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Dog Clippers for Poodles & Toy Poodles – Reviews & Buying Guide

↯ Key takeaway points

  • Poodles and toy poodles have dense and matted coats that require specific dog clippers.
  • There are various poodle haircut styles, but it's important to choose a practical style for daily use.
  • When choosing dog clippers for poodles, look for versatility, low noise, resistance to overheating, ease of use, and durability.
  • Using human clippers on poodles is not advised, as they can cause injury and anxiety to the dog.
  • Popular poodle clipper blade numbers are 3, 4, 5, and 7, depending on the desired style.
Written by Khalil
Khalil is passionate about all sorts of domesticated pets. They have written dozens of articles across the web.
Practicing small pets and equine veterinarian and junior teaching assistant in Veterinary Medicine.
Published on
Saturday 7 December 2019
Last updated on
Monday 6 November 2023
dog clippers for poodles
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Dog clippers for poodles and toy poodles are an absolute grooming necessity. There’s no doubt in my mind that poodles are one of the cutest dogs in the world. However, their curly coat can certainly be a handful.

If you’re a poodle lover, then you’ve probably seen them countless times in dog shows with perfect coats. But if you buy a poodle yourself, you’ll realize that those looks are not easy to replicate. However, if you’d like to keep your poodle’s coat in order, then here’s what you need to do: buy poodle dog clippers.

Why Do I Need Specific Dog Clippers for my Poodle?

Poodles and poodle mixes don’t have regular coats. In fact, there are quite a few fundamental differences between regular dog coats and those of poodles.

Firstly, poodles have a very dense coat. This coat can often get matted which makes it so much harder to groom them. Even simple tasks like brushing their coat can be time-consuming and almost impossible if your dog isn’t cooperative.

Another thing about poodles is that they have single coats. On the other paw, you’ll see most other breeds with double coats. The lower coat which is absent in poodles is useful for body heat insulation.

To sum it up, since poodles have different coats, you’ll need special hair clippers for them. However, this doesn’t mean that manufacturers make special ones for them. You just need to make sure that the clippers you’re buying for your poodle are:

  • Good for dense coats
  • Work fine on matted hair

If you’re good in these 2 areas, then there’s nothing you need to be worried about in terms of the quality of your clipper. Obviously, there are a few other factors to consider while buying clippers for poodles and toy poodles. And that’s something we’ll discuss later in this article.

Poodle Haircut Styles

Believe it or not, there are around a dozen different cuts for poodles. Some of them are really complicated and would require you to get in touch with a professional groomer. However, there are many styles that you can master on your own using poodle and toy poodle dog clippers at home.

Also, before you decide on a hairstyle for your poodle, ask yourself if that hairstyle is even practical. A lot of the poodle cuts that you see in dog shows won’t be practical for daily use. That’s because a fluffy poodle would get all sorts of stuff stuck in its coat (think twigs, threads, food). Without a doubt, that would make him look untidy and will also hinder his mobility.

So, for daily use, you need to decide on a cut that’s slightly shorter and maintain it over time.

With that said, here are some of the best poodle haircuts:

  • The most famous and technical poodle cut is the Continental or Lion cut. It’s what most show poodles have. But you’ll definitely need to contact a professional groomer for this one. In this cut, groomers shave the dog’s face and upper legs. This gives the poodles “pom-poms” on their ankles. Some groomers also like to leave some fluff in two circles (called “rosettes”) over the buttocks.
  • Cuts like the Retriever, Dutch, and Kennel are perfect for active dogs. In these styles, the hair length is uniform on the body.
  • The summer cut is nice for cooling down your pup in the summers. In this one, you’ll have to trim your dog’s coat really short with no real fluff.
  • In a lamb cut, poodles have a shaved face with fluffy ears, head, and tail. It’s a bit tricky but with some practice, you can get a hang of it.
popular poodle hair cut styles
Diagram showing the most popular Poodle hairstyles.

