How to Groom a Schnauzer?
How to Groom a Schnauzer?
No one can deny the beauty of a Schnauzer breed in terms of its catchy bearded muzzle and fluffy coat. Grooming a Schnauzer requires dedication and a regular grooming session. As a proud Schnauzer parent, I am here with a thorough knowledge of how to groom a Schnauzer.
Schnauzers are one of the popular playful breeds you can pet as your furry companion. Their hair coat is resistant to shedding and perfect for you if you don’t want a hairy mess on your favorite sofa.
I recommend you follow the below-mentioned steps to groom a Schnauzer at least twice a week. This is essential to your dog healthy and in perfect shape. To start, you need some basic dog grooming tools mentioned below.
Essential Grooming Tools for Schnauzer Breed
- Metal Grooming Comb & Pin Bristle Brush
- Cutting & Shearing Scissors
- Hair & Nail Trimmers and Clippers
- Good Quality Dog Shampoo
- Bathing Rubber Brush
- An Appropriately-Sized Bathtub
- Towel & Hair Dryer
- Ear & Eye Cleaners for Dogs
Brushing & Combing a Schnauzer
Due to the thick & long coat of Schnauzer, it is cumbersome to keep the fur in shape if you skip regular brushing. The long coat of a Schnauzer gets tangles and knots frequently and can only be prevented if your dog is brushed regularly.
Brushing is the first step you must do in the process of grooming a Schnauzer. If your Schnauzer is not groomed at a young age, likely, that he will not comply. So, start the brushing and grooming at a young age in Schnauzers.
Evenly brush the whole-body coat of Schnauzer starting from the head, back, abdomen, tail, and legs. The head and legs are the most important parts and have a dense hair coat. There is a higher chance of knot formations around the face and legs of a Schnauzer than the rest of the body.
Shaping and Trimming Schnauzer’s Face & Body
The furry face of a Schnauzer is one of the unique characteristics of this breed. It is vital to groom the face to get rid of the long hair that makes the face out of proportion. Start by clipping the hair from the skull by making sure you clip in the direction of the hair grain.
Use cutting scissors to cut a straight patch of overgrown hair from each eye. As a general rule, Schnauzer’s face looks more like a rectangle and you must trim the beard accordingly. Take care not to clip close to the nose bridge as it will cause accidental injury to the Schnauzer.
For the body clipping in Schnauzer, go with the hair grain from the shoulders to the back. The tail of a Schnauzer must be shaped in a rounded fashion. Don’t go above the hick joint in case you’re clipping hair from the legs. Use a de-mating comb to remove tangles and mats from the dog.
For the chest of Schnauzer, start the clippers from the base of the beard and come down to the shoulders. Don’t go below the shoulders in this direction due to different hair grains. Front legs can be clipped straight upward from the paws to the shoulders in the Schnauzer breed.
Schnauzers Also Need Nail Trimming
Just like every other breed, Schnauzer’s nails grow at a fast pace and can be easily bent causing problems during walks. The nails can be clipped with a sharp clipper making sure the cut must be made away from the nail quickly.
If your dog loves to sit on a sofa, the clipped nails can stick to fabric due to the pointy edges. You can invest in a good quality nail grinder to smoothen the nail edges. Take precautions in using a grinder especially if the dog has a long coat to avoid accidental tangling fur in the motor.
Schnauzer Bathing & Drying
Now your Schnauzer is ready to undergo the next step of how to groom a Schnauzer. Fill a dog bathtub with lukewarm water and put your dog inside. You can also use a shower to wet the hair coat before applying the dog shampoo.
Schnauzers have sensitive skin and therefore can easily get irritated by the allergens. It is advised to choose a good quality and allergen-free dog shampoo in Schnauzers. Spread the shampoo with a rubber bath brush and work on the whole body and beard.
Rinse the coat of Schnauzer completely to remove all the residual shampoo before drying. After you are done with the bath, use a dry towel first to dry the coat. Then, use a hair dryer at a medium setting to dry the Schnauzer’s fur completely and brush at the same time.
Cleaning the Eyes & Ears of Schnauzer
According to dog experts, the eyes of a dog can tell more than you notice about the health. It is important to keep the eyes in a healthy state through cleaning and grooming. This includes using a canine eye cleaning solution and cleaning the eyelids using cotton.
Similarly, the ears of a Schnauzer need special care and hygiene to prevent them from getting infected. Regular wax buildup acts as a growth medium for several pathogens. Therefore, it is mandatory to do ear cleaning on every grooming session.
A vet-recommended dog ear cleaner can ease your effort of cleaning Schnauzer’s ears. All you need to do is put a few drops in the ears and massage them at the base of the ears. After that, you can use a cleaning cotton ball to wipe the externally visible rear from all the wax buildup.
Final Thoughts
Are you ready to groom your Schnauzer from the comfort of your home? In case of unavailability of a professional groomer, you can take care of your Schnauzer’s grooming needs. For that purpose, gather the necessary tools and start the grooming step by step.
Always make sure to make your Schnauzer comfortable before starting grooming. A panicked or afraid Schnauzer can get injured during grooming from the clipper blade or scissors. Choose a well-ventilated, quiet, and well-lit area for your Schnauzer to experience a cozy grooming session.
