How to Shave a Dog's Behind

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How to Shave a Dog's Behind

Easy

15 - 20 Minutes

1 Month

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Introduction

Okay, let's face it, no one really looks forward to the task of shaving their pup's behind. Yet doing so is a vital part of what should be your regular grooming routine. If your dog has long hair on her rump it can become matted, which is painful. She could also be bringing feces into your home that gets spread everywhere her butt touches. A rear end that is covered in dirty, matted hair can become dirty, smelly, and infested with fleas. One of the best ways of dealing with this is to learn how to shave your pup's backside.

Dog's Perspective

The last thing your favorite fuzzball wants is for you to be messing with her derriere. This is a very sensitive area of her body containing both her genitals and her anus. From the mere fact that you are at the back of her to the sound of the clippers, everything about shaving her behind is likely to make your pup nervous. Be sure to take your time and be gentle and patient.

The Shears Only Method

Effective

0 Votes

Slicker Brush

Scissors

Step

A little help from my friends

This is a good time to find an assistant, whose job it will be to hold your dog still. Small to medium size dogs can simply be picked up and held with their rear end on display, but bigger dogs will need to be held still in a standing position.

Step

Move that tail

Have your assistant move the tail to one side or the other.

Step

Brush her bum

Using a slicker brush, brush all of the hair on her backside going from top to bottom. Remove any tangles, mats, feces, and other forms of debris. If the mats are too big, leave them to be cut out in a moment.

Step

Cut around the private parts

Start by using a pair of straight shears with safety tips and cut the hair going from top to bottom. Be very careful as you trim around her genitals.

Step

The rest of her bum

Using the shears, cut the rest of her bum hair going from top to bottom, keeping the scissors parallel to her skin but never directly touching. Keep the cut fairly close for the cleanest results around the privates and if you want to, you can leave her hair a little longer towards her legs.

The Dual Tool Method

Effective

0 Votes

Slicker Brush

Scissors

Clipper

Step

Put your dog in her place

If you are grooming a small to medium sized dog, you should have a grooming table with a restraint. Alternatively, you can use a regular table and an assistant to hold her still. Bigger breeds can be groomed while standing on the floor.

Step

Tail lift

With one hand, lift the tail clear of her backside so that you have direct access for grooming. The other hand is for the shears.

Step

Start trimming

Using a pair of sharp safety shears (rounded-tip), trim the hair at the base of the tail. You should only need to go from one to three inches up her tail to help stop it getting dirty.

Step

Starting in the middle

This may be one of the only times when starting in the middle is the right way to do things. Starting in the center of the behind, shave outward.

Step

Go short

Depending on your dog's breed and/or your grooming preference, you can shave this hair as short as you want. It will make it much easier to keep this area clean. Never apply the clippers directly to the skin, though, as they can burn or cut her. Keep the clippers away from her private areas as there is a high risk of nicks and cuts.

Caution & Considerations

Try pulling the skin tight while using the clippers, this can help you avoid nicks and cuts.
Keep the clippers off the skin and genitals as the blade can become hot enough to burn.
Take your time and be extremely careful around the anus and genitals, the skin here is very delicate and easily injured.
Give the dog plenty of time to get used to the sound of the clippers before trying to use them.
Comb or brush out the hair first to remove mats and tangles that might catch in the clipper blades, causing them to be ripped out instead of being cut. This would be very painful.

Conclusion

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that you need to keep up with shaving your dog's rear end. If you allow the hair to grow too long you could end up with massive mats and tangles that harbor parasites, feces, and who knows what else, all of which are bad for your dog's health. So be sure you stay on top of this very important task.

How to Shave a Dog's Behind

Introduction

Dog's Perspective

The Shears Only Method

The Dual Tool Method

Caution & Considerations

Conclusion

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

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