A beautiful coat is one of the reason why dogs are admired however, some dog owners would opt to shave the pet. Dogs are commonly shaved to better cope with the heat of the summer months. A dog will be shaved if the owner is concerned with excessive shedding, with hot spots and fungal infection of the skin and finds the need to regularly groom the pet a tedious task. Dogs advanced in age would not appreciate a good brushing thus an owner would choose to shave the dog to lessen the need to groom.
Dog owners have varied reasons for shaving the dog. To have the dog shaved by a professional groomer, a dog owner has to pay between $40 to $80. An adventurous pet owner though can do the shaving himself.
Before starting the shaving session it would be best if the dog is bathed and the fur thoroughly brushed to prevent the clipper from overheating. Bathe the dog to remove dried up feces and other dirt clinging on the coat. After the dog is bathed and dried, the hair must be brushed thoroughly to remove the tangles. Positioning the dog on a table would be easier on your back but be sure to loosely fasten the head to an overhead support to stop the dog from vaulting. A dog that will be shaved for the first time must be accustomed to the humming and the vibration of the clipper thus before the starting to shave lay the turned on clipper against the body of the dog.
To shave the face and the area between the eyes, use a #10 blade. Be careful not to nick the eyes. With careful strokes shave the hair on the face and under the ears. Shave the hair under the ears of long eared breeds.
The armpit area is the next. Raise the dog’s leg but be sure that the pet is not uncomfortable. Next is the anal area. Removing the hair around the anus is especially necessary for long haired breeds to prevent feces from sticking into the hair. To work on the rest of the dog’s body you have to replace the #10 blade with a longer one. Run the clipper in long slow strokes from the head to the neck and down to the side of the body . Pull the loose skin of the belly to make shaving easier. Last to be shaved are the legs and feet. All done – give the dog a good hug for being a good sport.
Learn more about how to shave a dog and dog first aid at Sarah’s Dogs.
