Professional Dog Hair Clippers Your Pet Will Love
Tired of spending lots of $$$ on a professional groom? Some dogs enjoy it, but others don’t particularly enjoy being tied up in the grooming salon waiting for their turn.
If you are looking to get into some part-time (or even full-time) grooming, a professional-grade dog clipper is going to make your job a lot easier.
Do you plan to just touch up your dog once a month? You can probably save a lot of money by choosing a less serious one. (like our #5 pick).
1. Andis UltraEdge AGC2 Clipper
This trimmer hasn’t always been in my number 1 spot. However, after watching more and more of my readers choose this trimmer, I decided to look at it more closely.
While it isn’t everything the Excel (reviewed below) is, it is everything you could ever want in a trimmer. You have 2 speeds (3,400 and 4,400 RPMs), giving you more speed than most professional groomers. professional.
Want to show your dogs? Just buy the extra blades! Planning on opening a salon? This will be the last one you ever need to buy.
The only complaint might be that the square design and size of these trimmers make them a little harder for people with small hands to enjoy. These trimmers are also on the heavy side, which is to be expected out of professional models.
Pro Tip: It comes with a finishing blade, but grab a skip-cut blade as well for getting started on the cuts. You’ll thank me later.
(Discounted at Amazon)
2. Wahl Arco Cordless Trimmers
There a few major wins with this trimmer.
- It is extremely light. We’re talking about half the weight of the shears listed above.
- For people with small hands, these might be best.
The battery has about 80 minutes of cutting time. If you are using them professionally, you will need extra battery packs.
The speed on these shears is fast: 5,500 RPM . That’s faster than even the Power Groom.
The 5-in-one blade is different, but for most of the cuts you do, it will more than handle them.
By the same token, this isn’t the blade you’ll want to use for show dogs. For those types of jobs, you’ll be wanting the Andis series.
(Discounted at Amazon)
3. Andis AGC 2-speed
With its powerful motor, the Andis is designed to run cool, so professional groomers can use it all day without overheating.
This clipper is a two-speed with an extra long 14-foot cord.
Even though it is fast, care has been made to keep this as one of the quietest clippers on the market. If you have an anxious pet, this one is so quiet it might just put them to sleep.
The downside? You are looking at almost a pound of trimmer weight. That’s a solid workout. At least the vibrations are kept to a minimum, which makes this weight acceptable.
Just keep in mind that you will need to pick up the blades separately.
4. Oster A5 Clippers
My grandma had an Oster blender. One day when the car wouldn’t start, we took the blender out and slapped it under the hood in place of the engine. Drove that way for 3 weeks…
I’m joking. But only a little bit.
This machine is heavy. I believe it is the heaviest unit I’ve reviewed at almost 2 pounds. If you want to build forearms, this one might do that for you.
Secondly, it seems as though this unit gets warmer than most of the ones we’ve reviewed. I thought maybe they had fixed this problem with the A6, but if they did, it wasn’t significant. Oster even goes so far as to produce a cooling spray you can use on the blades.
The upside is that you could shave a water buffalo with these things. If you have a pet that constantly burns out your trimmers, then you should definitely give these a try.
5. WAHL Lithium Ion Pro
The pricing on this model makes it is a very attractive choice for the at-home groomer.
The thing I really like about the Wahl is all of the anti-vibration and anti-rotation engineering to help prevent hand fatigue.
Despite their name, I would not choose these for professional practice. The battery life will not cut it. However this particular item comes with a full set of accessories.
(Available at Amazon)
6. Andis EasyClip Pro
Another Andis makes the list. This is a kit that comes with 7-piece detachable clips, scissors and a useful large carry case.
Designed for medium coats, this 14-oz corded clipper is ready for heavy duty use.
(Available at Amazon)
Grooming Your Dog: What You Need to Know
A lot of dogs are fearful of the groomers, and by you doing the job yourself, you can remove that fear factor. Groomers are not certified in most states and are no more qualified to cut your pet’s hair than you are
(If you want something completely different – look at the Flowbee. A gimmicky clipper that attaches to a vacuum. People have actually used it to trim their dog).
Choose the Right Speed
- A higher speed does NOT get the job done quicker. High speed clippers deliver a cleaner finish (fewer passes). BUT – they heat up.
- When clipping near skin (eyes or sanitary areas) – use a lower speed to avoid burning your pet.
- Single speed clippers move slowly. This is for a reason: Avoiding blade overheating.
Grooming should be ‘effortless’.You should be able to easily move your clippers through your dog’s fur. Don’t apply excessive pressure. Doing so can cause the blades to dive close to the skin and nick you pet.
A forced cut also leaves lines, giving you a rough, amateurish cut.
Cordless vs Corded
A lot of owners are immediately attracted to the cordless version. Cordless gives you more freedom of movement – but may not be as strong at the end of the cut.
Also – batteries tend to run out somewhere around the 1 hour mark.
So if you are doing a full groom job on your pet (not just occasional touch ups) I would recommend going with a corded version.
Blade Types
- Fine Tooth vs Skip Tooth
Fine tooth blades (denoted with the letter “F” as in #7F) give the coat a more finished look and are best on fluffy hair. For dogs with matted hair or for breeds that have a thick undercoat, use a skip-tooth blade. - Steel vs Ceramic Edgings
Carbon-infused steel gives you a harder blade that holds up longer. Ceramic blades are supposed to stay sharper and resist heat. There are also titanium, silver, and chrome blades. Each of them touts different advantages. - Sizing
Blades come in different sizes, denoted by the “#” sign. A # 3 blade will leave about 1/2″ of the coat. A #7/8 toe blade trims closer to 1/8″ and is ideal for the toes and feet. - Comb Guards
Some professionals don’t use combs. But it will help deliver a better cut (easier on straight than curly fur.
Don’t forget to clean and re-oil your unit after every use. It will last much longer.
Can I Shave My Dog With Regular Human Hair Clippers?
Not really.
Dog clippers have more teeth per blade to keep the motor from having to work harder in the dog’s thicker coat. In addition, the motors in the dog trimmers are stronger to handle the heavier cutting load.
I saw someone trim a Shih Tzu with a pair of human clippers. It took 4 hours and the clippers were ruined. Not to mention the poor pup was stressed out. But it was a rescue situation and we got them into a better spot where their skin could start relaxing from the mats.
Special Case Grooming
- Thick Fur
Dogs with a strong undercoat need to have an intense coat rake done every spring and then frequently combed throughout the month to help speed the shedding and keep them mat free. - Matted Fur
Matted fur is abuse. The first rule is to go gently. The second rule is to work slowly. On this first cut, we aren’t going for style. You won’t be using a comb guard on these cuts, so having a nice pair of ceramic blades can help you keep your blades cool during these long grooming sessions. - Poodles (and other curly haired dogs)
You may not be able to use a comb guard. For curly-haired breeds, you may choose to buy a longer guard to take the place of the guard. While you are at it, you might invest in a ceramic blade to help keep the tips cooler.
