Why I Clip My Dogs at Home (Not the Groomers) & How I Do It

Animals

28 Jul

It's bath day for the girls and by the end of it, two very fuzzy sausage dogs turn into two very smart ones. I'm sharing the exact method I've taught myself over years of trial and error, because store-bought grooming just wasn't working for us.

Penny and Florence are both miniature wirehaired dachshunds, but their pale sable colouring means they grow a much fuzzier coat than a typical wirehair too soft to handstrip properly. So instead of fighting it, I clip them myself at home with a routine I've refined over years: a good bath first, a thorough brush as they dry, then clippers and thinning scissors used carefully in the direction of the coat. I'll talk you through my kit, my technique, and exactly why I do it this way plus a few honest notes on when you should absolutely take your dog to a professional groomer instead.

This is a slow, unhurried kind of day the sort I always try to set proper time aside for, so nobody feels rushed. Grab a cup of tea and settle in.