How to Cut Hair on a Long-Haired Dog

Dogs with long hair risk constant matting and tangles, leading to unsightly and uncomfortable hair problems. However, a groomer cuts the long hair in a sensible and safe option that also gives your dog's hair a trim and neat look. Cutting the hair better allows you to also maintain a healthy coat on your dog without trapping dirt or bugs. Trimming a dog's hair is a task you can complete with no cost, if you do not want to hire a groomer.

Things You'll Need

• Brush
• Scissors
• Electric razor

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Instructions

• 1

  Brush the dog's hair to remove most of the tangles and mats. If you avoid brushing the hair and tackle the cutting task, you run the risk of pulling the hair which can lead to pain and bald spots.

• 2

  Trim the dog's long hair down to 1-to-2-inches in length. Remove the majority of the coat to create an easier length to work with. This length also prevents future mats from occurring due to the razor.

• 3

  Shave the remaining fur using a 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch razor blade. Work from the tail end toward the body.

• 4

  Shave the body of the dog from the belly to the top of the back and shave each side separately.

• 5

  Shave the dog's face, beginning with the tip of the muzzle and working back toward to ears. Be careful to avoid hitting the eyes and nose on the dog. Take your time as rushing can result in injury or an uneven finish.

• 6

  Shave the back of the neck in a downward manner. Begin with the ear line, and work down towards the back of the neck.

• 7

  Lift the dog's muzzle using your hand, and shave under in a downward manner. Begin at the mouth and shave down toward the belly.

• 8

  Shave the legs in a downward manner. Work from the top of the leg down toward the top of the paws.

• 9

  Trim around each toe on the paws with scissors. Lift the dog's foot backwards and press gently down on the pad of the paw to expand the toes, which exposes the hair and skin, allowing you to trim around each carefully.

• 10

  Shave around the paws. Shave down the front of each paw first and lift the paw backwards to shave between the toes.

• 11

  Bathe the dog to remove any remaining loose fur. Brush the coat once dry.