I've seen some videos on You Tube but thought I'd ask some questions because I am not a normally do this at home kind of person, but am trying to learn!

I had my cat Naji trimmed at a groomer due to his lack of interest (lifelong) in grooming - he's a very longhair cat (Birman) with really soft Angora bunny type fur. He LOVES his shorter fur. It is such an unexpected reaction - he is happier, no more coughing up globs of fur, and he looks great since she used a longer guard on him (or shorter - whatever - he was not "skinned"). I had no idea that this could impact his quality of life so much. So a friend who does hair for humans gave me an extra set of the clippers and guards that she had.

Now I'm looking around...and thinking, wow almost everyone here has fluffy butts, and 2 (Rocco/Nico) who get that back end area so dirty (with mud), but not sure starting with a sanity trim is the best thing for all involved. Is it dangerous? Can it be done safely? I have a grooming table. Nico had a meltdown when I cut some twirlies out of his hind end fur last week - his power! I don't know what it was but he hid! Other than the emotional price is it something a non-groomer person could do?

And Ilsa...Ilsa is difficult to groom. She hates it. Makes sense - whereas Mariele the barnacle has so much pack drive and could be groomed for hours, Ilsa likes to be petted every once in a while and cannot stand the process, other than nail trims. I wish people here could meet her. I was thinking of giving her a lion cut but not too short.

How much brushing out needs to be done before shaving? If you use the longest guard (the one that leaves the most hair) is there a difference from doing a skinned shave?

What questions should I be asking that I am not! You know that saying when you have a hammer, everything is a nail? That's what I feel like with my new clippers!

Here's my knowledge from using clippers on Tazer the Cocker and my Cresteds.

Dirty hair dulls clippers VERY fast. Give a bath and dry a day or so before doing the clipping.

Make sure you oil the clippers. This keeps them sharp and clean.

Test the flat part of the blade on your hand to see if it's getting too hot. I usually did one side of Tazer then let him run around for awhile while the clippers cooled.

Using a guard means you don't have to go quite as slow or be as careful as if you used the clippers 'naked'. You won't cause razor burn.

Other than that just remember - you can always cut off more and it always grows back.

Great info!

The boys will need a bath of some sort then - even for a sanity trim, just a spot bath. Ilsa is the cleanest, best smelling dog ever - I don't know what it is, but she is. She scares odor and dirt away!

I need to see if I have oil - like sewing machine oil? I need to read how to do oil them - I even got instructions with it.

Did not know about the heating!!!

I am probably going to use a long guard first. I may also test it out on Bella who - when I was trimming Nico with the scissors, stood and waited and then I had to "trim" her fur as well. How can a dog be so hilarious?

Thank you!

Get clipper oil. It is probably the same thing, but the dropper it comes in is easy to put the right amount on them.

Definitely have back-up blades. (disclaimer I'm talking experience from doing horses). I always had 2 of the same blades when I did a body. Use a blade with big teeth.

Goo luck! I've never done a dog, but most horses were pretty good about it once it became like second nature to them.

Beyond that I can offer no advice on how to avoid mass choas while doing it or dog specific techniques

No real advice but I did Nadia last spring and was so glad I did! She looked rough for a little bit because it was my first time, but her hair grew out quickly and no real harm was done. She was cooler in the summer and moving would have made her miserable without it. Zisso does not like it and will hide from me, so taking him in to be done professionally is smarter, but Nadia will lay there for hours upon hours for me to work on!

I used a clipper on Max's fistula area and his hair around there, and a bit on his tail. He didn't seem to care, but it helped me a lot. I just tried, and, it worked!

I have a set of clippers to. The best I can think to do with them is to trim my own hair. I'd be afraid to use it on an animal or another person. I don't really understand how to use the guards so I'd probably shave them bald without intending to.

I groom Coke and also cut my own hair and my DH's hair so we have electric clippers and other tools. If you're not doing a complete shave down, you'll also want thinning shears to blend. I use these on all three of us - on me to layer my own hair, on DH because I buzz a number 3 on the back and sides of his head and then scissor cut and blend the top, and on Coke because I shave some parts with like a number 5 and then blend. I also use the thinning shears on his ears and to trim/thin out some of the areas where I don't ever clip the coat but don't want so.much.coat (like his lion's mane on his breast).

See Liesje, you've precisely hit on my lack of knowledge. I have guards and such (are they numbered or something) but have no clue which is what. Wanna come to my house and trim my hair? LOL

hey try doing a hairy aussie! Lucky for me a good friend is a groomer so I've gotten some 'lessons' over the years.

Mine are all used to the groomers so they can be easy to do except for Jag who HATES the sound of the clippers/or scissors..so I noose him up, turn on the blower, (he likes that) clip and he is none the wiser:)

I admit Ive done some 'hack jobs' on Jynx, she is sooooooo hairy,,I usually try to blow her out good first, I use no guard with her because her hair is soooo THICK around her butt, so far I haven't nicked her, but I did cut a big CLUMP out of her when she moved once, that looked pretty "not" LOL

You just kinda have to practice, I started with the guards and worked my way off them..I'm telling you it can take me two days to clip down Jynx:(