POOCH PARLOUR

Clipper-wielding maniacs have been giving their dogs a fur-cut – with mostly alarming results.

Jazz musician Curtis Stigers tweeted pictures of his dog Hank’s groom of doom. The Holden family in Winchester gave their dog Cookie a spring clip – and turned him into Boundin’s shorn sheep. And owner Sally Springham has sentenced her Dixie Chick to a life of therapy.

To avoid being sued by your own dog for mental cruelty, pet insurance comparison website comparebyreview.com has put together a step-bystep guide to DIY doggie cuts:

Groom your dog after a walk, when they’re slightly more tired and worn out. They may become anxious if they aren’t used to being groomed, so create a space where they are relaxed and reward them with treats for good behaviour.

Bath your dog using a highquality, neutral dog shampoo that won’t damage their skin. Use lukewarm water and try to keep their ears clear to avoid water getting in. Before you begin, check for any lumps, bumps, sore ears, eyes or pads.

Towel-dry to remove excess water, then dry with a hairdryer. Gently comb through their hair to remove any knots. Ears, legs and tails tend to matt more. To brush out matted fur, hold it close to their body and gently brush away from the skin. Once your dog is dry, lay out a towel on a table ready for grooming.

Gently pull out the hair between your dog’s pads and trim it carefully with small scissors. Then trim around your dog’s paws. If you have curved scissors, use them to trim around the paws, they’ll give a nice curved shape.

Make sure your dog is standing and you have hold of them. Start at the neck, working your way down your dog’s body. Shave in the direction of their fur. The underbelly needs to be shaved short as it becomes the dirtiest.

Lift their tail up and cut the hair underneath quite short to maintain good hygiene. Trim excess hair from around their eyes and cut around their snout with curved scissors to create a rounded shape. Trim over their ears to remove excess hair, then tidy the edges with straight scissors.

Use nail clippers to trim the very ends off if they appear to be curling under. Or simply file them down with an emery board until you can visit a groomer.