I keep my baby short as well. He wears clothes everyday! I bought a good set of clippers at petsmart. I usually use the 1 inch guard on his main body and then I use no guard on his paws. His face and "mane" as I call it, I just use scissors on. I just clip here and there until he looks like him!! lol, I know that sounds funny, but he has his look!! I got tired of my groomer never really doing what I wanted her to do. I just hate hate hate toenail clipping!! I usually leave that one for my vet!