A beautiful and well-groomed dog is a joy for the owner. To ensure that it always maintains an excellent appearance, it must be cared for correctly and in a timely manner. Clipping nails, checking teeth – these are just a minor part of hygienic procedures. One of the main ones is taking care of the dog’s coat. However, while some dogs simply need to be clipped, others need to be trimmed. So, what is trimming and who needs it?
Some breeds of dogs do not have the ability to shed. This includes some terriers – for instance, Scottish and Airedale; Schnauzers – Giant, Miniature, and many other breeds of dogs with harsh fur. However, the fur of such dogs also has its own life cycle, therefore it must be removed on time.
Why not just clipping?
It is not recommended to simply clip harsh-haired dogs. The fact is that after clipping, the fur of such animals becomes thin, sparse, brittle, and may mat. Sometimes the dog can even change color: black hairs become brown, gray, the fur lightens, fades.
Some owners are convinced that it is not necessary to care for the fur of a harsh-haired dog. This is a serious mistake. Shed fur forms a dense “shell” that does not allow the skin to breathe and provokes the development of fungi on the skin. Meanwhile, the new growing fur under the “shell” becomes soft, thin, and sparse. In this case, to restore the beautiful appearance of the fur, it needs to be completely clipped, although the process of hair renewal will be quite prolonged.
What is trimming?
Dog trimming is the procedure for removing dead hairs by plucking. Many people seriously believe that this is painful and unpleasant, but in fact, they are wrong.
Professional trimming is absolutely painless and does not cause any discomfort for the dogs.
Moreover, over time, animals enjoy undergoing this procedure.
The first trimming is done to puppies at the age of 4-6 months. Then it is repeated every six months. Much depends on the breed and individual characteristics of a specific dog, but on average the life cycle of fur is 4-7 months. It’s easy to determine when it’s time to do trimming: the dog acquires a messy look, hairs become thin, stand out from the general mass, pointing in different directions.
Trimming positively affects the quality of the dog’s fur. New hairs become stronger and harsher, they shine. Therefore, owners of show dogs pluck their pets’ fur every 1-2 weeks to maintain the neat appearance of the dog and improve the quality of the fur.
Types of Trimming
Trimming comes in two types:
• Manual by using fingers, this is called plucking;
• Using a special knife – a trimmer.
Trimming can vary in intensity:
• Light trimming is carried out every 2-3 months. The specialist removes only dead hairs, not thinning out the guard hairs;
• Full trimming is carried out 2-3 times a year – then the dead fur is completely removed. It is suitable if light trimming is not performed regularly.
When choosing a trimming specialist, first of all, pay attention to his work.
It is important to pay attention not only to the result of the work but also to how the master treats the client.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a dog to be forcibly clipped and trimmed in a muzzle, regardless of the animal’s behavior. Is it worth saying how this can affect the mental health of the dog?
It will not be possible to carry out trimming independently without experience and preparation. There are many nuances of how to properly pluck hairs. If you want to trim the dog without outside help, you should complete the corresponding grooming courses.
