Grooming your dog

If you own a miniature schnauzer you know that the cost of having your dog groomed regularly can really add up. Did you know, however, that grooming your mini yourself is an option? With a good pair of clippers and a plan, there isn’t any reason why little Frodo can’t wind up looking as good or better as when he steps out of the grooming salon.

Here are the steps for grooming your mini:

-Purchase a professional quality grooming kit. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to have the right tools to do the job.

Without the right tools you will end up frustrated and your dog will end up looking like a hairless Chinese Crested not exactly the look you had in mind.

-Set up a grooming station.

Ideally you will work on your dog on a raised surface so that you are not bending over. A table covered in a dog blanket works well particularly a blanket made of a canvas-type material that hair will not stick to.

-Using the grooming shears, first trim your dog’s back being sure to leave a little fringe along the belly line.

-Next, trim your dog’s tail and rear area using the shears.

-Next move to the head. Leave some typical schnauzer eyebrows, and groom the top of your dogs head with one pass down each side just in front of the ears. Continue to his neck, leaving his beard long.

-Carefully use the shears to trim your dog’s ear hair. Then, with salon-quality scissors, trim the outline of the ears.

-If your dog cooperates lay him on his side and gently trim his belly area.

-Next, with your dog standing, scissor his legs so that the fur is left long but is neatly trimmed. Do the same with his beard.

-Finally, use pet nail clippers to shorten his nails being careful not to cut too far and hit the “quick” the portion of the nail that has sensitivity.

-Last but not least, once your dog is all trimmed up, head off to the bath and give him a good shampoo and rinse using a product for pets. Afterwards, towel off your dog and give him a brush so that his new haircut will dry nicely.

All in all, it can be a rewarding and financially beneficial endeavor to learn how to groom your miniature schnauzer yourself. However, if you find the task daunting or the results less than spectacular, you can always implement an “every other” rule every other haircut will be done by you. This plan can work well, if you can let comments about your grooming ability (or lack thereof) roll off your back!