How to Groom a Dog to Look Taller

Whether you're looking to groom your dog to appear taller because he's just a short pup or because you have a show coming up, learning to do this method takes a little bit of practice. Grooming your dog to look taller will start basically with making him appear thinner. You can also accentuate his slender legs, giving the appearance of height with a good close cut only on the legs. Small fluffy dogs often have long hair on the tops of their heads. Utilize this mop look to increase the illusion of more height. 

Your dog may not care how tall he is. Some tiny breeds have the personality of large dogs anyway, so let his personality also shine. But he will expect to be the cutest pup on the block, so do what it takes to please you both. Just as with any grooming, use some treats to reward for good behavior and be gentle with the scissors and clippers. 

• Trimming the legs much shorter than the rest of the dog will give an appearance of longer legs. But be cautious not to completely shave the legs. Red or irritated legs aren’t becoming.
• Thinning your dog’s fur on the sides will help with the appearance of a taller pup.
• Try to smooth out any grooming lines on your dog’s sides after thinning out his fur to keep the eye from skipping his long legs and settling on untidy lines.
• When you brush your dog’s fur, always brush in the direction the fur grows to keep it flatter against the skin.
• If you are working on a topknot for your pup, you can choose from many styles. A single ponytail, a looped ponytail, double pigtails, and more can lift the fur on the head, giving your dog the look of being taller.
• Fluffy dogs can be thinned out on the neckline as well to give an appearance of being taller. Be sure to blend these lines of thin fur and thicker fur along the back so the cut does not look choppy.