Dog haircut in Trivandrum: scissor trims, hygiene cuts and full shaves at home

"Dog hair cutting" covers very different jobs. It helps to know which one you are asking for.

• Scissor shaping. The groomers shape the head, belly and tail with scissors, which keeps hair out of the eyes, neatens the outline and stops the belly coat dragging through wet grass. This is part of the regular ₹1,700 groom.
• Hygiene cut. A short trim around the bottom, the genitals and the inner thighs so urine and faeces do not cling to the coat, together with trimming the hair between the paw pads. Also part of the ₹1,700 groom.
• Full shave or zero trimming. The coat is taken short all over. This is ₹2,000 and is normally used when a coat is too matted to brush out.

If you have a particular style in mind, send a photo of it along with a recent photo of your dog's coat on WhatsApp. The team will tell you what is realistic for that coat.

Every April, owners of thick-coated dogs ask for a shave to help with the heat. For double-coated breeds it usually does the opposite of what they hope.

A double coat has two layers: a soft, dense undercoat close to the skin and longer guard hairs on top. Together they insulate the dog and shade the skin from direct sun. Shave them off and the skin is exposed to Kerala's strong sun and can burn, and in some dogs the coat grows back patchy, uneven or slow.

Breeds commonly seen in Trivandrum with double coats include:

• Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers
• German Shepherds
• Huskies
• Pomeranians and Indian Spitz

For these dogs the better answer to the heat is thorough brushing to clear the loose undercoat, a hygiene cut and a paw-pad trim, with shade, water and quiet afternoons. Single-coated, continuously growing coats such as a Shih Tzu's or a Lhasa Apso's can be cut shorter for comfort, though not right down to the skin. Our guide to summer haircuts in Kerala goes through each coat type.

There is one common exception to the no-shave rule: heavy matting. Mats form where hair rubs and stays damp, such as behind the ears, under the collar, in the armpits and around the tail. Once they are tight against the skin they pull every time the dog moves, trap moisture, and can hide ticks or sores.

Brushing out a badly matted coat can take hours and hurts the dog throughout. In that situation a full shave may be the kindest option, even for a breed you would normally never shave. The coat grows back, and you start again with a coat that can be brushed.

After a shave, keep your dog out of the midday sun while the coat regrows, brush it regularly as it comes back in, and book the next groom before mats can form again. If the skin under the mats looks red, broken or sore, show it to your vet.

A haircut lasts far longer when the coat is looked after in between. For long or curly coats, brush down to the skin a few times a week, paying attention to the friction spots mentioned above. Short and double coats need less, but regular brushing still reduces shedding and shows up ticks early.

Avoid trimming near the eyes, ears or genitals yourself; a dog that moves suddenly can be cut. Wipe the eye area with a damp cloth instead, and leave the scissor work to the groomers.

Most dogs do well with a groom about once a month, adjusted to their coat, skin and your vet's advice. Long-coated dogs often look untidy sooner, so book before the coat starts to knot rather than after.