Very few people see clipping their dogs as an art form. Instead, they just tackle certain areas, such as scraggly fur on the feet, to keep their dogs from tacking in mud. In an effort to get rid of undesirable hair, however, many owners forget that clipping their dogs can actually cause damage.

When you choose to clip your dog's coat, it's important to keep breed in mind. Longer hair breeds can suffer if you clip them wrongly. Dust accumulates in the coat, and skin diseases may result. In addition, parasites may more freely breed in coats that haven't been cared for correctly.

You should also be sure to keep your pet's nails trimmed to avoid pain in walking and breakage. An overly long mail will have a tendency to turn to the side, and may even grow to puncture the skin. Dogs with too long nails will also easily catch them on things, causing breakage and splitting.

Injuries also easily occur during clipping of nails. The quick of the nail will bleed it it's cut. This is the source of blood supplying the nail, as well as where the nerves are located. This keeps the nail alive and growing. However, this area is situated far back inside the nail, and will only be exposed if you cut the nail too short or if it splinters. This can be sensitive or painful.

When cutting your dog's nails and hair, make sure you always use very sharp clippers. For nails, make sure you get the right tools for the job - nail clippers for people just don't work for dogs. There are lots of new types of nail clippers out there that are made to cut down on pain and damage.

If you live somewhere with a cold climate, avoid clipping your dog in winter unless you have to. The winter can put a lot of stress on your dog, particularly if your dog's coat is not long enough to protect her from the snowy weather and chilly climate. Remember that humans aren't the only ones to get frostbite.

Overclipping in summer can be bad as well. It might not seem like it, but your dog's coat protects him or her and keeps the harmful rays of the sun from causing damage. It's okay to thin or shorten the coat slightly, but make sure you leave enough fur to protect your pet.

Don't clip your dog when he or she is ill, since it can stress your pet even more. Clip only when needed to get rid of broken nails or dirty fur.

Walking your dog on concrete daily can help keep him or her healthy. This will help you wear down the nail on a gradual basis and will keep them even. That way, you and your dog don't have to go through the clipping process.

Of course, to get the best results, you'll want to find a professional groomer who knows the correct way to clip particular breeds.

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Written by Cliff Stone using tags: best dog training, clipping a dog, dog agility training, dog training, dog training program, dog training tools, Dogs, how to clip a dog, how to train your dog, Pets