10 Best Dog Clippers for Poodles, Toy Poodles & Poodle Mixes

We’ve already discussed the qualities of a good clipper for poodles and toy poodles. But all that knowledge won’t give your furball a pretty cut, would it? So, in this section, we’re going to suggest some of the top dog clippers for poodles and toy poodles.

There are a lot of factors that we considered while curating this list. Among these factors were versatility, durability, heating level, and noise. Along with that, we also dug out the reviews on all of these to find the absolute best in the market. So, without further ado, here are the best dog clippers for poodles and toy poodles.

1. Wahl PRO Corded & Cordless Clipper Kit

Number 1 on our list is Wahl’s professional trimmer that comes with a powerful Lithium-ion battery. Its 5-in-1 German blades are perfect for trimming different lengths of hair on your poodle. This versatility is one of the major reasons we’ve kept it on top of the list. With these 5-in-1 blades, you can give your pooch a trim between sizes 9, 10, 15, 30, and 40. Not to mention, this powerful machine operates at a speed of 5500 strokes per minute and has a battery timing of a whopping 90 minutes. That’s quite high, especially when you consider the average dog trimmer’s battery life. On top of that, this trimmer remains cool during grooming sessions and is extremely quiet as well.

Another enticing feature of this trimmer is the 1-year warranty that this Hungarian manufacturer provides. When it comes to electronics, 1 year is a pretty darn good warranty, if you ask me. With this trimmer, you’ll also get a couple of freebies including blade oil, charge stand, storage case, and a brush. According to professional pet groomers, this trimmer is a must-have for all experience levels. One of the great things about it is that it doesn’t have the battery memory effect. This means that you wouldn’t need to drain the whole battery and then charge it fully in order to keep the battery life constant. Regardless of how much or how less you charge it, Wahl’s professional groomer would provide you 90-minute constant battery life.

However, a few customers weren’t happy with this product’s plastic build. So, you’d want to use it a bit carefully.

2. Andis EasyClip Pro-Animal Clipper Kit

Unlike the Wahl Professional Groomer, this clipper kit by Andis is made with a sturdy metal body that is made for long-term use. So, if you’re looking for a clipper that can withstand a couple of falls here and there, then this is the way to go. The Andis EasyClip is as quiet as they come. What’s more, this clipper comes in 4 different comb sizes. This increases the precision and the smoothness of your poodle’s cut. The blades on this product also remain cool throughout use which is a major benefit. With this package, you’ll also get a hard storage case along with a 12-inch heavy-duty cord.

Most customers love the Andis EasyClip. Although it’s not a professional groomer’s first choice, it’s great for use at home. The weight is pretty balanced on both ends which is great for people that experience wrist strain. However, some customers suggest that this poodle and toy poodle dog clipper heats too fast.

With that said, professional groomers say that it’s normal for every clipper to heat up and that you’ll need to take breaks within the grooming session even if you buy the most expensive clipper out there. To reduce cooling time, groomers suggest you buy a spray coolant alongside whichever clipper you purchase.

3. Oster A5 Clippers with Cryogen-X Blade

Number 3 on our list is the Oster Pet Clipper that’s a 2-speed groomer. The speed options in this clipper are 3000 and 4000 SPM. Also, Oster has made quite a broad blade for this one, which considerably reduces the clipping time as well. With this machine, you also get detachable blades that provide a smoother and risk-free experience. This is especially useful for those that need to change blades regularly. You’ll also receive a cleaning brush, clipper grease, and blade oil in the package along with the clipper itself.

The 2-speed motor in this dog clipper for poodles and toy poodles adds versatility in grooming. If you’re going for a full-body clip, then you can set the machine for 4000 strokes per minute. However, when you’re looking for precision, that’s when you use Oster’s 3000 strokes per minute speed. Another great thing about this clipper is that its blades are cryogenically manufactured. This means they’re highly durable and would survive rough use easily.

