Grooming is an essential part of daily life. You don’t really want to face the world looking your worst. The same is true with our pet dogs. However, more than for aesthetic purposes, priming our pooches can bring a host of other benefits, too, including healthier skin and coat and the prevention of certain kinds of canine conditions such as infections, inflammation, and skin irritation. Therefore, it is very important to regularly groom your pooch. Selecting the best clippers may not be that difficult for some, but can be especially challenging for those who are new in the world of pet grooming. Not to worry, though, as we have dedicated our resources to come up with the 15 best dog grooming clippers on the market.
A Quick Overview of 10 Best Dog Grooming Clippers
| Editor's Picks | Product Name | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Oneisall Dog Shaver Clippers | Check Price on Amazon | 4.5 |
| Runner Up | SMINIKER Professional Cordless Dog Clippers | Check Price on Amazon | 4.5 |
| Premium Pick | Wahl Arco Cordless Pet Clipper Kit | Check Price on Amazon | 4.4 |
| Ultra-Quiet Design | Andis 2 Speed Dog Clippers | Check Price on PetSmart | 4.6 |
| Most Powerful | Oster A5 Golden Pet Clipper | Check Price on Chewy | 3.8 |
| Best Shatter-Proof | Andis AGC2 UltraEdge 2-Speed Detachable Blade | Check Price on Amazon | 4.4 |
| Budget Pick | Ruri's Cordless Dog Clippers | Check Price on Amazon | 3.9 |
Is your dog rather matted? Do you find yourself having to repeatedly re-schedule a visit to the dog groomers due to time constraints? The ONEISALL Dog Shaver Clippers might just be what you need then. With four guard combs, these clippers are made to tackle different hair lengths. What’s more, they also offer low vibration set against an ultra-quiet design to prevent scaring away your pup when having its hair cut.
The ONEISALL Dog Shaver Clippers have a built-in Lithium-Ion battery that runs for 80 minutes when fully charged. It can also be used while plugged in, to ensure the grooming task can be swiftly done without power issues as an excuse. Whilst cordless has its advantages in regards to maneuverability, cordless dog clippers generally can’t produce the same amount of power as clippers plugged into a mains power source.
Blades are adjustable, safe, and sharp
Wireless and rechargeable clippers
Low vibration and ultra-quiet design
80-minute runtime and charge time
Four varying length guide combs
- Brand: oneisall
- Model: 26225202-003DE
- Weight: 1.28 pounds
Not a fan of corded tools? Well, you might be interested in the Sminiker Rechargeable Cordless Clippers. Its main feature is an acutely angled blade constructed of heavy-duty titanium that works exceptionally well with a movable ceramic blade. The titanium blade itself can be adjusted for optimum cutting performance. Unlike other cordless trimmers, the Sminiker Cordless dog clippers can run continuously for 70 minutes before recharging.
However, though its charging time may be quite long at 5 hours, it’s not as long as other brands. The Sminiker dog clippers do have a quiet motor, so they won’t spook your pet while you’re busy giving it a proper groom. This is especially helpful with anxious dogs that might be on edge whilst you’re trying to trim them – a quieter motor means a calmer environment.
Extra-quiet, low-vibration motor
Heavy-duty, fully adjustable titanium blade
Combination of titanium and ceramic blade
70-minute runtime with 5-hour recharging
Includes grooming tools and accessories
- Brand: SMINIKER Professional
- Weight: 1.3 pounds
Featuring a unique 5-in-1 blade technology that helps maintain the safe, cool temperature of the blade while running, the Wahl ARCO SE Professional Cordless Pet Clipper provides exceptional versatility. It runs for a full 80 minutes while only requiring 75 minutes of recharging times. It’s super slim, too, and lightweight so it won’t put undue pressure on your hands while also reducing the risk of wrist fatigue.
These Wahl pet clippers come with a unique motor that requires no maintenance whatsoever, so there’s no need for greasing, oiling, or even cleaning for a really hassle-free dog grooming. The only maintenance you’d need to put into it is grabbing a cleaning brush to clean loose hairs out of the blades after use. This will stop the blades from clogging and slowing down.
