Regular grooming is essential to keep your dog’s coat in good condition and to prevent any tricky tangles.
As well as bathing and brushing, this includes cutting hair with regular trips to the groomer for a professional clip. This is especially important for dogs with curly or long hair that otherwise could knot and pull close to the skin, causing them pain.
If you choose not to go to a professional groomer, or you simply want to give your pooch a tidy up between appointments, there’s a wealth of products out there to help, whether your furbaby’s a miniature poodle or a wire-haired pointer.
You’ll need clippers for cutting hair over large areas and trimmers for delicate parts such as faces, ears and paws. Don’t forget nails too – you’ll need a special pair of nail clippers for these. While daily walking helps keep nails filed down naturally, this isn’t always the case so you may need to cut them from time to time.
The Dogs Trust advises getting your pets paws used to having their touched for several weeks before even attempting to cut the nails - and always reward them with a treat. When you do cut their nails, always cut just a little at a time to make sure you don’t cut the quick, which contains nerves and blood vessels. You can see the quick in light coloured nails, but it’s more difficult in dark nails so be careful. If you do catch the quick, apply a little styptic powder or wound powder to stop the bleeding.
What dog clippers are best?
This depends on the breed of your dog, their size and the type of coat they have: curly and wavy, double, smooth and short, wiry, long and silky, or a combination. Some clippers have adjustable blades, some come with attachment combs that change the cutting length of the blade; some have a fixed blade and some have snap-on blades.
Always check the product description carefully before buying so you ensure the best grooming clippers for your dog.
Is corded or cordless best?
This depends on personal taste, the size of your dog and his temperament – if he’s nervous then cordless clippers are probably better as there’s no power cable moving around and upsetting him. However, if he’s a big dog then make sure you have a full charge before you start, otherwise your clippers may run out of steam before you’ve finished cutting his hair, especially if you’re new to clipping.
Cordless models tend to be more expensive than those with power cables, so that’s something else to bear in mind.
How do I clip my dog at home?
When you buy your dog grooming clippers avoid using them immediately. You need to take it slowly and get your dog used to the sound and feel of the clippers. Switch them on near your pet but not touching them, until they’re accustomed to the noise. Then you can progress to touching the clippers against their fur, but move them away immediately if your dog looks frightened.
The key is slowly and surely, with lots of encouragement in the tone of your voice and by way of treats as a reward. It may take a few weeks, but eventually they’ll become accustomed to the noise and feel of clippers.
Always bathe and brush your dog before clipping in order to remove dirt and tangles that may clog up your clippers and stress out your pet. Work slowly and calmly, cutting in the direction of growth. Be gentle and avoid pressing down on the clippers; do one side before starting on the other.
WAHL has lots of grooming advice on its website, including guides for clipping different types of coat and YouTube tutorials. Also check out professional grooming supplies companies Christies Direct and Groomers as both have lots of helpful information for home grooming.
Best dog grooming clippers at a glance
We’ve rounded up the best dog clippers every owner should invest in right now to keep your pooch in pristine condition.
See the edit below
WAHL Super Groom Dog Clipper
Best for: corded and cordless use
One of the great things about this clipper – and the reason it just pips the Heiniger at the post for top spot – is you can use it cordless, or with the supplied power cable, offering you the best of both worlds.
The battery lasts for up to 100 minutes and has a quick charge option, but if the power is dropping simply plug in the cord to keep going. The motor is powerful and the blade supplied with the clipper is adjustable so it’s suitable for all types and lengths of coat. WAHL also labels the Super Groom as ultra quiet (but doesn’t give a dB rating) so it’s suitable for nervous dogs.
This clipper comes with a charger, adjustable blade, six attachment combs, clipper oil, a cleaning brush and a storage case.
Buy now £99.99, Amazon
Heiniger Saphir Cordless Clipper Pink Paws
Best for: style and substance
We know it’s not all about the looks, but these paw-some clippers look great and make a change from the usual plain-design grooming clippers on the market.
Rest assured they’re not just for show; these are some of the most powerful cordless clippers available, at 2650 double strokes per minute. They keep going for up to an hour and take less than 60 minutes to recharge. Additionally, they’re lightweight, which makes a noticeable difference when you’re using on a large or wriggly dog, and the slim grip feels comfortable hold.
Heiniger’s clippers have been made for professional groomers, but there’s nothing stopping you using them for home grooming - except, maybe, that hefty price tag. That said, it won’t take long before they’ve paid for themselves.
They also come with two batteries and a charger, which while not so relevant for home groomers, could be a real bonus if you have more than one dog. Clipper oil and cleaning brush also included.
Buy now £342.50, Amazon
Furrish Cordless Pet Clipper
Best for: limited budgets
For those new to home grooming who want something that’s not too expensive, this Furrish Cordless Pet Clipper could well fit the bill. The battery lasts three hours, so you can take your time over your pet’s ‘do’ (if they’ll sit still for three hours) and the useful clip-on comb guides help you choose the correct length for her coat.