With that said, you should keep in mind that this clipper only comes with a #10 blade. So, if you’re looking to have different levels of fluff on your poodle’s body, then this isn’t the clipper for you.

4. Andis UltraEdge Super 2-Speed Pro Clippers

If you liked the Andis EasyClip, then you’ll love their UltraEdge model. Although this one’s more expensive, you’ll quickly learn why. You might have noticed that Andis doesn’t market its EasyClip model as a “professional” clipper. But with UltraEdge, “Professional” is right there in the name. Naturally, it provides a lot more grooming options as well. This is a 2-speed clipper, meaning that its motor can work at 2 different speeds. For a more precise and detail-oriented clip, you can use the clipper at 3400 spm. On the other hand, the 4400 ppm setting provides an even full-body cut for poodles.

The 2-speed option is certainly important when it comes to professional grooming. There’s a lot of detail that goes into trimming a poodle’s coat. So, if you’re a professional, then you wouldn’t want to compromise on that. With this clipper, you’ll also get a 14-inch heavy-duty cord that is long enough to provide easy movement. Most customers thoroughly enjoyed using this product. With this clipper, there’s really not much to be worried about. However, this clipper comes with no accessories, which is a bit of a let-down considering it’s a high-end one. Nonetheless, it does its job!

5. Wahl Cordless Pet Clipper Kit

If it disappointed you to find no accessories with the Andis UltraEdge clipper, then here’s one that comes with a whole assortment. Now, this is not a high-end product so it won’t be fair to expect premium results from it. But it’s safe to say that the Wahl Cordless Pet Clipper Kit does the job for most pet owners.

It’s suitable for use on light to medium coats. However, Wahl mentions it to be workable for “occasional” body clipping. Ideally, you should ease it for the face, ears, bridle paths, and fetlocks. The Lithium-ion battery in this clipper is outstanding, with 2 hours of battery time when fully charged. Another benefit of its battery is its fast-charging feature that allows 10 minutes of grooming after charging for only 15 minutes.

You can adjust the blade to #30, 15, or 10 depending upon your use. Even though this clipper doesn’t come with a 2-speed motor, it’s still a high-quality one that runs at 6000spm. Along with the regular accessories that you get with almost every clipper, Wahl also includes a stainless steel scissor, a storage case, and a styling comb in this kit. Not to mention, Wahl manufactures this kit in the USA. With its 1-year warranty, this grooming kit is a winner for beginner groomers that don’t want to spend a fortune to get started with grooming their pets on their own.

With that said, this isn’t the right trimmer for regular full-body cuts. So, only go ahead with this dog clipper for poodles and toy poodles if you already have a good full-body clipper at home or if you’re only using it for regular touch-ups.

skip tooth and fine tooth in dog clippers
Differences between skip tooth and fine tooth in dog clippers.

6. Andis 22340 ProClip AGC2

A perfect dog shears for all breeds and coats, the Andis ACG2 features detachable blade clippers that give great versatility with multiple blade options. This is ideal for grooming poodles and matted dogs since it provides the smoothest cut and quiet running.

The detachable blades of Andis ACG2 are very easy and quick to change since you won’t need any tools. Their blades are available in 5-speed, 2-speed, and single-speed options, also, you don’t have to worry about battery life because it has a 14’ heavy-duty cord for ease of movement.

The Andis AGC2 is most recommended for curly-coated breeds such as Poodles, Golden Doodles, and Bichon Frises because it features a rotary motor of endurance clippers. These long-lasting motor clippers prevent any dragging or stalling which is perfect for these dog breeds. 

7. Wahl Professional Arco Pet Clippers

Wahl’s original 5-in-1 Arco clipper is the tried and true cordless option when it comes to precise trimming, especially in ‘hard-to-reach’ spots such as paws, faces, ears, and chest. Wahl Arco’s 5-in-1 fine blades are adjustable between sizes #9, 10, 15, 30, and 40 which offers convenient varieties of cutting lengths.