Adjustable blade provides 5 length options
Extra-lightweight design prevents fatigue
Includes removable rechargeable batteries
80-min runtime; 75-min charging time
12-month limited warranty
- Brand: Wahl
- Model: 8786-1201
- Weight: 2.15 pounds
Two of the most acclaimed features of the Andis 2-Speed Detachable Plus Dog Clipper are its powerful motor and its ultra-quiet design. These can help minimize pet anxiety by turning the grooming activity into something that’s pleasing and non-threatening. The Andis dog shaver also comes with a cool running design. This helps prevent the device from overheating, eliminating the need for air vents and fans which might get clogged with trimmed hair or eventually fail, respectively.
The blades can be easily removed for easy cleaning while other blade systems can also be used on the Andi, such as the Oster A-5 and the Andis ShowEdge, CeramicEdge, and UltraEdge. Its heavy-duty design makes it perfect for professional dog grooming, all the way down to the detail of using a shatter-proof body construction to limit dangerous breakage if a large or particularly strong dog managed to get hold of it.
Low vibration, non-overheating operation
2-speed motor provides better control
Fully removable easy-clean blades
Blade systems are cross-compatible
Durable, shatterproof construction
- Brand: Andis
- Model: 22215
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
With a reputation for quality products, the Oster A5 Turbo 2-Speed Professional Animal Clipper deserves to be included in any list of the best dog clippers on the market. This particular Turbo A5 edition of the Oster dog clippers has a powerful motor that comes in 2 different speed settings. With the higher speed setting comparable to professional dog clippers, which we all know to be the best dog clippers for thick dense coats and matting. Just be mindful of that power if you chose the Oster clippers for your own use.
What is truly remarkable in the Oster A5 is the cryogenic technology put into its blades. This gives it durability and performance that can surely make your dog grooming chores a breeze. However, It will require some degree of maintaining and cleaning. Fortunately, the head can be easily removed to make a cleanout go a little bit more smoothly for you.
Dual turbo two-speed motor
Fully detachable A5 Cryogen-X blade
Durable, professional-grade construction
Virtually unbreakable chew-proof housing
12-month limited product warranty
- Brand: Oster
- Model: 078005-314-003
- Weight: 11.2 ounces
The Andis UltraEdge dog hair clippers are a versatile product that guarantees durability due to their shatter-proof housing design. With its super 2-speed feature, you are assured of high speed when undertaking the task of grooming your dog. A quiet, swift, and easy operation are guaranteed even when dealing with even the most sensitive animals. And thanks to the extra-long 14-feet cord, easy movement around your pet is possible.
Andis has also added an automatic lock/switch-off feature to prevent the clippers from going off accidentally while trimming. The size ten blade size, coupled with the 2-speed feature of the Andis UltraEdge Clippers will certainly guarantee that your trimming task gets completed in less time than it will usually take with other clippers.
Low vibration, non-overheating operation
Easily detachable blade design
Includes a two-speed blade motor
Durable, shatter-proof housing
14-feet heavy-duty cord
- Brand: Andis
- Model: 22685
- Weight: 1.7 pounds
Ruri’s Professional Pet Grooming Clippers are specifically designed to make more detailed trimming work much easier. The small head on these clippers means you can works around the paws, butt, ears, and face with much more ease and significantly less worry of catching your pup’s skin by accident. With a sharp blade set at an acute angle, a more efficient cut is guaranteed.
And that’s not all; with the super mute motor engineered into the clipper, your dog could be asleep and still get a trim – it is that quiet! This product has been designed to run on batteries (1x AA battery) and can come in handy in times of emergency. Even if you are a first-time groomer, you will find that these clippers are rather easy to use.
Lightweight construction to reduce fatigue
Ergonomic design for easy grip
Uses AA batteries
Quiet motor to reduce stress
Acute angle blade for a more efficient cut
- Brand: Ruri’s
- Weight: 4 ounces
Best Dog Grooming Clippers Buying Guide
Things to Look for When Buying Dog Clippers
There are certain things you need to look out for when purchasing grooming clippers for the first time. The best dog grooming clippers will be durable, powerful, reliable, and for some people, cordless clippers are essential. But you also need to think about your own requirements and what you might need to get out of the clippers you select:
What breed is your dog?
