How to Trim Dog's Paw Fur

Paw fur trim coming up

Shaggy dogs are funky, fun and frivolously furry, but they also often come with amazing amounts of paw fur. While the fur may look cute, not unlike a giant, fuzzy slipper, it can also be detrimental to your dog. The paw fur gets very hot in the summer, can trap bacteria and debris, and just make for an all-around uncomfortable dog. You can trim a dog’s paw fur with a very sharp pair of scissors.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp hair scissors
• Treats

Instructions

1. Pick an opportune time. When your dogs paws are muddy, wet, slimy or filled with dirt is not a good time to trim the paw fur. After or during his grooming session, if he loves it, is a good time, as is when the dog is lying down relaxed without a care in the world.

2. Pull all the hair on the paw upwards through the dog’s toes. Start by caressing the dog’s legs and moving slowly down to the paws. Some dogs freak out if you go right for the paw area. Once you are at the paw, slowly and gently puff up all the paw fur through his toes, making sure to get to any strands underneath.

3. Hold the hair between the fingers of one hand and position the scissors in the other and snip away. Carefully, carefully snip away at the paw fur, just as you were giving yourself a haircut. Some dogs also freak out at the sight of scissors or anything with which they are unfamiliar. Let him smell the scissors and also inspect the paw hair after you’ve trimmed it so he knows what’s going on and realizes it does not hurt a bit.

4. Soothe the dog and offer a treat. Give your dog some soothing words and offer up a treat once the paw is trimmed. He’ll be so overjoyed he’ll just want you to continue the process.

5. Repeat on the other three paws.

Tips & Warnings

• Use only the sharpest scissors that cut hair evenly and quickly. A dull pair of kitchen scissors normally used for opening jars just won’t cut it—literally.

• Don't forget to check underneath the paw for any long hairs that need trimming on that end.