I have decided that I will cut my dog's hair myself, at least give it a try once, to save money and so that my dog has someone familiar treating them. Before giving my first hair cut, I did some research to find out the dos and don'ts to clipping a dog's coat. I read some good advice that should definitely be shared with other dog owners attempting to do the same.

The first thing you need to remember to do is to brush out all the mats and tangles from your dog's coat so there are no snags along the way. This will help the clippers run smoothly through your dog's coat and avoid any nicks to the dog's skin. Regular brushing will help keep mats and tangles from forming in your dog's coat.

When beginning clipping for the first time, you will want to test the sound and vibration of your clippers on your dog to check his reaction. The earlier in your dog's life that you try this, the more common it is that they will adapt to this feeling and the noises. The older a dog is, the harder it is to get him used to this new process. The noise of the clippers could scare your pup, so it is best to start at the lowest noise level and allow him time to adapt to the sensation. My mum's dog absolutely loves getting clipped but I have heard of other dogs that just tremble at the sight of the clippers.

Another good piece of advice I read was to really research your dog's breed to see if there is anything special to know about their style, peculiarities about their coats, or how they tend to react.

There are definitely some tips to keep in mind about the professional dog clippers themselves. First, you need to make sure the clippers are sharp. If the clippers are dull it will pinch your dog's skin because dull clippers tend to pull hair instead of cut it. Second, research the proper blade to use on your dog's coat. Use clipper coolant or lubricant to keep the clippers cool, otherwise they can become too hot to touch and can really hurt your dog. When applying the coolant or lubricant, wipe clean the excess so that it doesn't get on your dog's clean coat. Finally, routinely turn the clippers off to allow them to cool so you don't burn the motor out. You can always switch blades so they can take turn cooling down. If you pay attention to what you're doing, you should be able to effectively give your dog a nice cut and keep him happy.

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