How to Groom a Dog With Scissors

After you do an initial grooming with a clipper comb to establish the overall length for the dog's hair, you're ready to do finishing work with scissors. The finishing work creates the dog's individual look and also allows you to work on hair in sensitive areas.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Metal comb
• Grooming scissors

1. Comb the dog's face so all of her hair is lying flat. Grasp the hair under her muzzle lightly if she has long hair there in order to help you see what it looks like. Then, shape it with your scissors, combing the hair after each shaping so you can see the effect.
2. Move up to the top of the dog's head. Pull his hair forward lightly to trim it so no hair hangs in his eyes. Then, cut any stray pieces of hair or anything that breaks the line you're creating.
3. Hold one ear in your hand so you can feel exactly where it ends. Run the scissors loosely around her ears, making sure that you don't get close enough to nick her. Repeat the same process with her other ear.
4. Lift one of the dog's front legs so you can access the hair underneath his leg. Comb the area, and then trim the hair wherever it isn't even. Replace his leg and check the leg itself for stray hairs. Repeat with the other leg.
5. Trim along her side, combing and making any small adjustments you need to, and work on her back leg. First do any trimming you can reach with her feet on the ground. Then, pick up one back leg to trim its hair.
6. Repeat the process from Step 5 along the other side of his body.
7. Grasp her tail lightly, pulling it out behind her, and comb her tail hair. If it's long, twist it together lightly and snip off the long fur straight across. Check for any stray hairs and trim them up.
8. Check for any stray hairs between her thighs and trim those as your final grooming touch.

Tips & Warnings

• Comb in the direction of the dog's hair growth.
• Pay special attention to the hair between his toes, where dogs often get knots and mats.
• Be sure to use sharp scissors for grooming because dull scissors can pull the dog's hair.