September 8, 2026
Trimming dog paws, ears and muzzle: how to safely do detail work
Short answer: Trim dog paws with a small trimmer or a #10 or #15 Blade: first remove the hair between the paw pads, then trim around the edge of the foot. Only trim the outside of the ear flap, never inside the ear canal. Around the eyes, work exclusively with rounded-tip shears.
Most accidents happen during detail work: thin skin, small areas, and a dog that moves the most there. Below, for each body part, it states what needs to be removed and with what.
In short
Hair between the paw pads causes slipping, matting, ice clumps, and infections. Shorten it every 4 to 6 weeks.
Use a #10 Blade (approx. 1.6 mm) or #15 Blade (approx. 1.2 mm) on the paws.
Do not pluck hair from inside the ear canal yourself; only do so on the advice of your veterinarian.
Never cut whiskers: they are sensory organs with their own nerves and blood supply.
Around the eyes, lips, and anus, work with rounded-tip shears or a small trimmer, never with a large machine.
Why should the hair between the paw pads be removed?
The paw pads are the only point of contact with the ground. If the hair between the pads grows into a matted layer, grip disappears, and your dog will slip on laminate, tiles, and stairs. For older dogs and dogs with hip or back problems, this is an injury risk. Long paw hair also collects all sorts of things:
Mats that pull on the skin between the toes and cause pain with every step.
Ice and snow clumps in winter, which become rock hard and push the toes apart.
Grass, sand, and seeds, including grass seeds that can burrow into the skin.
Moisture, which can quickly lead to interdigital inflammation: inflammation of the skin between the toes, recognizable by a red bump, licking, and limping.
Therefore, trim the paw pads with every grooming session, every 4 to 6 weeks.
How to trim dog paws step by step?
Hold the paw at the bend of the joint, not by the toes. This prevents your dog from pulling away.
Turn the paw so that the paw pad faces upwards. Bend the joint along with it, never force it.
Spread the pads with your thumb and forefinger. The hair will stand up, and the skin will be taut.
Shave the hair flush with the pads, using short strokes and keeping the Blade flat.
Feel with your finger afterwards; if it still feels matted, go over it one more time.
Then trim the "dog foot circle": hold the clipper or shears perpendicularly and follow the outline of the foot, creating a round shape that does not drag on the ground.
A #10 leaves approximately 1.6 mm and is the safe standard; a #15 (approx. 1.2 mm) gives a smoother result but less margin. Which numbers give which length is listed under attachment combs and Blades with their cutting lengths.
How to safely trim the ears?
The same advice does not apply to the two types of ear hair.
Hair on the ear flap
You may shave the outside of the ear flap. Lay the ear flat on your palm so you know where the edge is, and work with a small trimmer in the direction of hair growth. Do not use a Blade shorter than #10: the skin is so thin there that you can easily nick it. Trim the edge with grooming shears with a rounded tip: cut parallel to the edge, with the tip pointing away from your dog.
Hair in the ear canal
Do not simply pull hair from inside the ear canal. This used to be standard practice for breeds with a lot of ear hair, but nowadays it is only done on the advice of a veterinarian: plucking damages the hair follicles, and the irritation can actually trigger an ear infection. If the ear smells or your dog shakes its head, consult a veterinarian.
How to trim the muzzle and face?
The face is the smallest and most sensitive area. Work here with a small trimmer or rounded-tip shears.
Keep eyes clear. Trim the hair above the eyes short enough to ensure clear vision. Hold the shears horizontally with the tip pointing outwards and rest your hand on the head.
The stop and the bridge of the nose. The stop is the transition from the forehead to the bridge of the nose. Work with short strokes away from the eyes towards the nose, never towards the eyes.
Leave whiskers intact. They are sensory organs with their own nerves and blood supply, which your dog uses to feel distance and airflow, especially in the dark.
Lips and chin. Trim with small strokes to reduce food and saliva accumulation.
