Regular Dog Grooming
Going through a professional groomer is a great option for keeping your dog's coat looking in top shape; however it can add up in cost over the years. This is especially true if you keep your dog clipped year round or if you are planning on entering your dog in a number of shows or events. You may wish to take a grooming course or even do some research online about how to correctly groom and clip a dog, it isn't too hard once you understand the basics.
Professional groomers all agree that starting with the very best in equipment is the single most important aspect of giving your dog a great clip. Of course you also have to know how to actually use the equipment and what style is best for your dog, but without the right tools the task is much more difficult. There are a wide range of professional clippers and trimmers on the market, so be sure to do some research and read reviews on the various brand names. Avoid buying second hand grooming supplies as they are often damaged, not well maintained and often outdated. New models of electric clippers are very quite, require less oiling and cooling during use and are more comfortable to use both for the dog as well as the owner.
Make sure that the blades are sharp and free from any rust or damaged areas. If the blades are not sharp they will pull the hair, leading to pain for the dog and a ragged looking finished clip. Oil and cool the clippers as recommend in the owner's manual and always clean the blades and clippers after every use. With routine care clippers and blades can last several show seasons or for years if not used on an ongoing basis.
The basic clip for most breeds includes the puppy clip, also known as the sports clip. This is an overall short all over the body clip that is cool in the summer months and also keeps shedding to a minimum year round. The puppy clip or sports clip typically leaves the hair on the tail longer as well as the hair on the ears and face slightly to moderately long.
The Terrier breeds all tend to have their own clips or they are actually stripped. The most common terrier clip includes a short cut on the body with the longer, full volume hair on the legs. The beard is also trimmed to give an axe-shape the muzzle, which may be known as the Schnauzer trim.
The Poodle styles of clips can be used on many different breeds or mixed breed dogs, however for show purposes only the continental clip or the English saddle clip can be used. The continental clip is the most well known of the Poodle show clips with the hair on the hindquarters of the body and neck and face very short and the hair left long on the front quarters, top of the head and in pompoms on the bottom of the legs and the tail. The English saddle clip is very similar except the hindquarters have longer hair and there is a band of shaved hair at the stifle and hock joints of the back legs. In addition there is a shaved curved area on each flank.
Article by Karen Olson of Oh My Dog Supplies, your top spot to buy dog clothes online.
