Safe & Simple Guide to Trimming Male Dog Genital Hair

Things You'll Need

• Towel

• helper

• grooming clippers or scissors

Warning

If your dog is unable to remain relaxed for this procedure, you may need to employ a professional groomer.

Consult with your veterinarian if you accidentally cut your dog’s skin.

Tip

Keep your dog calm during his trim by speaking softly, and working slowly and deliberately. Don’t pull at his hair while trimming and try not to clip his sensitive prepuce. The veterinarians at the Vet Info website state, “Most dogs will remain calm and relaxed during grooming, so long as you do not hurt them while cutting their hair.”

Try wetting and combing the hair prior to cutting with the scissors. This will give you a more distinct outline of the prepuce and allow you to better see where to cut.

Male dogs need a bikini trim for health reasons.

While clipping your dog's hair is not necessary, trimming the fur around your dog's anus and genitals, as well as the face and paws, is essential for health reasons, according to the Pup Dog Training website. These areas tend to accumulate the most dirt, including urine and fecal matter, and can be sites of possible infection. Teaching yourself how to trim the long hairs on your male dog's sensitive prepuce (the skin covering his penis) keeps him cleaner, and can save you money on professional grooming.

Step 1

Place a towel a little larger than your dog on a table or the ground, depending on the size of your dog.

Step 2

Place your male dog on his side on the towel with his belly facing you and his back legs open so you can see his prepuce. You may need a helper to hold your dog and keep him still during the trimming.

Step 3

Place one hand directly in front of the prepuce, and, holding the clippers or grooming scissors with the other, begin trimming the hair of the prepuce without touching the skin.

Step 4

Trim just enough of the hair to be esthetically pleasing. Cutting off all the hair can cause razor burn and/or skin irritations that can lead to skin infections.