The rule: never use a large machine around the eyes. The cutting surface is too wide, and one sudden movement is enough to cause damage.
How to do sanitary trim and armpits?
The sanitary trim keeps the hair around the anus and genitals short, to prevent matting and urine scald. Work with a small trimmer, keep the skin taut, and shave outwards from the opening. Do not touch the mucous membranes.
The armpits require attention because the skin there lies in folds. Lift the front leg forward to smooth out the fold and only then work. Never cut through mats.
Which tool belongs to which zone?
ZoneRiskToolBlade / lengthTip Between paw padsNicking between toesSmall trimmer#10 / #15 (1.6 / 1.2 mm)Spread toes, Blade flat Edge of footIrregular shapeGrooming shearsN/AStraight down, follow outline Ear flapThin skinSmall trimmer#10 (1.6 mm)Ear flat on your hand Edge of earShear tipRounded-tip shearsN/ATip away from dog Ear canalIrritation, inflammationDo nothing yourselfN/AOnly via veterinarian Around eyesEye injuryRounded-tip shearsN/ARest hand on head Stop and bridge of noseSudden pull forwardSmall trimmer#10 (1.6 mm)Work away from eyes WhiskersLoss of sensory functionNothingN/ALeave them Sanitary area, genitalsTouching mucous membranesSmall trimmer#10 / #15Shave away from opening ArmpitsCatching skin foldSmall trimmer#10 (1.6 mm)Smooth out fold first
Why does a small trimmer work better here than a large machine?
For the body, you use a large clipper with an A5 Blade: a universal, interchangeable Blade that fits almost all professional dog clippers. For detail work, that machine is a handicap:
Reach. A narrow head fits between the toes and along the eye line; an A5 Blade of over 4 cm does not.
Visibility. A large machine covers exactly the skin you are looking at.
Noise. Close to the ear canal, a quiet device makes the most difference in resistance.
Vibration. Less vibration means less tug in your hand if your dog moves.
The Clipr MiniTrim is made precisely for this: small, light, quiet, narrow head. Keep the large machine for the body, as described in the step-by-step guide to clipping your dog yourself. Combs, anti-slip mats, and grooming supplies can be found under accessories.
What are the most common mistakes, and when should you go to the grooming salon?
Three mistakes occur most often: using too short a Blade on the ear flap, cutting into a mat between the toes without feeling where the skin is, and continuing to work while your dog resists.
Go to the grooming salon or veterinarian if an ear smells or is red, if there is a red spot between the toes, if there are matted clumps, or if a dog does not allow its paws or ears to be touched. If your dog does not tolerate detail work, first teach him with the acclimation program for a dog afraid of clippers.
Are you unsure if one small trimmer will suffice? The selection guide provides specific advice.
Last updated: August 19, 2026. Author: Clipr Team, specialists in dog clippers and grooming tools. This advice applies to the Dutch situation.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I remove hair between the paw pads?
Every 4 to 6 weeks, along with the rest of the grooming session. For dogs that walk a lot in grass, sand, or snow, every 3 to 4 weeks. Check in between with your finger: if it feels matted, it's too long.
Can I pluck hair from my dog's ears myself?
Only on the advice of your veterinarian. Plucking damages the hair follicles and can actually cause irritation or an ear infection. You can, however, shave the outside of the ear flap yourself with a small trimmer, and the edge of the ear with rounded-tip shears.
Can you cut a dog's whiskers?
No. Whiskers are sensory organs with their own nerves and blood supply that your dog uses to feel distance and airflow, especially in the dark and right in front of its nose. Cutting them offers no benefit and deprives them of information. So trim around them and leave them intact.
Which Blade do I use for the paws?
A #10 leaves approximately 1.6 mm and is the safe standard for between the paw pads. A #15 (approx. 1.2 mm) gives a smoother result, but less margin with a moving dog. Clipr advises against using anything shorter than #15 on paws and face.
