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 decide to clip your dog’s fur, keep his breed in mind. If you clip a longer haired breed incorrectly, dust accumulates in the coat, causing skin problems. In addition, parasites like ticks and fleas can move and breed more freely if your dog’s coat isn’t card for or clipped correctly.

You need to trim your dog’s nails to avoid breaking, splitting, and pain while walking. That’s because overlong toenails cause the nail to turn sideways, or even to dig into the foot. When a dog has claws that are too long, it becomes easy to catch them on hard surfaces or to break or split them.

Injuries are common during the process of clipping a dog’s nails – the inside of the nail may bleed when cut. Since the quick of the mail is the source of blood and the location of nerves, it’s what keeps the nail healthy and growing. This area is located well back in the nail, but if the nail’s been cut too short or splinters, the quick may be exposed. This sensitive area will then be quite 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 in an area where it gets cold in winter, don’t clip your dog’s coat during the chilly part of the year. The coat helps protect your dog, and cipping it can increase stress on the animal. Remember that dogs get frostbite the same way you do.

In the summer, make sure you don’t clip your dog’s hair too short. If you do, you’ll be exposing his skin to the sun – a dog’s fur helps keep him cool in hot weather. Shortening the hair is okay, but don’t cut the hair so short the skin shows.

It’s also important to avoid clipping unhealthy dogs. This can cause them stress, so clip sick pets only when absolutely necessary.

Walking your dog on concrete daily can help keep your dog’s nails worn down in a more even, gradual way. This helps you avoid having to deal with clippers.

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