, you can start clipping your dog’s fur. 

Clip in the Right Direction

The most common mistake in DIY grooming attempts is to clip the dog’s fur against the direction of its growth. It can irritate the skin and hurt the dog because the hair may get pulled off instead of being cut. Therefore, clip your dog’s fur by following its growth lines. 

Second, start with the easiest areas: dog’s back, neck, and then the legs. As for the sensitive areas like the dog’s face and paws, you’d better use a grooming scissor.…