Old English Sheepdog- Trimming Feet & Legs

Home Grooming The Companion Old English Sheepdog

Scissor Trimming An Old
English Sheepdog's Feet


		Below is just one way an Old English Sheepdog owner tends to a dog's foot hair. Dogs often need to be slowly desensitized to any new process. You need to proceed slowly, respect the dog's limits, praise and reward lavishly so the dog will learn to tolerate it. Only you know your dog and how he or she may respond. Seek assistance from a professional if there is any chance your dog could be harmed by it's exuberance or fear or if the dog could display an aggressive behavior. Follow all product safety instructions provided by individual manufacturers. Try to make grooming a special one-on-one time that both you and your dog will look forward to. These instructions are offered as-is and without guarantee or warranty.

I first use a slicker brush to brush out the leg I'll be working on. When trimming the feet, I find it's best to have first trimmed the dog's toenails to the appropriate length. This allows me to trim the foot hair as short as possible.

No matter what, treats (kibble)
make the process much more fun!

Trimming the legs to match or
enhance the length of the body hair.

Will the length match that of the body?

A coat or a shirt will help keep them warm
if they're shaved shorter in the winter.

Or will you purposely keep the
leg hair longer than the body hair?

When I shave down my dogs for the summer, I like to leave the leg hair longer than the body hair.
As the coat grows out, I'll later trim the leg hair to match the rest of the body. Below is an example.
Shorter haircut also allow active dogs to stay cooler in the warmer summer months.

Neatening Up The Feet As The Hair Begins To Grow Out

I comb the foot hair down and out.	Using my short rounded scissors, I begin trimming around the outside of the foot being careful not to cut the pads or the toenails.	You do NOT need rounded scissors... I also use straight scissors when trimming feet.



		Fluff and trim... repeat until you've achieved the desired look.
Trimming the hair on the back of the legs.
Brushing out the back leg and foot.	Combing the hair down.
Again trimming around the outside of the foot.		I find that applying gentle pressure to the hair allows me to trim some of the hair higher up too.
I trim the hair back as far as the tip of the toenails.
I comb out the back of the leg...	...and trim it even.
Also around the sides, blending it in with the hair above so there's a smoother transition.	Continuing around the front of the back leg.	Fluff and look for stray hair sprigs. Trim and repeat as needed.
The finished back leg.	All done!

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