Most dog owners don’t view the process of clipping their pet as an art. Instead, they’re trying to deal with the problem areas – scraggly hair on the feet that tracks in mud, for instance. In their efforts to get rid of undesirable hair, however, they may forget that they can accidentally hurt their pets.
When you decide to clip your dog’s fur, keep his breed in mind. If you clip a longer haired breed incorrectly, dust accumulates in the coat, causing skin problems. In addition, parasites like ticks and fleas can move and breed more freely if your dog’s coat isn’t card for or clipped correctly.
You should also be sure to keep your pet’s nails trimmed to avoid pain in walking and breakage. An overly long mail will have a tendency to turn to the side, and may even grow to puncture the skin. Dogs with too long nails will also easily catch them on things, causing breakage and splitting.
Injuries also easily occur during clipping of nails. The quick of the nail will bleed it it’s cut. This is the source of blood supplying the nail, as well as where the nerves are located. This keeps the nail alive and growing. However, this area is situated far back inside the nail, and will only be exposed if you cut the nail too short or if it splinters. This can be sensitive or painful.
When cutting your dog’s nails and hair, make sure you always use very sharp clippers. For nails, make sure you get the right tools for the job – nail clippers for people just don’t work for dogs. There are lots of new types of nail clippers out there that are made to cut down on pain and damage.
If you live somewhere with a cold climate, avoid clipping your dog in winter unless you have to. The winter can put a lot of stress on your dog, particularly if your dog’s coat is not long enough to protect her from the snowy weather and chilly climate. Remember that humans aren’t the only ones to get frostbite.
In the summer, make sure you don’t clip your dog’s hair too short. If you do, you’ll be exposing his skin to the sun – a dog’s fur helps keep him cool in hot weather. Shortening the hair is okay, but don’t cut the hair so short the skin shows.
If your dog is sick or otherwise unhealthy, avoid clipping him. That’s because it can cause more stress. Only clip a sick dog to remove broken nails or dirty fur that can’t be cleaned.
Walking your dog on concrete daily can help keep him or her healthy. This will help you wear down the nail on a gradual basis and will keep them even. That way, you and your dog don’t have to go through the clipping process.
To get the best results, you’ll want to talk to a professional groomer who knows how to correctly clip your dog.
You will also want to look into the right dog training tools to make sure your pooch behaves like you want him or her to. Click Here for a proven dog training program that you can start using today to improve your dog’s behavior!
