Anyone clip their own dog?

[FaintingGoat]

For various reasons I'm considering starting to clip my miniature schnauzer myself. I don't worry too much about her having a "proper" schnauzer cut, as long as she has a good beard and eyebrows. I like the rest to be reasonably short as she gets walked through fields, forests, on the beach, and likes to get good and filthy. Preferably covered in sticky buds too, whenever possible.

So I'm just wondering what equipment anyone else uses, who does this at home? Or indeed if you do it professionally, what do you use and where do you buy it?

i have, poor dog looked like he had been butchered! when ever people commented on him i had to lie and say my brother did it!

So i paid to gt him cut and then just maintained it, was much easier and looked much better!

I do, and I have no shame. However, mine is just a scruffy, hairy lurcher so I don't have to worry about a breed standard look.

He has very fine silky hair and seems to shed continuously, and even with regular brushing seems to ends up with some matted bits. Over the years I've tried every different type of brush, comb, thinner and have ended up with a 20 quid pair of clippers from a garden centre and round ended scissors for more delicate areas. He gets trimmed 2 or 3 times a year.

It is surprisingly difficult and even after years of doing this, it still looks shocking for the first week or so until it starts to grow out a bit.

I am very grateful that the others have short hair and just need a bit of a brush!

yes we clip our poodle ourselves , he needs clipping every month or gets matted badly.

We had a few disasters but bought some decent clippers for £125 from Amazon and they made all the difference.

Google professional clipper reviews and there are lots of youtube videos as to how to do it.

it has saved us ££££££££

Have a look on utube for clipping tips. Keep the skin pulled smooth and taught in the areas you are clipping. Use cool lube spray to keep the clippers cool and clean. Bath and dry the dog the day before cutting as a dirty coat blunts the blades of the clippers. It's good to do the nails and the anal glands at the same time. If he/she's not been clipped before she may act up and bite through fear; have you thought what you are going to do if that happens and she's half clipped?

A schnauzer should preferably be hand stripped.

Thanks everyone. The grooming place she goes to has been sold and I don't like the new owners, I gave them a go but they did a terrible job. The place closer to home costs twice as much and their attitude sucks, so I just won't give them my money. I have phoned a couple of mobile groomers who have been recommended but they can't fit her in for weeks and she'll need doing before then.

Lonelylou Thank you for the tips. She has been clipped lots of times before. She is a very compliant dog, she's even great in the bath. I realise that hand stripping is one option, but like I said, I am not too concerned about the "proper" schnauzer standard. Even if she was stripped, I'd still be in this position.

I've been looking at clippers and it seems that a brand called Andis are popular, anyone use them?

Yes, I clip our standard poodle. I use Oster clippers, which are similar to Andis (the type of dog clippers you can get from Argos are rubbish, you need professional grade clippers) and this blade here. This leave his coat around 1/2" long all over.

I also shower ours the day before so his coat is clean. I take my time doing it and give him regular breaks to play in the garden for 10 mins or so before carrying on again.

I haven't used clippers so can't help with those, sorry.
But I used to hand strip the Cairns twice a year using a stripping knife. If you wait till the coat is blowing it isn't difficult.

I used to trim one of my Yorkies when she got old & was better off without the bother of her long silky coat but I used scissors, not clippers.
I've never used a groomers, when I started out there were no such places & everyone who showed did their own anyway.

I clip my own dog (springer spaniel) and I just use standard human clippers.
I did have him cut properly by a groomer and I watched her do it, which is why I am confident enough to clip him myself now. I only do him once or maybe twice a year and his fur is lovely. It might not be a perfect finish on his legs/elbows but I'm not too fussy about that and the fact that he isn't still foe very long means you don't really notice it anyway