[jackidevaney]

I am a new member. I have a little Yorkie and have started clipping her myself (no groomer available). Which direction should I clip her? From her head to her rear or from her rear towards her head? Thanks.

Actually, you can go either way. If you clip from back to front, you'll get a shorter clip, but it also clips more evenly and eliminates tracking.

Do be sure you clip either with or directly against the direction the hair grows, though. If you clip across the growth you'll get chop marks.

Other words of advice from an old hand:

Be extremely careful when clipping any area that has loose skin; the arm pits, the tuck-up, behind the ears, or the throat. It's easy to get skin caught in the clipper blade and cut your pet.

Check the blade's temperature against the inside of your arm periodically. If it's too warm to be comfortable you either need to switch blades, or take the blade off and lay it on a piece of tile to cool.

New blades need to be cleaned in blade wash before you use them to remove the rust inhibitor the manufacturer applies. If you don't remove it, your blade won't clip well, and will soon need to be sharpened. You also need to run the blade through blade wash every time you use it, and you need to oil it, too.

[jackidevaney]

Originally Posted by vetgroomer

Actually, you can go either way. If you clip from back to front, you'll get a shorter clip, but it also clips more evenly and eliminates tracking.

Do be sure you clip either with or directly against the direction the hair grows, though. If you clip across the growth you'll get chop marks.

Other words of advice from an old hand:

Be extremely careful when clipping any area that has loose skin; the arm pits, the tuck-up, behind the ears, or the throat. It's easy to get skin caught in the clipper blade and cut your pet.

Check the blade's temperature against the inside of your arm periodically. If it's too warm to be comfortable you either need to switch blades, or take the blade off and lay it on a piece of tile to cool.

New blades need to be cleaned in blade wash before you use them to remove the rust inhibitor the manufacturer applies. If you don't remove it, your blade won't clip well, and will soon need to be sharpened. You also need to run the blade through blade wash every time you use it, and you need to oil it, too.

Thank you! :-) I have clipped my little schnauzer for years and liked the way it looked going against the grain of the hair. But now I am going to attempt to do the little less than 4 pound yorkie and didn't do such a good job last time. I have ordered a new clipper and #4F blade that I was thinking I would go against the grain of the hair.

Thank you for your advise.

Jacki

This happened to me and all I can say is keep trying you will figure it out. It helps if you can look at the picture. Try looking online for the brand of clippers you own.