How to Groom a Dog's Head

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How to Groom a Dog's Head

Easy

10 - 15 Minutes

1 Month

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Introduction

When it comes to grooming, far too many dog owners find themselves being comfortable with grooming their pup's body, but balking when it comes to grooming his head and face. You could simply take your pup to a professional groomer to have his head groomed, but this can get pretty expensive.

Or, you can learn to do the job yourself, saving money while at the same time learning yet another valuable skill as part of taking care of your pup and keeping him looking his best at all time. This skill is relatively easy to learn and requires nothing more than a little time and patience to master.

Dog's Perspective

Most dogs don't really seem to care whether you take the time to groom them or not. But, if you want your pup to stay healthy, you need to take care of keeping him groomed. Part of this involves learning how to groom his head and face. Once you learn the basics, you should be able to trim the hair on your pup's head in just a few minutes.

The Exercise First Method

Effective

0 Votes

Slicker Brush

Scissors

Comb

Clipper

Step

Exercise first

If your pup seems to have a ton of energy that could prevent him from being calm during the time you need to burn some of it off. One of the best ways to do this is by taking your pup out for a nice long walk right before you groom him. Try keeping him out for at least half an hour.

Step

Create a grooming location

Choose a spot in your home to groom your pup and stick to it. This creates a feeling of continuity and familiarity for your pup. Arrange all of the tools you plan to use close at hand.

Step

Grab a slicker brush

The slicker brush is designed to separate and smooth out your pup's hair. In turn, this will make it much easier for you to trim any excessive hair back to where it should be.

Step

Grab a slicker brush

The slicker brush is designed to separate and smooth out your pup's hair. In turn, this will make it much easier for you to trim any excessive hair back to where it should be.

Step

Time to clip

Attach the correct comb to your clippers after checking the blades for sharpness and any blockages. Show them to your pup and turn them on so he can get used to the noise. Working from the top of his head and cutting from front to back, work under his muzzle, down the bridge of his nose, and around his neck.

Step

Finish the job

Trim the hair around his ears and inside if needed. Then give him a final brush over, and use a pair of shears to trim any leftover long hairs and around his eyes to finish the job. Take your time, have fun, and most of all, stay calm if you want the best results.

The Simple Method

Effective

1 Vote

Slicker Brush

Scissors

Comb

Clipper

Step

Give him a clean face

Start out by using a slicker brush to smooth out and separate the hair all over your pup's face. This will make grooming and trimming it easier for you and your pup.

Step

Under before over

Gently pull your pup's beard (chin hairs) and use a pair of straight shears to trim the hair to the desired length. The skin in this area tends to be a bit loose and saggy, extra care is needed to avoid catching his skin with the shears.

Step

Over next

Using thinning shears, trim back the hair over the top of your pup's nose, along the bridge, and the insides of his eyes. Brush the hair over the top of his eyes using a comb or your finger to help keep a straight line. Then finish up by trimming the outside corners of his eyes and under them if needed.

Step

Can you ear me now?

Trimming around his ears can be challenging, but as long as you take your time and use safety shears, you can do this. Don't forget to trim any excess hair inside his ears as well. Never stick the shears inside of your pup's ears, the risk of injury and damage to his hearing is far too high. This should be left to a professional.

Step

Last step

Brush the hair on his head and look for long spots that need a little touch-up. Finish up by trimming the hair and then do one final brush over to make sure he looks his best and you are done! Take your time, be patient and make it fun for both of you. Be sure to give your pup a treat when everything is done.

Caution & Considerations

Spend plenty of time letting your pup get used to the tools needs to groom his face. It will make the job go much more smoothly.
Using a set grooming place establishes an expectation, helping calm your pup down at grooming time.
Never use dull scissors as they can painfully rip your pup's hair out instead of cutting them.
Never use dull clippers as the hair can jam them, causing them to rip out hair.
Always keep your shears and clippers properly lubricated for smooth operation.
Never use clippers on wet hair as this can jam them, which may damage them.
If your pup will not stand in place for you to groom him, you can use a second pair of hands or a grooming stand with a restraining harness.
Remember, your pup's skin tends to be very thin around his head and face. Use safety shears with rounded ends to help reduce the risk of poking him or cutting his skin.

Conclusion

Grooming your dog's head really isn’t that much different than trimming the rest of his body. You just need to be calm, so he stays calm, and keep working with him until the two of you can work together grooming him without fuss or bother. Just remember, use lots of treats to let him know he is doing a good job.

How to Groom a Dog's Head

Introduction

Dog's Perspective

The Exercise First Method

The Simple Method

Caution & Considerations

Conclusion

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

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