How to cut a dog: a variety of options, using a template for each breed of dog, instructions for giving a haircut a beautiful and regular shape

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Dogs of many breeds have long hair that needs special care. In addition to combing and washing, the coat must be trimmed regularly - not only to give the dog an aesthetic appearance, but also to simplify its maintenance and hygiene, because long hair tangles more and collects more dirt on walks. Yes, and the dog may not be comfortable in an excessively long fur coat. Many owners of such dogs resort to the help of specialists, but often a model exhibition haircut is not really needed - only the correct and neat one, suitable for a dog of a certain breed, is needed. This article is about how to trim your dog at home.

Which dogs can and should be sheared?

Let's start with the question that not all dogs can be cut, but only thosethe wool of which this implies. Only breeds such as Poodle, Kerry Blue Terrier, York Terrier, Black Terrier, etc. are regularly trimmed.

The fact is that dog hair is divided into several types, and three main types can be distinguished: shedding (short-haired and long-haired), wire-haired and soft-haired.

Shedding dogs

The coat of the first ones is regularly renewed (dogs shed) in a natural way, and to speed up the molting process, as well as to keep the house as little as possible of the hair that has fallen out during this period, it is enough to comb the dog well with slicker combs. Shedding breeds include such breeds as Labrador, Spitz, Alabai, Caucasian Shepherd Dog, Collie and Sheltie, long-haired dachshund. Such dogs are rarely sheared, because due to the shearing, the natural maturation of the hair can be disturbed. There are no obligatory haircut patterns for dogs of such breeds, since according to the standard their coat should be of natural length. If there is a need for a periodic haircut, then the owner himself decides how to cut the dog, the scheme can be any (for example, you can remove hair over the entire body or only on the paws - it all depends on the goals of the haircut and the aesthetic ideas of the owners).

Wire-haired dogs

The hair of wirehaired dogs is also regularly updated, but will not fall out by itself, but needs trimming (plucking). It is categorically not recommended to replace trimming with a haircut, since the quality of the coat of sheared wire-haired dogs deteriorates rather quickly. This is due tostructural features of the hair. It has a triangular shape (the shape of a carrot) - at the very beginning of a young hair, it is very wide and hard, but as it grows, it becomes thinner, so any hair, if you pluck it and examine it, is not uniform in length: at the base it is thin, weakly colored and not shiny, and on top it is hard, bright, rich in color. If this hair is removed, then a new hair of a similar structure will grow in its place. If the hair is cut, it will continue to grow without being replaced by a new one.

Perhaps, if it is cut very close to the skin, at first it will also be somewhat tougher, but this period of growth will be extremely short-lived, and the quality of the hair will be significantly inferior to the new one. As a result of repeated haircuts, the structure of the dog's coat and its appearance will change greatly: the coat will be weakly colored, wet, shapeless (they say "cotton" about it).

In other words, the outer (main) hair will become almost indistinguishable from the undercoat. Returning the original structure will be quite difficult, since pinching a repeatedly trimmed dog will be problematic (the coat will not be pulled out, the dog will be very hurt). If you are thinking about how to properly trim an Airedale Terrier, Fox Terrier, Wirehaired Dachshund, Schnauzer, you should think about it.

Due to the difficulties of caring for such hair, many owners make compromises: for example, they pluck the hair on the body and cut it off on the neck, hips and head.

Soft-haired dogs

The coat of soft-haired dogs is generally homogeneous in composition (they lackundercoat), does not fall out, similar to a human hair that grows throughout life. It is the dogs of these breeds that can and should be sheared - this will not only not worsen the coat, but will also significantly improve its quality.

Haircut patterns

As already mentioned, to prepare for the show, it is better to use the services of professional groomers, as the wrong haircut can affect the dog's assessment and place in the ring. However, for everyday life, you can understand the logic of the haircut scheme on your own. Below are grooming charts for common dog breeds such as the Kerry Blue Terrier, Poodle, and Cocker Spaniel. Before you cut your dog - even for purely hygienic purposes - you should familiarize yourself with them.

When mastering the scheme, the main thing is to understand where the dog's coat should remain long and lush. The Kerry Blue Terrier has a beard, mustache, eyebrows, front paws, metatarsus, front of the thighs and chest. In these places, the wool should only be carefully trimmed with scissors to shape it. A poodle has ears, a spaniel has ears, paws and chest feathers.

Secondly, you need to figure out where the wool needs to be cut as short as possible. In the Kerry Blue Terrier, for example, these are the ears, throat, and back of the thighs.

Finally, thirdly, it is important to understand that all haircuts in other places should be subordinated, firstly, to creating smooth transitions between long and short hair, and secondly, to emphasize the exterior advantages of the dog and hide flaws (say,a haircut can create a perfectly flat back line) and, finally, take into account traditions. For example, traditionally the shape of the mustache, beard and eyebrows of the Kerry Blue Terrier is different from the "overgrowth" on the muzzle of breeds such as the Airedale Terrier and the Fox Terrier.

Cutting tools

You will need: hairdressing scissors, a comb with sparse and frequent teeth and thinning scissors is desirable (to create natural smooth transitions and thinning wool). A variant of a dog clipper is also possible, but before cutting a dog with a clipper, you should make sure that your pet is ready for this procedure (it is not afraid of noise), and that you know how to use this item and do not injure, don't scare the animal.

It is necessary to prepare a bag in order to put the sheared wool into it, as well as an apron or special clothes (sheared wool, unlike fallen or trimmed wool, has a sharp end, so it can “bite” into clothes and furniture).

Preparing the site

Before you cut your dog, you should consider where exactly you will do it. First, the dog should be where it will be convenient for you to work with it. Secondly, the space for the dog to move around must be limited, otherwise the haircut procedure can turn into running after the pet around all the rooms. Thirdly, the place should be well lit. Finally, you need to think about the fact that sheared wool can get on furniture and carpet, from where it will be difficult to remove.

Perfecta place is a table outside or in a room without carpets and upholstered furniture.

Wool preparation

Wool before cutting the dog, it is important to rinse well and comb well. According to the technique, it is supposed to cut slightly dampened wool, but it should not be wet, otherwise it will not be clear to you what shape you have achieved.

Preparing the dog

While preparing the coat for a haircut is quite easy, and this can be done the day before the haircut or on the same day, then preparing the dog is much more difficult. Animals that, without preparation, stood in one position and allowed themselves to be cut, are extremely rare. If your pet is not accustomed to grooming, most likely, his reaction will be unequivocal: after a few minutes, he will either try to run away, or start spinning and playing. To prevent this from happening, before cutting the dog at home, you need to regularly care for the coat, put the dog on the table and try to make it a pleasure for her.

Steps of cutting

Basically, groomers follow the following sequence of actions. First you should comb the dog and add volume to the coat (raise it all over the body). Then you need to cut the dog's hair in those places where it is removed almost naked. Next, you need to trim it in the longest places, and then move on to creating smooth transitions.

Do not forget to take breaks in the haircut, praise the dog and give him a treat, then gradually the haircut will turn into pleasure for him and will not be difficultactivities, as dogs by nature love to be handled and dedicate a lot of time.