The Most Common Mistakes of At-home Dog Grooming

Not even a global lockdown can stop people from giving bad dog haircuts. That fact alone gets the owner in closer proximity to his four-legged companion, which may not be dangerous per se since there’s no solid evidence it can be transmitted between species.

Bored Panda contacted Hayley Byrne-Ingle, a groomer at The Kennel Club, to find out things you should know before falling down the pit of funny dog grooming mishaps. Hayley urges people to remember that “a lot can go wrong without the correct training” and “clippers or scissors on a moving target is not as easy as most people think!”

The most common mistake people make when grooming at home is “reaching straight for the clippers used for human hair,” Hayley told us. “These clippers usually have one very short blade and used on dogs will take their coat very short!” she explained.

Another common mistake that often leads to hilariously funny dog haircuts is bathing your dog at home without brushing prior. “A lot of dogs now will be getting long and smelly and it’s very tempting to bathe them,” but this is a big mistake, warns Hayley. “Bathing without brushing can lead to matting of the coat as a small single knot when water is added can form a layer of mats.”

The professional groomer recommends letting the pros do their job. When grooming your dog at home, there’s a great chance of injuries that “can leave your dog with a bad experience.” She suggests investing in a good brush, which will also help you to bond with your furry friend.

The Centers for Disease Control And Prevention reports that “some coronaviruses that infect animals can sometimes be spread to humans and then spread between people, but it’s rare.” The current outbreak likely started from an animal source, but the exact source of the virus is unknown.

The first animal case that tested positive for the virus was a tiger with a respiratory illness at a zoo in New York City. Nevertheless, “Based on the limited information available to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low.”

However, for now, let’s return to the funny dog haircuts still on this list. Don’t forget to vote for the dogs you think deserve the most sympathy, and if you’ve documented your dog grooming fails, share them with us in the comments!