How to Measure Dog Shears
Grooming is an essential part of pet ownership. People often pay a good deal of money to keep their dogs clean and well-groomed, but you can complete many grooming tasks in the comfort of your own home. Shears are a necessary tool when grooming most dogs, and knowing what size shears you need is important for a proper trim. Measuring dog shears takes just a few minutes and can help you produce a nice, even trim on your canine companion.
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Instructions
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Decide what kind of shears you need to properly trim your dog. Straight grooming shears work best for trimming straight coats, while thinning shears are made for very thick coats or coats that must be thinned for competition. Thinning shears are easy to recognize, as they have one straight blade and one blade with large teeth. Straight shears have two straight blades.
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Bathe your dog so you can accurately measure his clean coat for proper shear length. Wet his coat with a generous amount of warm water and apply shampoo, gently scrubbing him with your fingers to distribute the shampoo. Rinse well, and towel him dry, using a blow dryer to make sure he is completely dry.
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Comb through the dog's coat, making sure there are no tangles in his hair. Most medium to long-coated breeds have a top coat and an undercoat, so be gentle when combing the hair to prevent pulling any top coat that might be matted with the under hair. If you notice any mats, work them loose with your fingers, then gently comb through them.
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Hold a tape measure against your dog's skin and pull the tape down in the direction of the hair growth, noting the length at the end of the longest strands. The longer your dog's hair is, the longer the pair of shears can be without risk of cutting his skin. Most dogs with hair up to four or five inches long can be groomed with a five-inch set of shears, while longer-coated breeds such as Afghans, can be safely trimmed with seven-inch shears.
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Tips & Warnings
Groom your dog in an area that is easy to clean, such as a kitchen or bathroom. Dog hair can be difficult to remove from furniture and carpet, so an area with smooth flooring will make clean-up much easier.
Never trim your dog until he has been bathed. Dirty hair can mat and clump up, resulting in an uneven trim. It also will dull the blades of your shears much faster than clean hair. A quick bath and comb will help make sure the dog's haircut is as even as possible and that your blades remain sharp.