Some dog breeds have thin coats that require minimal grooming (maybe just a wash and brush), whereas others develop wintery, thick coats made to withstand harsh weather conditions, such as; Akitas, huskies, collies, chow chows, and many more. Not only that but there are certain breeds with dense curly coats such as the poodle, and others with long coats that will continuously grow unless the hair is kept on top of, such as; Afghan hounds, certain terriers, and English setters, among others.
Knowing your breed will help you to plan how regularly they will need grooming and what exactly that grooming will entail. Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the breed and their coat type, you can begin to figure out what you might need and how often to plan grooming sessions.
How regularly will you be using them?
If you have a dog that is going to need frequent grooming and maintenance then you need to make sure the clippers you decide to go with are capable of keeping up with demand. This means picking heavy-duty dog clippers made using durable material. Lightweight clippers are generally better for the odd trim or more infrequent use with thinner coats.
If you’re having to do frequent cuts, it may also be worth considering the clipper speed options. Single-speed clippers are great for thin coats and quick trims for short hair, but you might want to select multi-speed clippers if your dog’s hair is particularly thick or high maintenance.
Corded clippers or cordless clippers?
The major difference between corded and cordless clippers is the power level. The more powerful dog clippers tend to be corded to ensure a full and constant supply of ample power. This means the clippers won’t falter during trimming – avoiding the possibility of your dog’s coat getting caught in the blades and potentially causing them pain. This will only give them a negative association with the activity, resulting in them being anxious whenever it’s grooming time.
Cordless clippers are great for a quick trim on the go and can be ideal for households where the power outlet is maybe in a position that is a bit too difficult to work from. Cordless dog clippers are also helpful for particularly skittish dogs that are constantly on the move, as they can avoid getting tangled up in the cord and potentially injured. Professional dog groomers have an area specifically designed to keep dogs still and calm during grooming sessions. However, home groomers don’t typically have that luxury.
Which blades would you prefer?
Most home grooming clippers come with detachable blades (some more easily detachable than others) to make caring for your clippers a safer affair. The two main materials used for clippers blades tend to be steel and ceramic.
Stainless Steel Blades
Stainless steel blades are generally preferred over standard steel as they have better resistance to rust. Stainless steel blades are also typically cheaper than ceramic, which makes them a more budget-friendly option. Not only that, but stainless steel blades are often available in more side ranges and can be more universal than ceramic.
Ceramic blades
Ceramic blades can’t rust and are corrosion-free. But the major point here, which as a home groomer you may find to be the icing on the cake – they stay up to 75% cooler than steel blades whilst being used. It’s common knowledge that metal is a great conductor of heat, whereas ceramic blades are significantly less so. Making them the best dog hair clippers for someone new to the grooming game that may take longer to finish the cut than a professional.
Do you require low-maintenance grooming clippers?
All dog clippers will inevitably require a certain degree of care in order to last you through thick and thin. But certain models are designed for fast and effective clipping without the worry of it needing to be dismantled after every use. Though each has its pros and cons. Clippers that require less maintenance generally perform to a lesser standard because you can’t keep them in as good a condition as the more complex designs. The ones that require more maintenance usually do so because they need to perform at a high level, and in order to achieve that they need to be properly cleaned and cared for.
What else do you need?
If you’re planning to put together a dog grooming kit then there are few added extras you may want to consider. A complete grooming kit should cover a variety of grooming needs. It’s best to include the following pieces if you can:
- Spare Clipper Blades
- Nail Clippers
- Attachment Combs (for varying clipper lengths)
- Scissors
- Dog Brush
- Grooming Comb (for detail)
- Blade Oil
- Grooming Apron
- Dog Shampoo
- Bristle Cleaning Brush (to clear hair from blades)
Dog Grooming Clippers Maintaining and Cleaning
Each set of clippers will have a slightly different way of cleaning and maintaining them. They should come with instructions for general care included with your purchase. But if your don’t come with instruction, here is as a general guide to the proper care of dog clippers:
Clean the blades after use
Ideally, you should be removing the blades from the clipper body after use so that you can fully remove any trapped care from between the blades using a bristle brush to get into the cracks. Once the hair is removed, submerge the blades in a cleaning solution specifically designed for clippers blades, allow them to soak, and then remove the blades, allowing them to air dry fully before reattaching them to the body.
