Do you spend too much time getting your dog’s coat professionally groomed? There’s a solution. Use clippers on your dog to get the job done! It is important to choose the clippers that will work best for your dog. The pet industry offers a large selection of clippers, from very light and inexpensive trimmers good for whiskers and ears to more heavy-duty clippers with adjustable or interchangeable blades for different lengths of hair.
Most clipper companies share the same blade model numbers to identify the length of hair left on the dog. Clippers made for human hair have their own numerical identification system. Referring to the blade chart will allow you to compare blades according to their size in millimeters.
Clippers come in corded or cordless models. Most professionals use corded clippers, which tend to be more durable, have more power, and will not lose power as the battery starts to run out. As with all your cutting tools, proper maintenance of your clippers will make your job easier.
How to Hold the Clippers
It is important to hold clippers at an angle, with the base of the blade parallel to the skin, and move them with an even and steady speed for a smooth finish. If you move clippers too quickly the blades won’t be able to cut the hair and will pull on it instead. Hold clippers with a firm but gentle touch. Holding the clippers too tightly will reduce your hand’s sensitivity and its ability to follow the dog’s body shape The clippers should rest comfortably in your hand.
Keeping the blade parallel with the skin will enable you to apply gentle pressure without scratching or pinching your dog. Avoid “scooping” with the clippers; remember that the tip of the blade is sharp. Practice makes perfect; the more you use clippers, the more they will become an extension of your hand.
Using Clippers For Matted Hair
If you are shaving down a dog with matted hair, it is crucial to keep the skin taut and constantly look at the blade to avoid it pulling on the hair by bringing the skin too close to the blade. If the dog is severely matted, use a pair of round-tip scissors to carefully open up an area to start clipping by cutting a line through the mat. Never use the scissors with the blades perpendicular to the skin. Pulling a mat away from the body will also pull the skin up with it and dangerously close to the scissor blades. When cutting mats, keep the scissors parallel to the skin, moving only the blade that you can see.
How to Use
To get a feel for the clippers, situate yourself behind the dog and begin clipping from the back of the dog’s neck down to the tail, with the blade facing you. Unless a specific cut indicates differently, you should always clip dog hair in the direction that it grows, from the back of the neck to the tail and from the top to the bottom on the sides and legs.
Always be very careful when approaching places where the skin is loose as blades can pinch loose skin and injure your dog. Keeping the skin taut using your free hand is a good way to help you move the clippers along smoothly. After a few minutes of constant use, the clipper blades will get hot. Therefore, it is important to constantly check the blade temperature on your forearm to avoid irritating or burning your dog’s skin.
When you feel that the blade is getting hot, stop immediately and use a blade cooling spray or let the blades rest on a cold surface for a few minutes. While waiting for the blades to cool, you can use this time to go over other parts of grooming such as checking the nails, using scissors around the head or just giving your dog a break and a quick massage to reassure him that everything is okay.
In order for the clippers to leave a smooth finish, while using the longer blades, the coat should be clean and properly brushed out to avoid uneven patches.
Attachments
Most clipper companies offer a variety of attachment combs that, when secured over the blade, will allow you different hair length options. These attachments are great when you want a longer hair length and will save on time spent using scissors. For best results when using attachment combs, the hair should be perfectly brushed and free of mats. Attachment combs should only be used with a #30 blade unless another blade is recommended.