Cutting Your Dog's Hair: Professionally or At Home?

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 21 December, 2022

A professional dog groomer is often a luxury that few people can afford. Therefore, cutting your dog’s hair at home can be a good option. Depending on the breed, it can be a lot simpler than you might think.

Why Is It Important To Cut Your Dog’s Hair?

Long-haired dogs require a lot more care than short-haired dogs. They need to be washed more often and their hair will need to be dried out with a hairdryer. They also need daily brushing to prevent their hair from getting overly tangled.

In addition, cutting your dog’s hair is a very good idea because it reduces the chances of your dog from getting fleas or ticks, and it will stop them molting all over the place.

Vets also say that it’s especially important to keep their hair groomed during winter. This is because the cold and the wet weather can be bad for them.

If their hair isn’t dried out quickly with a hairdryer, it’ll be the perfect place for fungus, fleas, and ticks. Drying a dog’s hair is also the best way to prevent that wet dog smell from spreading throughout the house.

Professionally or At Home?

As you can see, cutting your dog’s hair is highly recommended by professionals. However, whether you get it done professionally or do it yourself depends on a few things.

If you’re going to do it yourself, you need to think about whether you have enough space, the right tools, and the right attitude. Many dogs get nervous when having their hair cut. However, they’re more likely to be calmer and trusting if their owner does it.

You’ll need a large space to do it comfortably and safely. If you have a patio, this would be a perfect place to cut their hair.

But, let’s not forget that cutting your dog’s hair at a professional dog groomer has many advantages. The main one is that the professional doing it will know exactly how to react if your dog becomes aggressive or nervous. The disadvantage is often that they’re quite expensive.

Recommendations for Cutting Your Dog’s Hair At Home

First, Inspect Your Dog’s Hair

You should start by quickly checking your dog’s hair. Before you begin cutting his hair, you should be sure that there are no ticks, fleas, or any wounds that might make cutting his hair painful.

Brushing

Hygiene is just as important, as is getting rid of any dirt or dust out of your dog’s hair. You should brush his hair first to untangle it and get rid of any loose hairs.

Cutting Your Dog’s Hair As You Dry It

Professionals tend to cut dogs’ hair while they’re still wet. However, when you do it at home, you should cut when it’s dry to make sure that it’s the right length and to be able to see exactly how it looks.

Scissors or Electric Razor?

The best option is to use an electric razor because you’ll get a much more even finish. The margin for error is much lower. However, be sure to use it carefully and not cause your dog any pain.

Cutting your dog’s hair professionally or at home will largely depend on what you’re hoping to get out of it. If you’re trying to save money, then cutting your dog’s hair yourself is obviously a lot more inexpensive.