Lubricate the blades
The heat built up in clipper blades is caused by friction as the blades move past one another at high speed for an extended period of time. A good way to combat this heat build-up is to ensure that you properly lubricate the blades between uses and ideally use a spray lubricant every 10-15 minutes whilst the clippers are in use. (If you’re using them for that long)
Avoid prolonged use
Excessive use of your clippers can cause them to blunt quickly, as well as risking injuring your dog with hot blades. If possible, try to swap out your blades whenever they seem to be getting too warm to give them a chance to cool down fully. This is especially important for large dog owners that have thicker coats to get through.
Properly store your clippers between uses
Ensure that your clippers are kept in a dry area where humidity won’t get to them and potentially cause rust or corrosion. You also want to avoid anywhere that dust could get onto the blades (which should ideally be kept in an oil-soaked cloth). A sealed container would be your best option here.
Keep the blades sharp
It is possible to sharpen clipper blades yourself, but be careful to research the proper technique if you are thinking of sharpening your blades at home. For anyone who may not be comfortable with doing it at home, there are also both stationary and traveling businesses that can do this for you.
How to Deal with an Anxious Dog When Using Dog Clippers
Anxiety in dogs whilst being groomed is a surprisingly common problem that professional groomers have to face on a regular basis. There are several pointers we can give to you that might help you to limit their stress levels. Fortunately, if you’re grooming from home then you won’t have to worry about traveling with your pup and you won’t have to worry about their reaction to being handled by a stranger, which is a good start. But for everything else, here are a few ways to hopefully lessen the stress:
Get them used to being handled
From the moment you bring your dog home, you should encourage them to be okay with being handled. This means positive reinforcement exercises and training sessions in which you gently pick up your dog’s foot, place your hands around their belly, lift their tails, hold their head, and turn them around. These are all actions you may have to do whilst grooming them. And if they are taught that these physical interactions are a positive thing, this can help to alleviate some of that anxiety.
Keep the grooming area constant
Wherever you intend to groom your pet, keep it constant. Once your pet knows that a certain setup in a certain space means grooming time, you can start to gently encourage them to make positive connections to the space. This, once again, falls back on positive reinforcement training. Have them enter the area and sit down, then reward them. The more relaxed they appear, the more they should be rewarded.
Start easy
Don’t delve straight into using clippers. If you have a breed that you know will need trimming, start grooming them before they get to that stage. Brushing is always a good place to start. Have them settle into the grooming area and brush them – rewarded calm behavior. Once they are used to being brushed you can move onto nail clipping, bath time, then small amounts of trimming with scissors. The grooming clippers will always be a big step, but making sure they are comfortable with all other areas of grooming makes the clipper stage much less complicated.
Consider using a muzzle
Sometimes a dog’s anxiety can’t be curbed, not with all the calming aromatherapy and soothing tone of voice in the world. In these cases it is unfortunate, but you may have to consider a dog muzzle if they can become aggressive in their panic. It may feel cruel to force a dog to undergo grooming when they are so clearly uncomfortable, but it is often for their own good – especially with breeds that grow long hair around their face and rump, as this hair can affect their sight and have a big impact on their hygiene.
It is better to ensure that everyone involved is safe. You may not want to put a muzzle on them, but a dog’s bite can be extremely dangerous as they are a big source of dangerous bacteria that can cause infection. So it is better for both yourself and your dog to take this precautionary measure and aim to get the grooming session over and done with as quickly as possible. In some cases, this might mean doing the bare minimum for the sake of minimizing trauma.
For an easier clean up, check out our reviews of the Dyson Pet Vacuums and Vacuums for Pet Hair.
Our Top Pick
For the best dog clippers, it was important for us to identify the best from the two different categories of pet clippers: corded and cordless. While there are systems that offer both corded and cordless functionalities within a single device, we decided to pick the best from each one instead to give a head’s up to those who prefer either a corded device or a cordless type.
For cordless dog grooming clippers, we were quite lost as to which among the different brands would take home the plum. Sminiker’s Professional Rechargeable Cordless Grooming Dog Clippers look formidable with its extra-quiet and low-vibration motor. Wahl’s Lithium Ion Pro Series was also great especially since it has a 2-hour runtime after only an hour of charging. However, it is Bonve Pet that won our nod. It has a really sleek and elegant profile that is exceptionally ergonomic. Its principal advantage is its low-vibration and low-noise motor at less than 50db. It has a combination of titanium and ceramic blades, too.
