Dog clipper recommendations please

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HelenBack

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Our dog usually sees a groomer every couple of months but obviously that's not happening at the moment and he's getting too hot with this warm weather so I'm going to have to do it myself. It's going to be a disaster!

I've never clipped a dog in my life before and have no idea how to even start to choose some clippers. My dog is a rescue and is a true mixed breed, although he has miniature schnauzer in him and has a schnauzer style wiry coat. The clip will have to be functional to keep him cool rather than in any way stylish!

Can anyone help me with a recommendation for some suitable clippers please?
 
As a dog groomer, I’d strongly advise against it but if you are used to clipping horses then you are probably going to be a bit more aware of the dangers and technique. I say this purely as someone who has recently seen some absolutely horrific injuries caused by Home grooming (severe tongue, being just one)
If you are going to try, please get a decent set (i recommend Andis) and not the cheap ones you can get from amazon etc. Do you know what blade your groomer normally uses? Cheap clippers tend to come with blades that take the hair very, very short and are designed to be used with combguards, but they are rarely good enough to do a decent groom.

I had been clipping horses for over 20 years but I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to clip dogs. Remember to go with the coat, rather than against and watch out for flappy skin. Dog skin seems to be far danglier than Horse skin!
 
scats said:
had been clipping horses for over 20 years but I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to clip dogs. Remember to go with the coat, rather than against and watch out for flappy skin. Dog skin seems to be far danglier than Horse skin!
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Scats, can I shamelessly pick your brains as to how to tackle the newish JRT? She is going to need a summer trim, she was panting yesterday. I do have decent small animal clippers (Liveryman harmony with snap on small blades) and guards up to 1” long. I intend just to do her body and leave her head, legs and tail.
She is a potential new customer for when your business is back up and running again, I just need to keep her comfortable for now. Pic shows her complete with a cow muck coating :D.

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Tiddlypom said:
Scats, can I shamelessly pick your brains as to how to tackle the newish JRT? She is going to need a summer trim, she was panting yesterday. I do have decent small animal clippers (Liveryman harmony with snap on small blades) and guards up to 1” long. I intend just to do her body and leave her head, legs and tail.
She is a potential new customer for when your business is back up and running again, I just need to keep her comfortable for now. Pic shows her complete with a cow muck coating :D.

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Usually if the owner doesn’t want a hand strip on a JRT, I use either a #7 (leaves coat approx 1/8” long) or #5 blade (1/4” long). People who like a nice short cut I go for #7. #5 is still short, but doesn’t have quite the drastic look of a #7. I love a good #7 cut, particularly in summer and that’s what I do my own dogs on.
If you have a combguard that is labelled around 1/8”, that’s your 7 equivalent.
 
scats said:
As a dog groomer, I’d strongly advise against it but if you are used to clipping horses then you are probably going to be a bit more aware of the dangers and technique. I say this purely as someone who has recently seen some absolutely horrific injuries caused by Home grooming (severe tongue, being just one)
If you are going to try, please get a decent set (i recommend Andis) and not the cheap ones you can get from amazon etc. Do you know what blade your groomer normally uses? Cheap clippers tend to come with blades that take the hair very, very short and are designed to be used with combguards, but they are rarely good enough to do a decent groom.

I had been clipping horses for over 20 years but I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to clip dogs. Remember to go with the coat, rather than against and watch out for flappy skin. Dog skin seems to be far danglier than Horse skin!
Click to expand...

Thanks for this advice, clearly a bit more to think about than I'd realised! I do know what blade the groomer usually uses ( a #4 or a #7 depending on the season) so at least I wouldn't inadvertently scalp him! I think the best thing to do is to contact the groomer for a bit of advice. Should have thought of that first really!
 
I’ve always used Oster clippers and blades and would highly recommend them but they are expensive. I guess it depends if you’re planning on carrying on grooming yourself once the world is back to normal? If not, then they’re a massive expense. The cheaper alternatives are a lost cause and may last you a couple of clips, especially with a wiry coat.

What you could do, rather than clip, is get yourself some thinning scissors and a good metal comb and remove the coat slowly. I have a stripping knife that’s donkeys years old that might also be handy. It’s basically a bladed comb that removes the hair when you comb. Not sure if you can still buy them though.

The scissors and comb will cost you considerably less than clippers but you need to remember they are still scissors and if you have a fidgety dog, can cause harm.

Anyone who grooms anything, be it dogs or horses, had to start somewhere and it’s only practice that makes perfect. No-one started out perfect :)
 
I have just clipped my terrier today I bought masterclip dog clippers with the longest comb cutter you can get as I didn't want a very short coat . I did quite a bit of research to make sure I got the right blades. I clip my own horses but have no training in dog clipping but have been quite pleased with the results .
 
I groom my poodle myself. I use the Andis one speed and two lengths of metal clippers. If they’re part snauzer you could try a snauzer Facebook group or see if there are any videos on you tube. I sometimes use scissors to trim Teddy if I want his coat a different length to the clipper blades. Be really careful of their tongue though as someone else said.
 

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Clipped my husband’s hair a few days ago using some old dog Wahl clippers that were no good for my poodle as they have plastic combs and realised I needed metal. Hubby’s hair turned out really well actually :D
 
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