Grooming and coat
Should I trim the hair around my dog's rear end?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Yes, for long or curly coated breeds, a short sanitary trim around the anus and under the tail, repeated every four to six weeks, reduces the chance of stool sticking to the fur and keeps the area cleaner and less prone to irritation. Short coated breeds generally do not need this trim at all.
Who benefits most from this trim
Poodles, Old English Sheepdogs, Cocker Spaniels, and many doodle crosses carry enough length in this area that a sanitary trim genuinely reduces the amount of cleanup needed after a bowel movement. Short coated breeds like Labradors or Boxers rarely need this, since there is not enough length to cause the problem in the first place.
How short and how often
Trimming the hair to roughly one to two centimeters around the anus, using blunt tipped scissors or a small clipper with a guard, is enough to prevent most sticking without leaving the area looking obviously different from the rest of the coat. Doing this every four to six weeks, alongside a full groom, keeps it consistently short enough to matter.
A hygiene benefit beyond convenience
Beyond the mess it prevents, keeping this area trimmed also reduces the chance of matted, soiled fur irritating the skin or contributing to an unpleasant smell, which matters for the dog's comfort as much as for the household's convenience.
Key takeaways
- Long or curly coated breeds benefit from a sanitary trim; short coated breeds usually do not need one.
- Trimming to roughly one to two centimeters around the anus every four to six weeks keeps the area clean.
- A regular sanitary trim also reduces the chance of matted, soiled fur irritating the skin.