Answer for Mittens

Mittens left a comment on yesterdays post.

"Hello again! I hope this doesn't sound too gross...but do you have any videos of doing sanitary trim (anus) ? I've always done it lightly skimming side to side (outwards) with a 10, but usually this causes the dog to "booty-scoot" for a couple of days. Any advice?"

First, Thanks for the question Mittens.

I used to get a fair amount of customers telling me that their dogs were scooting after the groom also... until I stopped clipping the rear.

It used to drive me crazy, because I knew that I was being careful. 

I scissor most of the rears now.

I can get the rear just as close with scissors as I can with the clipper, but I actually like to leave the rear just a little fuzzy.

I have found that no matter how careful or how lightly I skim a rear with clippers, a lot of the dogs get itchy.

I use my curve shears turned backwards, so that the points of the scissors curve away from the dog.

With scissors I feel like I have a little more control of how much hair I take off or leave on.

Because this is a white dog I like to leave the rear just a little fuzzy.

If I have to use my clipper because the hair around the rear was matted, I always tell the owner.

'FiFi had mats around her rear today, so I had to clip closer then I usually would. She may go home and scoot, so keep an eye on her and stop her if you see her scooting.'

If a customer wants the rear very short, I will clip it with the clippers, but I always warn them that the dog may scoot.

Scissoring the rear is no guarantee that the dog will not scoot, but I have noticed that I don't get very many complaints anymore about scooting.

Some dogs will scoot no matter what.

I had a Terrier Mix that loved to go out in the yard and scoot after I groomed her.

Would she scoot on the grass?

Nooooo.

She had to scoot on the concrete sidewalk!

It used to give me chills when I caught her.

It did not make any difference whether I scissored or clipped her rear.

So maybe you could try scissoring instead of clipping, and see if that helps.

Happy Grooming, MFF