How to Groom a Schnauzer

If you want to groom a schnauzer yourself, you may be a little intimidated by the process. This needn't be so. It is possible to groom a schnauzer at home by purchasing quality tools that will pay for themselves in the long run. With a good pair of clippers and a plan, there isn't any reason why you can't groom a schnauzer at home instead of making an appointment with a professional groomer.

Below are some tips to help you groom a schnauzer:

1. Purchase a professional quality grooming kit.

It is extremely important 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 he was groomed at home. Purchase quality tools and you will perform a quality grooming job.

2. 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.

3. Follow a specific series of steps when grooming.

-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 a schnauzer yourself. However, if you find the task daunting or the results less than spectacular, you can always implement an "every other" rule, meaning that every other haircut will be done by you. Doing so will save you money and give you a chance to improve your grooming ability over time.