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How Do Professional Groomers Choose Dog Hair Clippers

↯ Key takeaway points

  • Choosing the right dog clipper depends on the grooming needs of the dog.
  • Dog hair type influences the type of clipper required.
  • Different clipper blade numbers remove different amounts of hair - higher numbers remove more hair.
  • Ergonomics, such as weight and sound, are also important factors for choosing dog clippers.
  • Recommended dog clippers include Oneisall Dog Shaver Clippers, Yabife Dog Clippers, and Wahl Clipper Pet-Pro Dog Grooming Kit.
Written by Laura
Laura is passionate about all sorts of domesticated pets. They have written dozens of articles across the web.
Zoo and wildlife doctor in veterinary medicine passionate about animal welfare and preventive medicine.
Published on
Wednesday 15 September 2021
Last updated on
Thursday 1 June 2023
clippers for dogs
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Many of us take our dogs to the groomers, and for some dogs, it is a necessity. But how do professional groomers choose dog hair clippers

Dog grooming is a big business that requires love, hard work, and skill. It also requires the right tools! Whether you are looking to start a dog grooming business or are learning how to groom your own dog at home, let’s take a look at the different factors that go into choosing dog hair clippers. 

How To Choose Dog Clippers Like a Professional Groomer

First of all, professional dog groomers are fully qualified and trained. So, if you’re looking to do it yourself at home, make sure you’ve done your research and learned how to groom your dog safely.

That said, there are several things to take into consideration when choosing clippers for your dog.

Grooming Requirements

The type of clippers you need to buy largely depends on how much grooming your dog needs. For example, if they just need the occasional trim, a pair of light, inexpensive pair of clippers will suffice. 

On the other hand, if your dog needs regular, extensive grooming or you’re looking to enter them into a show, you may require a pair of professional dog hair clippers with different blades and attachments for different styles. 

Dog Hair Type

The dog’s hair length and coat type should influence your choice. 

  • Dogs with short, thin coats that don’t require much grooming are best suited to a set of electric motor clippers for occasional grooming. These are fairly inexpensive and low maintenance
  • Dogs with medium coats that need more frequent grooming may need pivot motor clippers. These feature an electromagnetic motor that uses a configuration to give it more power than standard electric dog clippers
  • Dogs with long, thick coats, whether straight, wavy, or curly, will need rotary motor pet clippers that give even more power to work through that thick fur. They use a rotary gear-driven motor and have a blade attachment that allows professional groomers to change blades quickly and easily for different dogs

Types of Dog Clipper Blade

The higher the number of the blade, the more hair that is removed by it. So if you’re just looking to give your dog a slight touch-up and still want to keep their hair long, opt for a #0, #1, or #2 blade or a snap-on comb. 

If want your dog to have a shorter haircut, a #3, #4, or #5 blade will work nicely for you. Higher numbered blades are also available for “crew” cuts. These may be good for dogs with extremely thick fur that live in hot climates. 

Ergonomics

Some professional groomers also like to take a clipper’s weight, size, and sound into consideration. Haircuts can take anywhere from 5-25 minutes, and they may have multiple cuts to do in a day. So they, want something that fits comfortably their hands and isn’t too loud for the dog’s sake. Loud noises are common phobias for dogs, especially rescue dogs, abuse survivors, and those with anxiety issues.

You may also want to take a clipper’s weight and size into consideration, as dogs that need clipping can need touch-ups as frequently as every 4-8 weeks. Even if your dog isn’t generally anxious, it’s still best to opt for a quiet clipper, as the close nature, vibration, and unfamiliarity of the clipper may still be a bit scary for first-timers.

how to choose dog clippers
Every dog breed has its own coat type.

Dog Clippers That Some Real Groomers Lovers

Let’s take a look at the best dog hair clippers currently available on the market. 

Oneisall Dog Shaver Clippers

This cordless, rechargeable dog clipper by Oneisall is ultra-quiet and low vibration for anxious pets. It is available in gold, silver, red, and white, and includes a pair of stainless steel scissors, a comb, and 6 guide guards (3mm, 6mm, 9mm, 12mm,15mm, and 18mm). They also come with a bottle of cleaning oil for your convenience. 

It is fairly affordable and the most popular product of its kind on Amazon. The clippers also come highly recommended by reviews, with buyers praising the product’s value for money and many mentioning its super-long battery life, too. 

Yabife Dog Clippers

These adjustable dog clippers by Yabife are super lightweight and fully waterproof with a double sharp blade. It’s also USB rechargeable and can work wirelessly. It comes with 10 guiding combs (3/6/9/12/15/18/21/24mm, left and right) for length control, a stainless steel comb, and a pair of scissors for hair cutting, and a free storage bag for convenience, as well as a blacleaning brush. 

The clippers are the least expensive ones on this list. They come in gold, blue, and grey, and have a convenient LED power display that shows the battery life left. Reviews love the product and say that it’s as quiet as it is powerful, which is great for anxious pets. 

Wahl Clipper Pet-Pro Dog Grooming Kit

These black dog clippers by Wahl use a patented power drive system with 30% more torque. It comes with four attachment combs for variable clipping lengths from 0.8mm to 13mm. A helpful instruction booklet is also included for first-time groomers, as well as a grooming comb, a storage case, a pair of scissors, a standard blade, and a blade guard. It also comes with some cleaning oil and a cleaning brush for your convenience. 

The clippers have self-sharpening rust-resistant high carbon blades for powerful, snag-free cutting, and are quiet for anxious dogs. Reviews praise the product’s value for money and helpful instruction booklet. 

Dog Hair Clippers – FAQs

Do I need to clean my dog clippers?

Owners and professional groomers should be using oil to clean their dog clippers after every use. This prevents a build-up of dirt and hair that is unhygienic and could affect the clipper’s performance. You can buy oil specifically for clippers online, but make sure it’s manufactured by a trusted brand that uses dog-safe ingredients only. 

My dog cannot stay still especially when grooming, what can I do?

If your dog tends to move around a lot during his haircut, opt for a cordless dog clipper that offers full flexibility while grooming. If he is uncomfortable with the clippers because of the sound, let him see and hear the clippers buzzing first and try breaking up the haircut into smaller sessions, giving lots of praise and treats.

Should I groom my own dog or hire a professional groomer?

Professional dog groomers are trained, qualified, and experienced in properly grooming dogs. That said, not all dogs require extensive grooming. In fact, most dogs don’t, it depends on their coat type. Many dogs just require weekly brushing at home, with the occasional bath that can also be done at home.

Dogs with extremely thick, double coats, such as Poodles, however, do need clipping. If you don’t want to pay to have it done professionally, you can do it yourself after you do some research and learn how to do it safely. 

Is it better to clip a dog wet or dry?

You should clip a dog when they are dry, but avoid clipping them when they are dirty. It’s best to give them a bath and then let them dry thoroughly before giving them a haircut.

Do dogs feel better after grooming?

Dogs that are in need of a haircut because they’re undergoing heavy shedding, especially in the transition from winter to summer, will probably feel nice and fresh after a trim. It will relieve them from the hot weather and get rid of all that loose fur, which can get tangled and feel irritating.

Can I use human clippers on my dog?

Human hair clippers are generally not suitable for use on dogs due to the increased risk of injury. The motors and blades are completely different because humans and dogs have very different hair. Human clippers are also a lot louder and vibrate quite heavily, which could scare sensitive dogs. Pet clippers are usually designed to be quieter as to not scare pets. 

That is our list of the best dog clippers! Are you looking to start up as a dog groomer or interested in grooming your own dog at home? Will you be trying out one of our recommendations or have another one you’d like to tell us about? Let us know!

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