How to Groom a Large Dog's Fur

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How to Groom a Large Dog's Fur

Easy

15 - 30 Minutes

1 Week

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Introduction

Taking your big dog to the groomers every month for a full grooming can be pretty expensive, no matter how you look at it. Thankfully, you do have another option. You could put all that money in your pocket and take care of grooming him yourself. On top of this, spending time every week brushing and grooming your dog is a great way to bond with him and to check him over for fleas, ticks, cuts, nicks, scrapes, and just about anything that might cause him problems. The good news is that once you have learned how to groom your dog, the whole process can take less than half an hour.

Dog's Perspective

Your dog probably thinks he does a good enough job grooming himself with his tongue. He probably doesn't care if his hair is perfectly brushed or not. In fact, the sight and sound of the brushes, combs, shears, and clippers could make your pup nervous, which will only make things worse. One way to help with this is to take your pup for a long walk to tire him out and calm him down before you get started.

The Smells Like You Need a Bath Method

Effective

0 Votes

Slicker Brush

Shampoo

Scissors

Pin Brush

Flea Comb

Comb

Clipper

Towel

Step

Yuck, you stink

If you are going to groom your dog, you may need to bathe him first. This will help wash out dirt, debris, fleas, many other parasites, and some tangles and light mats. Be sure to check with your vet to see how often you should bathe your dog. (Some breeds like Alaskan Malamutes should only be bathed once or twice per year.)

Step

Let your pup meet his tools

Place all of the tools you plan to use to groom your pup on the floor near where you plan to groom your dog. Give him plenty of time to sniff around them and look at them. In the case of shears and clippers, pick them up and operate them and turn on the clippers so that he can hear them running. Spending time doing this will help make the rest of the grooming go far easier.

Step

It all starts at the top

Begin by brushing the hair on top of his head, around his muzzle, ears, neck, and down his chest. Using a combination of shears and clippers trim his hair away from his eyes, muzzle, and pay close attention to his ears. Be sure you trim the hair out of his eyes and from around his nostrils.

Step

Up front comes next

Using the appropriate brush, go over the front half of your dog. Work with his coat in the direction his hair naturally grows. Be gentle and slowly work out any tangles or knots, if you come across any that won't brush out easily, use the shears to cut them out.

Step

In the middle

Using the same technique, go over his back, belly, and front legs. Be very gentle around his belly and genitals as these areas are very thin-skinned and easily injured.

Step

At the back

Finally, brush out his hips, rear legs, and his rear end. Again, be gentle around the genitals and anus as these areas are very sensitive. As you brush out his coat, be sure to clip any long hair to restore his natural good looks.

The Break Out the Comb Method

Effective

0 Votes

Slicker Brush

Scissors

Comb

Clipper

Step

Start with a comb out

Start by choosing a good quality comb and working your way through your dog's entire coat nice and slowly. Start at the top of his head and work your way back, being sure to comb his hair in the direction it naturally grows. Trim the hair from his eyes, ears, nose, and muzzle using a pair of safety shears. Keep in mind, you can always cut shorter, but you can't cut longer so start out by cutting less off than you want at first.

Step

A little off the top

Using the comb as a guide and either shears or clippers, trim his ears, around his eyes, and, of course, his muzzle and chin. If you are new to trimming your pup's hair, start by cutting off less than your goal. This way you can go back and finish it up with a final trim. If you start out by cutting it too short, you will have to let his hair grow out again before you can make it look right.

Step

Down the front

With the comb, go down his throat, neck, and chest, using it as a cutting guide as needed to trim his coat. When you reach his legs, groom them from the bottom up with a brush or comb. Trim as needed, paying particular attention to the fur between his toes and pads.

Step

Along the back

Brush or comb your pup working your way down from the middle of his spine to the center of his belly. Then, if you need to trim, do so starting from the bottom up to help keep the hair level and shaped.

Step

Down the rump

Comb the hair on his rump and down his rear legs. Here again, use your shears to trim the hair around these areas. Be very careful around his genitals as these areas are very delicate. Go over his coat one last time with a slicker brush to level off his coat and give it a nice shine.

Caution & Considerations

Make sure the shears you are using are sharp and have rounded safety tips.
There are three different types of shears; straight, curved, and thinning, you may need them all.
Make sure the blades on your clippers are very sharp.
If your dog doesn't want to settle down, try taking him for a nice long walk to tire him out. If this doesn't work, you may need to purchase a grooming stand and harness to help keep him still.
Be sure to give your dog plenty of time to get used the tools, it will make the job that much easier.
Take your time, be patient, and make the whole process a fun bonding time.

Conclusion

There is far more to grooming your dog than bathing, brushing, and trimming. It is the perfect time for the two of you to get up close and personal, bonding with each other. Once you get over being nervous about grooming your dog, you will look forward to spending this special time with your four-legged friend.

How to Groom a Large Dog's Fur

Introduction

Dog's Perspective

The Smells Like You Need a Bath Method

The Break Out the Comb Method

Caution & Considerations

Conclusion

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

More Dog Grooming Guides