After I did Abbie's paws last time, I was looking at her back feet, wondering why they still looked... wild, for lack of a better term. I took my thinning shears to the fur on the back of the foot (above the pad) and it worked!! It was so nice, I checked Duncan to make sure his was short. I love a good foot and a good trimmed ear. It just makes them look so much neater, even when their fur is curling and wavy and messy.
Trimming feet (my thoughts) and Ears and Head
- Thread starter Narmowen
- Start date
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
I highly recommend a bikini shaver for trimming the top of the feet and around the nails
It's low power so you can't go overboard.
When trimming feet, first I use the shaver, then I trim with round edge scissors. I push the fur downwards between the paws and trim off the excess. Then I'm ready to do nails. I trim the nails. Then I do the final clean up on the paws. I take my slicker brush and brush upward on top of the paw, the snip with with thinning shears. I do a final rounding with the shaver and scissors
I frankly hate doing the feet because my pups don't like it. So I tend to put it off. Ideally, though, I should be doing some combination of the process at least once at week, so that it does not get away from me. It's when I leave EVERYTHING too long that it becomes a big ordeal.
It's low power so you can't go overboard.
When trimming feet, first I use the shaver, then I trim with round edge scissors. I push the fur downwards between the paws and trim off the excess. Then I'm ready to do nails. I trim the nails. Then I do the final clean up on the paws. I take my slicker brush and brush upward on top of the paw, the snip with with thinning shears. I do a final rounding with the shaver and scissors
I frankly hate doing the feet because my pups don't like it. So I tend to put it off. Ideally, though, I should be doing some combination of the process at least once at week, so that it does not get away from me. It's when I leave EVERYTHING too long that it becomes a big ordeal.
One of the benefits of having a tiny Sheltie is that you can give them a belly rub (therefore they are then on their backs) and then go at their feet while they are all relaxed. Imagine my surprise when we got Abigail! I was like, "Oh, gee... Give me a paw, missy." I ended up letting her get used to us for a while (she had just had a nice grooming courtesy of Judy anyway) and then putting her in a Sit for the front paws and a Down for the back paws. Much less fuss.
A grooming table would be nice.
A grooming table would be nice.
Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
You know...!? Even tho I live in a small city... I may just look into that!!
Will let ya know what I found out! lol
So this thread prompted me to try trimming Domino's ears (a little bit of guilt started to creep in). BUT now I wish I hadn't...the poor thing looks like I took a pair of scissors to him blindfolded! The fur around his ears no longers sticks up in an endearing way but sits in clumps where I tried to smoothly trim but actually chopped lines into the hair. Oops 
I guess this teaches me to either take him to a groomer OR just leave him "au naturel".
I guess this teaches me to either take him to a groomer OR just leave him "au naturel".
I think I do their feets pretty good and Mark holds them while I use the dremel but but some times that is hard to do the way they are held and the angle I do them. I have not attempted Zak's ears and have some one coming Saturday to do them and hopefully Mark will be here to film it as I will try and assist so I can learn. I would love a grooming table for Christmas...where can I find a small one with an arm?
tofu pup
Moderator
Here you are! We have two of these... mom has a big one that is permanent "furniture" in the dog room, and I have a smaller one that I fold up and store when not in use. It's a great, sturdy, all-purpose table. Mine was a Christmas present, too.
OntarioSheltie
Forums Celebrity
So this thread prompted me to try trimming Domino's ears (a little bit of guilt started to creep in). BUT now I wish I hadn't...the poor thing looks like I took a pair of scissors to him blindfolded! The fur around his ears no longers sticks up in an endearing way but sits in clumps where I tried to smoothly trim but actually chopped lines into the hair. Oops
I guess this teaches me to either take him to a groomer OR just leave him "au naturel".
I have an extremely hard time following instructions in general without seeing it done. Photos aren't usually good enough for me, I have to actually see it being done. I've had my oldest sheltie for almost 3 years and only now feel like I finally grasp ear and foot trimming.
This thread was really helpful to me for trimming Sadie's ears and the photo links still work. Maybe it will help you fix your pup's ears.
http://www.sheltieforums.com/showthread.php?t=2024
One thing that I've learned (with myself anyway) is that I get scared when the fur starts to look really uneven and I leave it that way so as to not make it worse. This doesn't necessarily mean that you've made a mistake, just that you're not finished. If you try cutting the fur so that its all one length, it usually starts to look MUCH better.