For corded clippers, Oster’s A5 would have been formidable, but we find its 4000 SPM maximum to be insufficient. Wahl’ Deluxe U-Clip Pet Clipper has an exceptional 7,200 max SPM, but it is only intended for light to medium coats. After carefully evaluating the pros and cons of each, we picked Andis ProClip because of its compatibility with other blade systems, especially with Oster blade systems. It may only have 4,400 max SPM but it is powerful enough to even cut through the densest coats. It is super-quiet, too.
And in case you’re wondering for a combination of corded clippers and cordless design, Wahl’s Home Pet Pro-Series is always a good bet. Its PowerDrive motor and self-sharpening blades plus a 45-minute charge time and runtime make it an ideal product to have. Best of all, its motor and blade systems are designed for heavy-duty use so you can cut and trim your pet regardless of its coat type.
Sources:
- Carol McCarthy, DIY Tips for Grooming a Dog at Home, PetMD
- Amber Kelsey, How Do I Choose Dog Clippers?, The Nest
FAQs:
Yes. Human hair clippers are generally set with close-knit teeth made to quickly cut through the single layer of hair humans have. Furthermore, human hair is much less resistant meaning a weaker motor. Dogs often have double coats that are much denser and more difficult to get through, meaning dog fur can jam up human clippers and potentially cause your dog pain.
That is why dog hair clippers are made with stronger motors and a more wide-spread blade setup with various teeth made to cut through multiple layers including that tricky undercoat. Powerful animal clippers can make grooming much smoother helping groomers to get the job done quickly and keep the dog comfortable.
Different speeds suit different jobs. Professional dog clippers are often built with a very high-speed function, but this will cause the metal to heat up the longer it's running. So as a home groomer it would be better to stick to a slower clipper speed to enable you more time to cut before the blades get too hot to use. The slower setting may show lines in your dog's fur when you do the first run-over. But once the majority of the fur is gone and you can properly see what you are doing, you can then switch to the high-speed mode (if you have variable speed clippers) and give your dog a quick going-over to tidy up the body.
The high-speed function of the best professional dog clippers allowed a professional groomer to get through multiple dogs quickly. but professional groomers are trained to use clippers efficiently and minimize the amount of time a dog is exposed to the use of professional clippers - which can sound quite jarring to nervous pups - therefore reducing stress.
Yes, but certain precautions need to be made. When cutting around the face and feet the fur should be carefully trimmed using shears for better control, as opposed to dog grooming clippers. Additionally, you can't cut the fur nearly as closely in these areas as you can the rest of their body. To be on the safe side you should leave the fur a little longer to ensure you won't catch them by accident. Only trim these areas if your dog is calm throughout. If they appear stress and start to squirm around it may be best to seek the help of a professional dog groomer.
Ideally, you want to have your puppy experience its first grooming session very early on. We're talking between 10 and 16 weeks (given that it has had its full vaccinations). This is in order to get them used to the sensation of being groomed - especially if they are a breed that will need regular grooming sessions. Those that need occasional grooming may be fine with just going as and when they need it. A grooming session so early with be very simple just so they can feel what it's like.
Yes. As the dog clippers are used the blades will begin to dull, just as any bladed instrument does with use. You will know when the clippers are due to be sharpened as they will begin to catch or pull at the fur as you cut. You should also note that stainless steel, titanium, and ceramic blades need sharpening just as regularly as one another - contrary to popular belief.
Dog breeds with particularly thick fur or a curly coat often prevent a harsher job for the clippers meaning they may need sharpening more frequently. If you are unsure about doing this yourself, you can have clipper blades sharpened for you via either a mobile service or a blade sharpening shop.
With matted fur, it is always a good idea to look for heavy-duty clippers. The best dog grooming clippers for dense matting should be capable of cutting through the thick locks of hair without catching it and pulling at your dog's skin. A brushless motor clipper kit would be the best approach in this instance. Most professional groomers will use heavy-duty clippers as standard and can often offer sound advice on how to tackle a matted coat.
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