Compared to other dog shavers, the Wahl Arco is cordless and has a rechargeable battery with an 80-minute cordless run time and a 75-minute charge time. It’s very easy to maintain and clean since it has a no-maintenance motor.

These dog clippers are ideal for small and medium-sized dogs like Spaniels, Bichons, Poodles, Terriers, and even cats. Besides these pets, you can also use the Wahl Arco clippers on horses when it comes to trimming and touch-ups on the face, ears, legs, muzzle, fetlocks, and bridle paths. 

The slim and lightweight design will surely give comfort to the groomer’s hand while reducing any wrist fatigue. The Wahl’s Arco clippers include a 5-in-1 fine blade set, soft storage case, charging stand and charger, rechargeable battery packs, 4 plastic attachments, guide combs, cleaning brush, blade oil, and an instruction book. 

8. Oneisall Dog Shave Rechargeable Clippers

The Oneisall dog shaver clippers feature a low vibration and ultra-quiet design that’s great for decreasing the anxieties of your fur buddies during grooming time. The noise (while working) is only about 50 dB to help your dogs feel at ease.

It has a built-in battery that is rechargeable for more convenient use and has a charging indicator light that lets you know whether the battery is fully charged or not. The Oneisall dog clippers feature safe and sharp blades – upgraded stainless steel fixed blade and a ceramic moving blade that provides excellent cutting performance. Also, the blades are detachable so it’s very easy to clean!

Oneisall dog clipper comes with 6 guard combs (3mm/6mm/9mm/12mm/15mm/18mm). These clipping combs are perfect for shaving different hair lengths and are designed for easy-and-quick changes to increase versatility.

9. BOUSNIC Cordless Dog Clippers 2-Speed

The complete set of Bousnic dog clippers may be the answer to your grooming struggles. Instead of going to the pet salon, you can now groom your dogs in your home since these dog shavers are a complete package!

The product includes dog grooming clippers, 4 guard combs with different lengths, a cleaning brush, stainless scissors and comb, an oil bottle, and a USB cable. The Bousnic dog clipper has a skin-friendly and whisper-quiet design with a low vibration so your dogs won’t get scared or anxious throughout the grooming process.

When it comes to dog fur, it doesn’t matter whether they have straight or short hair because this clipper has 2-speed levels and the ultra-sharp stainless steel and ceramic blades are going to groom its fur and create a flawless result!

10. Pet Union Professional Dog Grooming Kit

Everything that you need when it comes to maintaining your dog’s fur is packed in the Pet Union dog grooming kit. If you’re looking for complete and premium clippers for a cheap price, then this is perfect for you!

The Pet Union kit includes a fine clipper, multiple guards, nail trimmers, scissors, and more. The low vibration and low noise clipper design will prevent any discomfort to your dogs and will ensure a stress-free grooming experience. It’s rechargeable and cordless so it’s hassle-free to use, its precision-cut titanium blades are adjustable, safe, and sharp.

Pet Union ensures that there will be no uncomfortable pulling at your pet’s hair. Just a safe and comfortable grooming experience!

How to Choose the Right Dog Clippers for Poodle and Toy Poodles

Before we dive into our list of the best poodle and toy poodle dog clippers, let’s first discuss what makes a great dog clipper in the first place.

Versatility

A lot of newbie dog groomers are confused with what versatility really means when it comes to a dog clipper. You see, there are different sizes of blades in dog clippers. Each size cuts different hair lengths and is adequate for either large or small dog breeds.

Now, if you like to leave some parts of your poodle’s fur a bit more fluffy, then you’ll need to use a different blade for those parts. So for that, you need a clipper that either comes with different blades or at least allows you to buy and use different ones.

With that said, dog clippers that come with at least 4 different blade sizes work best when it comes to versatility.

Noise

The amount of noise a dog clipper makes has a direct impact on the grooming experience. And that’s not just for you… but for the dog as well. Bear in mind that some dogs get really spooked out with loud dog trimmers.

