Its best to consult a professional before shaving shorter than a #10 blade. Depending on the dog, shaving the coat too short can cause hair not to grow back properly (mainly double coated dogs), and can cause skin irritation. Shaving the coat with a very short blade, such as a #30, is more dangerous as there is an increased risk of blade burn as well as accidental cuts or nicks. They will likely need to use a #15 or #30 blade to get close enough to the skin to go under the matting. If the matting is too severe that a #10 blade cannot remove it, it is advisable to take your dog to a professional veterinarian or groomer to remove the matting for you. It is not recommended to shave a full coat shorter than 1.5mm unless necessary. If the #10 blade wont go under the matting, a shorter blade will be required. If the matting is too close to the skin, you will need to use a #10 blade. You may be able to remove mats with a #7FC blade, if the mats are more than 3mm from the skin. If the knots have got so bad that they've formed mats close to the skin, you will need a short blade. In that case you'll need to use a blade that is short enough to go under the knots. Sometimes knots become too bad to be able to brush out, or the dog dislikes being brushed, or brushing them out would cause discomfort, so you have no choice but to clip them out. Now you're ready to clip! 4. Choose the right blade for removing knots Brush again to remove any missed tangles. TIP: don't 'rub dry' or more tangles can form. Conditioner helps close and smooth the hair cuticle to reduce tangles and knots forming and makes brushing easier. Knots that have become felted mats, may have to be clipped out, or cut out, for the animal's comfort and safety.Īfter you shampoo a knot-prone coat, don't skip conditioner. If you have knots you can't remove even with the help of detangler spray and a comb, brush or slicker, try a de-matting rake to break it in to smaller, workable sections. Whenever possible, brush before you wash (washing a knotted coat can make it worse). To prepare knot-prone or difficult coats before you clip: TIP: If you've removed all knots, then using a de-shedder to thin the undercoat and remove dead, stuck coat first can help if you find your blade is getting clogged or not getting through the coat. Thick, dense, double or curly coats can also cause a blade to 'chew' instead of cut. If a grooming comb cannot get through the coat without snagging, your blade will probably struggle also, especially longer blades, or a blade with a comb attachment fitted on. 3. Avoid clipping knotted or tangled coats If you dry hands-free and use a line-brushing technique, that will also help by straightening the coat and removing any remaining tangles, for a much easier clip and smoother finish. They dry the coat significantly faster than a human hair dryer can, and have a safer heat level. To speed up the ideal process - which is brush > wash > dry > brush > clip - use a proper pet dryer. Keep in mind blades are not covered by clipper warranties if they have become dull or blunt - that's considered normal wear and tear - so it's best to follow all these steps when you can. We do sharpen blades at AllGroom, and you'll likely find other suppliers locally. Some groomers choose to do an initial pre-clip before the bath to save time and the amount of product required, which means more frequent blade sharpening or replacement will be required. Think of it like cutting sandpaper with scissors!Ĭlipping a dirty coat is best avoided, even if only slightly dirty or dusty, unless you want to sharpen your blade more often! A matted or knotted coat in particular can trap a lot of dirt and oils within the knotted fur. A dog or horse's coat quickly picks up dirt and dust, and traps sand, dander, grit, oils, flea dirt and more, all which can dull or blunt your blade much faster than many people realize. Never clip before a bathĪlways freshly wash the coat right before you clip. Here are 9 common reasons blades become dull, and what you can do about them. A dog or horse's coat will blunt a blade far faster than human hair does - however you can extend a blade’s life and keep your blades sharper for longer. You cannot 100% stop blades from becoming dull over time, that’s normal expected wear and tear.
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