Buying clippers for small and toy dogs isn’t as easy as you’d think. In fact, it’s quite a tricky process. You not only need to buy a clipper that can easily maneuver around your pup’s body, but also one that doesn’t scare them.
If you’re new to this, then fret not, because we’ve done all the legwork for you to answer all of your clipper questions. In this article, you’ll get a complete buying guide for the best toy and small dog clippers along with their product reviews.
What Are Clippers for Small and Toy Dogs?
Small and toy dog clippers are used to trim or clip the hair on a small dog’s body. They aren’t too different from human clippers. However, they have a number of added functionalities that make them pet-safe. Dog clippers can be a handful.
Firstly, it’s not that simple to maneuver them, especially with a small dog. It can be more difficult to trim small dog’s fur as their bodies and curves are smaller too. Furthermore, it can be more difficult to make sure that you are not catching any delicate areas of skin.
The success of your dog’s grooming isn’t entirely dependent on you. It is also influenced by your dog’s ease and willingness comes into play. Small dogs, in particular, can be a lot more fidgety and timid. Loud noises make them scared and that’s why a toy dog clipper needs to be as quiet as possible, so look for quiet, anxiety-reducing clippers. From complete body clips to clipping selective areas, dog owners use these clippers for all sorts of trimming. If you’re looking to buy one, then make sure you’re going with a high-end clipper that’s durable.
How to Choose the Right Small and Toy Dog Clippers?
A lot of thought is required while choosing a small dog clipper. So, before moving on to the reviews of our top picks in this category, we decided to enlist some factors to consider when buying one.
Size
First and foremost, we have to consider the size of the clipper. When selecting a trimmer for your dog, make sure that it’s not too bulky. Generally speaking, the bigger the clipper, the harder it is to use on a toy or small dog.
So you will want to go with an option that’s small enough to work around tricky edges and sensitive places on your dog’s body. At the same time, the clipper should be big enough to fit well in your hands and provide ease of use when holding it.
Speed
The speed of your dog’s clipper is of paramount importance when it comes to the sort of finish it provides. A clipper with a faster motor will be able to provide a closer and smoother cut as compared to one with a slower motor.
Usually, any speed upwards of 3500 revolutions per minute should be fine for a small dog clipper.
Efficiency
An efficient clipper would use most of its energy in clipping. At the same time, it’ll allow portable use and fast battery charging. There’s nothing worse than using a dog clipper that wastes all of its battery in noise and heat. Not to mention, noise and heat are the same elements that freak out your dog during its grooming session.
So you will want to buy a clipper that’s efficient, produces minimum heat despite extensive use, and makes less noise. With that said, there’s no clipper that produces no heat or sound. Both of these energy forms are naturally produced and there’s no way to completely eliminate them. What manufacturers can do, however, is to reduce the sound and heat levels produced.
Weight
The best dog hair clippers feel easy on the hand. Manufacturers design them with comfort in mind and make sure that they’re not too heavy for the groomer. Excessive weight in clippers can make maneuvering hard for the groomer and cause stress to the wrist. That means that it’ll be more difficult for you to clip your dog with a heavy trimmer because you’ll find it hard to maneuver a heavy device around tricky corners. Also, bear in mind that a grooming session can last well over an hour depending on what sort of grooming you want. So, you need to buy a clipper that won’t tire you out.
With that in mind, having an extra-light clipper isn’t desirable as well. That’s because these clippers are usually too slim or small which can be hard to handle. Ideally, you’d want to go with a clipper that has an ergonomic design along with medium weight.
Cordless or not
Whether or not your clipper is cordless makes a huge difference in its practicality and price. Many prefer a cordless clipper over one that has a cord because the former allows mobile use no matter where you are.
With corded clippers, you’ll need to constantly move the cord around your dog while you groom different portions of its body. If the cord isn’t long enough, you might even have to turn your dog around which makes the grooming session a lot harder.
8 Clippers for Small and Toy Dogs
Now that we’ve covered all aspects of choosing the right clipper for small dogs, let’s move on to the top 8 clippers for small and toy dogs.
1. Wahl Lithium Ion Pro Series
Wahl is a respected name in the dog clipper industry and they back it up with some high-quality products in their grooming lineup. One of these fantastic products is their pro series clipper. As the name suggests, it has a lithium-ion battery which allows the clipper to function for 2 hours. The clipping blades in this trimmer are made of supreme quality material. But that’s not all, Wahl includes clipper oil in its package which helps keep the blades in good shape.
Wahl’s clippers are as good as they with years of manufacturing development since their 1919 debut in the USA. Interestingly, customers seem to love the scissors that come with the Wahl clipper. These scissors are quite sharp and easy to use for beginners. Also, these clippers are known as one of the best dog clippers for Poodles and similar breeds. However, there were recorded complaints about noise levels.
2. Oneisall Quiet Dog Shaver
The Oneisall dog shaver is one of the best available online. The most noticeable quality of this dog clipper is its whisper-quiet working. Functioning at only 50 dB, it’s one of the quietest clippers out there. It’s a winner with its powerful Lithium-ion battery that easily lasts through clipping sessions. What’s more, you can use it while you charge the unit, making it easy to groom your dog in one go. The blades on this clipper are detachable, allowing you to clean them after use.
