How to Groom a Small Dog's Legs

For those of you who have small dogs, you already know how challenging basic grooming can be. Little dogs tend to fuss and fidget more than larger dogs. But, the good news is that while getting your pup to stay still while you groom his legs might take a while, it can be done. The most important thing to remember is to remain calm, use a relaxed tone of voice, and make the process something fun and special for your pup. The earlier you start, the easier it will be to get him used to having his legs groomed. 

While your dog probably isn't too worried about how well-groomed the hair on his legs is, you can bet he is going to be concerned when you approach his legs with shears or clippers. The earlier you start getting your pup used to the shears and clippers the easier it will. No matter how young or old your dog is, you need to give him plenty of time to get used to the tools you will be using. This will make things a lot easier for both of you. 

• Give your pup plenty of time to sniff, look at, even lick the tools you will be using. This will help reduce his stress and make the job easier.
  
• Never try to remove mats or heavy tangles with a comb, this can cause your pup a lot of unnecessary pain.
  
• Always use sharp shears to cut mats and tangles out.
  
• Never use shears with dull blades.
  
• Always use shears with sharp blades and rounded safety tips.
  
• Always make sure the blades in your clippers are sharp and well-lubricated.
  
• Never try to use electric clippers on wet hair, this can jam up your clippers and lead to hair being painfully ripped out. 
  

While it might take a while for your pup to become completely comfortable with having his legs (and the rest of him) groomed, doing it yourself has its advantages. These include saving money and having a little one-on-one time to spend bonding with each other. You should brush his legs at least once a week, but every other week at the very least.