Ask a store employee for help finding the best set for your dog’s breed. A professional set will typically cost between 130 and 160 US dollars. This is still cheaper than taking your dog to the groomers regularly. Professional clippers use interchangeable blades that can be removed and inexpensively resharpened, preserving their longevity.

Note that a #7 will risk pulling the skin between teeth, causing tearing and cuts. For the same reason, unless you are very experienced, you should make sure your blade is marked FC, or finish cut. The alternative, a skip-tooth blade, can pull and tear at skin if you aren’t experienced. As an additional precaution, look for a clipper with a guide comb attachment. This comb will prevent the blade from getting too close to your dog’s skin and cutting the dog.

If the dog jerks or moves unexpectedly, a sharper edged shear might cause an injury. Thinning shears are a good choice, too. They only trim a specific area instead of the entire run of the shear blade, so you’re less likely to unintentionally cut out a chunk of fur. If you’re just giving your dog a quick trim, skip the clipper cut and just use shears on the detailed areas. If your dog’s full coat needs a trim, don’t use shears on the entire body. This is time consuming and you’ll have a higher risk of making a mistake or hurting your dog with the shears.

It’s always best to ask your vet or professional groomer for advice before attempting to trim, especially if you’re inexperienced.

Just before you start grooming, pet your dog all over to get prepare it for all the handling that will come with trimming. Try to keep grooming sessions positive and happy. Start with shorter grooming sessions at first, and give your dog a break if it gets too antsy.

If you’ve just bathed your dog, give it a blow dry and make sure the coat is completely dry before trimming. Be sure to use a cool or warm setting so you don’t burn your dog.

If your dog isn’t trained to calmly sit still as you run the clippers through its coat, try to keep it still by gently holding it in place with your other hand. Remove and set aside or discard tufts of trimmed hair as necessary.

Continue to work with the lay of the fur, from neck to rear on the belly and from upper leg down. Areas on the lower legs will probably be too short for the blade you’re using on the body, so they’ll need more detailed trimming using thinning shears. You can most likely skip over clipping them for now.

Use the clippers on the haunches and thighs, but save the fur around the lower legs, private areas, and tail for the shears.

Trim around its muzzle, especially where food gets trapped. Again, pull hair away with a comb and use straight, even lines. Be cautious with the blade around your dog’s face, especially if you’re not using blunt-edged shears. If your dog is calm while you trim around its face, be sure to reward it with a treat!

Make sure to only trim the tops and bottoms of your dog’s feet, or the hair that sticks out from these areas. Don’t cut between your dog’s toes or paw pads.

It’s best to choose a groomer who graduated from a reputable pet grooming school and who holds a professional certificate. However, there are also plenty of well-trained groomers who have earned their experience by working at a grooming shop, so choose someone who has a good reputation and a lot of hours of experience. [12] X Expert Source Marie LinLicensed Pet Groomer Expert Interview. 2 November 2020. When you have a couple of good choices, check their reviews online or with the Better Business Bureau to see if they have a history of complaints. Ask about cost. Generally, grooming costs between 40 and 60 US dollars, but can be more for larger breeds with longer coats.