November 16th, 2010 by Jenny

Dogs are regularly groomed to maintain the admirable condition of the coat but for some reasons pet parents would decide to have the dog shaved. Dogs are commonly shaved to better cope with the heat of the summer months. A pet owner would decide to shave the dog because of the following concerns: fungal infections that results to hot spots, excessive shedding and fur that is prone to form tangles. A long coated dog may be too old to tolerate a good brushing thus an owner would shave the dog to minimize the need to groom.

Due to varied reasons, a pet owner would choose to shave the dog. Professional groomers charge from $40 to $80 to shave a dog. Shaving the dog yourself though would be fun.

Apart from being easier to shave, a clean and tangle free hair would not over work the clipper. Bathing the dog before the shaving session will remove the dirt from the coat. Dry the coat thoroughly and comb the hair to remove tangles. The shaving task would be easier and of course kinder on your back if the dog is positioned on a table but ensure that the head of the pet is loosely fastened to an overhead support to prevent the dog from jumping while being shaved. Being shaved for the first time will make the pet nervous thus talking calmly to the pet and laying the turned on clipper against the dog’s body will help accustom the pet to the sound and the vibration of the clipper.

Use a #10 blade to shave the area between the eyes of the dog. Be careful not to prod the eyes with the blade of the clipper. Move on to the face and to the ears. Shave the hair under the ears of long eared breeds.

The armpit area is the next. To shave the hair under the dog’s armpit you have to raise the leg but be sure that the position is not making the pet uncomfortable. Next is the anal area. Shaving the anal area is necessary for long haired dogs. To work on the rest of the dog’s body you have to replace the #10 blade with a longer one. Use continuous strokes to shave the hair on the head, neck and sides of the body . Pull the loose skin of the belly to make shaving easier. Last stop would be the legs and the feet. All done - give the dog a good hug for being a good sport.