Dog trimming

Some breeds of dogs in the process of evolution and development have lost the ability to shed. These include a number of terriers – for example, Scotch and Airedale; schnauzers – giant schnauzer, miniature schnauzer, as well as many other breeds of dogs with a hard coat. However, the hair of such dogs also has its own life cycle, so it must be removed in time.

Why not a haircut?

Wirehaired dogs are not recommended to simply cut. The thing is that after a haircut in such animals, the hair becomes thin, sparse, brittle, and can stray into tangles. Sometimes the dog can even change color: black hair becomes brown, gray, the coat brightens and fades.

Some owners are convinced that grooming a rough-haired dog is not necessary. This is a serious misconception. The matted wool forms a dense shell, which does not allow the skin to breathe and provokes the development of fungi on the skin. At the same time, the growing new wool under the “shell” becomes soft, thin and sparse. In this case, in order to return the beautiful appearance of the coat, you will need to shave it completely, however, the process of restoring the hair itself will be quite lengthy.

What is trimming?

Dog trimming is a procedure for removing dead hair by plucking. Many seriously believe that this is painful and unpleasant, but in fact they are not right.

Professional trimming is absolutely painless and does not cause any discomfort to pets.

Moreover, getting used, animals are happy to undergo this procedure.

When is trimming done?

The first trimming for rough-haired puppies is carried out at the age of 4-6 months. And then it is repeated every six months. Much depends on the breed and individual characteristics of a particular dog, but on average, the life cycle of a hair is 4-7 months. It is easy to determine when it is time to do trimming: the dog takes on a sloppy look, the hairs of the coat become thin, stand out from the general mass, bristle in different directions.

Trimming has a beneficial effect on the quality of the dog’s coat. New hair becomes stronger and harder, they shine. Therefore, owners of show dogs pluck their coat every 1-2 weeks to keep the dog looking neat and improve the quality of the hair.

Trimming types

Trimming is of two types:

• Mechanical with fingers, it is called plunking;

• By means of a special knife – a trimmer.

Trimming can also vary in intensity:

• Light trimming is done every 2-3 months. The specialist removes only dead hairs, without thinning the outer hair;

• Full trimming is carried out 2-3 times a year – then the dead hair is completely removed. It is suitable if light trimming is not done regularly.

When choosing a trimming specialist, first of all, pay attention to his work. It is best if breeders, a veterinarian or acquaintances who have already used his services can give you recommendations.

It is important to pay attention not only to the result of the work, but also to how the master behaves with the “client”.

Alas, often the dog is sheared and trimmed in a muzzle by force, not paying attention to the behavior of the animal. Needless to say, how this can affect the mental health of the dog?

Trimming without experience and preparation will not work on your own. There are many subtleties on how to properly pluck your hair. If you want to trim your dog without help, it is worth completing the appropriate grooming courses.

Photo: Collection