This clipper is billed as low noise and low vibration, so it’s suitable for anxious dogs.
It comes with USB charger, cleaning brush and oil, and three stainless steel comb guides (3mm, 6mm, 10mm).
Buy now £35.93, Amazon
Andis AGC 2 Speed Brushless Clipper
Best for: mains-powered grooming
Andis is a well-known name in dog clippers and its products are popular with professional dog groomers, so you know Andis clippers are a solid choice for home use. The AGC is a professional piece of kit for a great price and it has two speeds – 2300 and 3400 spm so can handle pretty much any kind and thickness of coat.
Comes with a size 10 Andis ceramic edge blade and blade oil, but the AGC is also compatible with various attachments combs and universal snap-on blades.
Buy now £130.10, Amazon
WAHL Creativa
Best for: cordless cutting
This ergonomic cordless clipper is easy to hold and manoeuvre while grooming – and it weighs just 288g so your hands and wrists won’t tire as quickly as they might with heavier competitors. That said, the clipper is no lightweight when it comes to battery life, providing three hours run time on a two-hour charge.
It’s quiet with minimal vibration, which is helpful if your pooch is nervous. The five-in-one blade is adjustable from 0.7mm to 3mm and is made from stainless steel. The Creativa comes with two lithium ion XXL batteries so you’ll aways have a fully-charge battery to hand and the clipper has an LED charge indicator light so you know when to switch batteries over.
Also supplied with four attachment combs, a charging stand, blade oil and cleaning brush.
Buy now £164.99, Amazon
Masterclip Pedigree Pro Home Grooming Starter Pack
Best for: mains-powered grooming kit
This all-in-one pet grooming kit from Leicestershire-based Masterclip comes with extras that will prove useful for home grooming, especially if you don’t already own any equipment for your dog, or you’re trying clipping for the first time.
The pack contains Masterclip’s Pedigree Pro corded clipper, which has two speeds – 4600spm and 5800spm – a toughened steel blade, four comb guides (3, 6, 10 and 13mm), clipper oil, a metal comb, bull-nose (rounded end) scissors and a slicker brush, all contained in a useful carry case.
Buy now £129.99, Amazon
Oneisall Dog Grooming Kit
Best for: budget grooming kit
Not sure if home dog grooming is for you? Then this cordless clipper kit won’t set you back a fortune and it gets 4.4 stars on Amazon from over 61,000 reviews. On a full charge, the clipper will run for 80 minutes but if you feel it’s running low, simply plug it in and you can continue to use it while it’s charging.
Comes with six guards (3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18mm), scissors, comb, clipper oil and a cleaning brush. Available in rose and gold colour options.
Buy now £29.39, Amazon
Jollyes Spa Deluxe Large Nail Clipper
Best for: large nails
While walking your dog will wear down their nails, you may still need to trim them regularly – the Dog’s Trust recommends checking them every two weeks.
If claws become too long then you risk them tearing or splitting, which can be very painful for your pet. Your dog may also try to compensate for the discomfort caused by over-long nails by changing their gait – and that can result in joint problems.
These stainless-steel nail clippers are designed for larger dogs. They have rounded tips and a safety guard to prevent over-trimming and stop you cutting into the quick. They also feature a soft-touch handle which is comfortable to hold and provides a secure grip to help stop your hand from slipping while you work.
Buy now £7.99, Jollyes
Miki Scratch Me Not Scissor Claw Clipper
Best for: traditional scissor style
These dog nail clippers look like regular scissors, which makes them less scary to use for the first time, and they’re a great alternative if you find you can’t get on with the more usual style clippers for dogs.
Cut a little at a time to avoid catching the quick, which will bleed. The brand offers some guidance, saying: “It is easy to locate the quick on animals with light-coloured claws. For those with dark coloured claws it may be easier to locate the quick by looking on the underside of the nail – however if in doubt seek the advice of your vet”.
The blades are micro-serrated, which gives an easy cutting action, and they’re made from heat treated stainless steel to stay sharper for longer. They’re also suitable for both right and left handers.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Aesculap Exacta Cordless Trimmer
Best for: paws and faces
For cutting hair on your dog’s paws, face, ears or legs, or for precision contouring you need a trimmer rather than a clipper, and a cordless trimmer means the power cord isn’t going to be getting in her way as you work.
The Aesculap Exacta is great for home grooming as it’s very quiet, which is not only useful for nervous dogs, but for any dog who’s having these sensitive areas trimmed. Each 90-minute charge gives you up to 120 minutes’ run time, which is more than you’re likely ever going to need.
The trimmer comes with an attachment comb that can be set to four different lengths (3 – 6 mm), charging station, clipper oil and a brush.
Buy now £152.50, Amazon
Verdict
We love WAHL’s Supper Groom clippers because they can be used cordless or with a power cable, and it has a powerful motor. This clipper is ideal for home grooming and suitable for all types of dog coats; if your dog is nervous or new to clippers, the fact it’s quiet will also be a big help. Not bad for sub-£100.
