How to Cut a Dog's Bum Hair

Easy
10 - 20 Minutes
1 Week

Introduction

There is nothing wrong with being a bit nervous when it comes to cutting the hair on your dog's bum. But, the reality is that if you don't want Benji bringing matted feces, dirt, debris, parasites, and more into your home, you need to keep that bum hair trimmed back. Along with bringing so many nasty things into your home, long matted bum hair can be stinky and painful. The best way for you to deal with this is to learn how to cut Benji's hiney hair the right way and for him to get used to having the hair in this very sensitive area clipped.

Dog's Perspective

One thing you can count on, Benji is not going to be happy having you working with shears or clippers around his anus and genitalia. When you add in the noise of a set of clippers, Benji's anxiety levels are likely to go through the roof. Be sure you take your time and give poor Benji a chance to get used to the tools and your hands working on his derriere if you want the task to go smoothly. 

The Shears and Clippers Method

Effective
0 Votes
Slicker Brush
Scissors
Clipper
Step
1
One dog, one grooming spot
Choose where you are going to groom your dog's butt. Small and medium dogs can be placed on a grooming table with restraints, bigger dogs will simply need to stand on the floor.
Step
2
Tail up!
Using one hand, gently lift Benji's tail out of the way, allowing you clear access to his bum. In the other hand, you should have a pair of sharp safety shears.
Step
3
From the center
When it comes to trimming Benji's backside, the center is where you need to start. You will be cutting his bum hair from the center out to each side. This gives you the best results without having to worry so much about cutting him.
Step
4
Keep it short
Unless Benji is a breed of dog that requires a certain type of grooming, you should use the clippers to shave his butt hair as short as possible. This will make it much easier for you to keep this area cleaner and healthier.
Step
5
Be safe
Never apply the shears or clippers directly to Benji's skin as this could burn, cut, or nick his skin. Always be sure the blades are sharp to help avoid nicks and cuts.

The Shears Only Method

Effective
0 Votes
Slicker Brush
Scissors
Step
1
A little help here, please
For this method, you will need the help of a willing assistant. Their job will be to help keep Benji still while you are working your magic. Smaller to medium size dogs can be placed in your assistant's lap in such a way as his bum is presented to you for trimming. Bigger breeds will need to be held in place standing on the floor.
Step
2
Tail up and away
Have your helper lift Benji's tail and hold it off to one side, out of your way.
Step
3
The brush down
Give a dog a good brushing starting at the top of his hips and working your way slowly down towards his legs. This will help remove mats, tangles, fecal waste, and many other foreign objects from his butt hair. It will also make it much easier to cut.
Step
4
The first cuts
Start by using the shears to trim around Benji's anus, taking care not to nick or cut the skin.
Step
5
The final cuts
Use the shears to cut the rest of the hair on Benji's bum to the desired length. Keep in mind the shorter you cut this hair, the less there is to cause a problem.

Caution & Considerations

  • Always use shears and clippers with sharp blades to avoid ripping your pup's hair out.
  • Keep the blades of the shears and clippers level with his skin.
  • Do not let the clipper blade touch the skin, it can burn, cut, or nick your poor pooch.
  • Give your dog plenty of time to get used to the tools you plan to use, this will make the task much easier for both of you.
  • Have plenty of treats on hand to give your dog, they can be used as rewards or as a way to help keep him calm.
  • Take your time, there is no reason to hurry, and your results will be much better. 

Conclusion

You may have never given much thought to the hair on Benji's backside. Keeping it properly cut and trimmed back is a very important part of the overall grooming process, though. It can also be quite important to Benji's health. Long butt hair can harbor so many parasites and so much fecal matter that it can be bad for Benji and for your family's health. 

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

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