So ideally, you’re looking for a whisper-quiet machine that keeps your dog calm throughout the process. A quieter dog clipper for poodles and toy poodles would also keep you relaxed since grooming can often take up quite some time.

Heat

All dog clippers heat up, period. But some heat up a lot slower than others. In order to understand why clippers heat up, you need to first grasp the concept of their working. Dog clippers have a motor that revolves inside the machine and moves the blade. This moving blade then cuts your dog’s hair. Now, when the motor rotates to move the blade, that’s metal colliding with metal at great speed.

This collision dissipates energy in the form of sound and heat. That’s why it’s a given for all clippers to produce some sound and heat up as well. With that said, good manufacturers use blades that resist overheating and cool down faster as well.

Regularly oiling the clipper and using a spray coolant can help keep the clipper cool off faster.

Ease of Use

The ease of use of a dog clipper for poodles and toy poodles refers mostly to its motor speed and shape. When it comes to the motor, you’d want to find one that’s fast and doesn’t pull at the hair.

Secondly, the shape of the clipper should be such that it easily fits in the hand of the groomer. Most companies don’t mess this up, but there are some that use extremely awkward, square-shaped clippers.

Other factors like battery life and weight also contribute to making the clipper easier to use and improving the overall grooming experience.

Durable

Clippers for poodles and toy poodles are a long-term investment. You wouldn’t want to spend money on a fragile clipper that breaks by toppling over once.

In general, metal-body clippers would work a lot better as compared to plastic ones in terms of durability.

dog clippers features
List of the main features when buying dog clippers for home grooming.

Best Dog Trimmer for Poodles: FAQ

We gathered all the frequently asked questions about the best dog trimmers for poodles, here are the answers to your queries. 

Can I use human clippers on my poodle?

Generally, human clippers are not advisable for dog grooming, especially for poodles. These two may look the same but they have different designs and purposes. Human clippers can increase the risk of injuring your fur buddies, also, the noise and vibration can cause anxiety to your dog and may impact their mental health.

Poodles’ fur also needs a different type of blade clippers to prevent any pulling of hair that may cause damage to your dog’s skin. 


What clipper number blade do you use on a Poodle?

Poodles are known for their unique hairstyles, choosing the number blade for your clippers still depends on the style that you want to achieve. The most popular clipper blades for Poodles are 3, 4, 5, and 7. While for Poodle puppies, you can switch to a 5 or 7F blade.

What is a teddy bear cut on a Poodle?

The teddy bear cut is a traditional poodle cut. Most owners love this cut because it’s a more presentable, regal, and show-dog look that suits Poodles well. To achieve the teddy bear cut for your fur buddies, you must clip their hair and keep 1-2 inches long at all parts of their body including the face.

What are the different Poodle cuts?

There are different Poodle haircut styles that you can choose from such as Teddy Bear cut, Summer cut, Puppy cut, Continental cut, German cut, and Modern cut. Since Poodles are often seen in dog shows, owners often bring their dogs to the pet salon to give them a neat and appealing look. 

Is it OK to shave Poodles?

Yes, Poodles’ faces should be shaved to prevent matting. Shaving your poodle’s hair is also a way of keeping their skin and fur healthy, it also gives an advantage when it comes to cleaning and proper hygiene. 

What does a traditional Poodle cut look like?

The traditional Poodle cut has a short fur length left on their body, legs, and ears. Then you need to leave a rounded top knot on the top of their head and a ‘poof’ left at the end of their tail. This cut still depends on the owner’s request whether they want a specific length or not.

Poodles are one of the smartest dog breeds, that’s why they are very in-demand. But before buying or adopting one, you must know that these are high-maintenance breeds that casually need proper grooming to prevent any skin and fur infections. Check out these tips if you have questions about using dog clippers at home without the help of a groomer!

If you’re interested in these curly and adorable dogs, you can read our article about How to Breed Poodles.

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