Most customers seem pleased with the Oneisall clipper. Amazon displays its gleaming testimonials and reviews for the product about how fantastic its battery timing is and how quietly it functions. Although this clipper seems to be perfect, a smaller head would have probably made grooming sessions a lot easier.
3. Andis UltraEdge Detachable Blade Clipper
If you’re looking for a professional dog grooming clipper, then consider buying the Andis UltraEdge. Although it’s pricier, it truly makes up for this in terms of quality. It has a 2-speed motor that runs at 3400 and 4400rpm and the detachable blades make the cleaning process easier. Since it’s a professional grooming clipper, the Andis UltraEdge avoids overheating after consistent use and is considerably quiet as well.
The Andis UltraEdge gives a professional and neat cut. Since it’s a 2-speed clipper, it functions perfectly as a dog clipper for matted hair as well. What’s more, the machine’s quite powerful which reduces the time for grooming sessions down to half an hour. The only major concern with the Andis UltraEdge is that it comes with no accessories at all, which considering the price can be frustrating.
4. Sminiker Rechargeable Clipper
The Sminiker rechargeable clipper impressed us on many fronts. At 60dB. Also, it has a decent battery time of 70 minutes which can cover most small dog clipping sessions. The clipper comes with sharp titanium blades that withstand regular use. You’ll also find 4 limiting combs with sizes 3, 6, 9, 12 mm in the package.
Although Sminiker isn’t a household name, it still is a brilliant brand. This rechargeable small and toy dog clipper is easy to use and provides a smooth, professional finish to your dog. What’s more, customers love how quiet it is which reduces the hassle in grooming sessions. With that said, a future element that could be added is a “battery full” light on these clippers that would signal when it’s fully charged.
5. Avaspot Dog Clippers
The Avaspot Clippers are the way to go if you’re shopping on a budget. Even though it’s quite inexpensive, it still comes with a variety of accessories including scissors, length attachments, a comb, and a pouch. The clipper has a fine-tuning knob on the side that adjusts the size to 0.8mm, 1.1mm, 1.4mm, 1.7mm, and 2.0mm for close shaving. Avaspot claims that their clipper works for 3-5 hours after 3 hours of charging which is incredible battery time. What’s more, the guiding comb on their blade is a 33-tooth compared to the standard 26-tooth comb that most toy dog clippers have.
If you take a look at the specifications of this clipper, you’ll notice that its motor works at a whopping 5800 rpm. It also functions quietly and produces only 50-60 dB of sound. The reviews for this clipper are incredible. Most of them seem satisfied with what the Avaspot clippers have to offer.
6. CEENWES Pet Clipper
Although this product itself is named as a “clipper”, it functions as a complete grooming set for toy and small dogs. In the Ceenwes pet clipper package, you get a clipper, nail clipping kit, scissor, comb, slicker and cleaning brush. This clipper keeps things quiet despite having a strong motor. Ceenwes advertises that their clippers produce only 50 dB of sound. The clipper also provides lots of variety in terms of coat length with 4 attachment guides and a turning knob on the side for adjustments between 0.8 – 2 mm.
There’s a lot to love about the Ceenwes clippers, but on top of that list is its ability to recharge within 3-4 hours and provide an equal amount of battery time. However, this clipper doesn’t seem to be the best option for dogs with thick fur.
7. Sminiker Low-Noise Toy Dog Clippers
Right off the bat, the first thing that stands out in the Sminiker low-noise clipper’s specifications is its battery time. The manufacturer claims that the clipper can function for 8 hours after 3 hours of battery charging time. That’s great battery time even if they’re half as good as what they claim to be! A ceramic and titanium blade is used in this clipper which reduces the chances of rust and infection. Also, you’ll get 4 guide combs with this purchase.
The reviews for this small and toy dog clipper are overwhelmingly positive. Most customers are extremely pleased with how quiet and cool this clipper is.
8. Andis 22340 ProClip 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper
Another dog clipper from Andis is the 22340 ProClip 2-Speed with a detachable blade. This product is recommended for home and professional use because of its very controllable and easy-to-use features. Moreover, you can use this clipper for any size, coat, and breed of dog. A feature that your dog will surely love is its quiet run. It has less noise and vibration which can trigger stress and anxiety in dogs.
Furthermore, this Andis dog clipper does not easily overheat. You can use it for the rest of your grooming session without worrying too much about overheating and even electrical accidents. Also, the detachable blade makes it easier for you to clean the dog clipper after every use. You can also change the blades conveniently once they wore out.
Aside from the amazing power and easy-to-replace blades, Andis 22340 ProClip also offers 2 speeds which will make your grooming session faster, but safer. This kind of speed is what professionals are after because it also increases the performance of the dog clipper. However, this dog clipper is not cordless. Therefore, it may be hard for you to move around your dog, and may take more of your time to manage the heavy-duty cord.
Now you know what elements your little dog requires for their perfect pair of dog clippers, you can take a look at our top seven list and find the right one for you! From its cost to noise, all the factors must be considered and each one on our list has its debatable pros and cons for you to consider.