Importance of Hair Clipping for Dogs
Depending on your dog’s coat type, having the best dog clippers can be incredibly important for their health. Even if your dog’s entire coat does not require clipping, many breeds benefit from grooming of the soft hair on their legs, feet, bellies, and more.
Dogs who do not receive regular grooming and haircuts develop painful tangles, knots, and mats. Over a long period of time, this can quickly lead to skin irritation and other health issues. Many dog owners put off clipping their pup’s hair because they want to avoid the stress of keeping their dog calm during the process.
This is why finding the right clipper for your dog is essential to a great clipping experience. If you have a pair of clippers that work too slowly, pull at your dog’s hair, or make too much noise, the process is much more tedious.
Five Best Dog Clippers
As a certified dog trainer with 10 years of experience helping dog owners take good care of their dogs, I have handpicked the best dog clippers for you.
Each trimmer reviewed below has a particular use scenario where it shines: all-around, heavy-duty jobs, value for money, etc. It’s hard to write a blanket statement about which clippers are the best, but we ranked them in terms of quality, price, versatility, ergonomy, and more.
Here is our unbiased review of the top 5 best dog clippers available!
All-Around Best Professional Dog Clipper
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Review Highlights:
“… Even after running the clipper for 10-15 minutes at a time I did not find that the blade became overly hot. Overall, my wife and I have saved $200 compared to what we would have paid a professional groomer, and this is only after 2 clippings. …”
“… It was so easy and very quiet. My dog who is a beagle/schitzu mix and she actually was not nervous at all. I highly recommend this clipper. Very well made …”
“… The trimmer is not very loud at all. I went through 4 attachments to experiment with until I found the one I wanted for her. I was so impressed how easy it cut and how fast it went! …”
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Wahl is one of the top names in grooming, so it should come as no surprise that they offer an all-around great trimmer. This clipper works quickly and quietly for your standard grooming jobs, and comes with multiple blade attachments, combs, and safety scissors.
Feature Highlights:
- 16 Piece Kit with adjustable blades gives you multiple options and all the tools you need.
- 6.5 in. long and 2 in. wide sized clipper for easy handling.
- 8 ft. Cord leaves plenty of room to maneuver.
- Powerful clipping for medium-duty jobs.
Powerful cuts are incredibly important when trimming dogs. The more powerful the clipper, the faster the cut, and the less stress on your dog! These clippers provide you with up to 6,000 strokes per minute of efficient and clean cuts. Another important factor in reducing stress is sound. Thankfully, these clippers are much quieter than standard professional trimmers, helping you and your dog have a more relaxed grooming experience.
This product includes an entire grooming kit to encompass all your needs. You receive seven different sized blade guides, a blade guard, a pair of grooming scissors, and a finishing comb. The kit also includes everything you need to clean and maintain the clippers, including a cleaning brush and blade oil. Recommended for: Yorkies, Maltese, Shih-Tzus, Cavaliers, and more.
Best Heavy-Duty Dog Clippers
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Review Highlights:
“… I have never cut a dog’s hair before. I have only used it once, and already got my money’s worth. It’s quiet, cuts hair well. It comes with a carrying case, oil, brush to keep them sharp …”
“… We’ve tried cutting them with conventional clippers. We came across Wahl Brand Dog Grooming kit and it stated that it cut through thicker dog hair and decided to give it a try… The hair just fell off of her body as we clipped her. They worked very well. …”
“… I like the different plastic clips that go over the blades so you can trim the fur to just the length you want… This sure beats the price of going to a groomer and is super easy to use. One use and it pays for itself …”
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When you’re clipping a large breed dog or a dog with a thick coat, standard clippers just don’t do the job sometimes. Thus, we bring you the best heavy-duty dog clippers. This product has a Wahl Powerdrive Motor to help you cut through even the most unruly coats.
Feature Highlights:
- Quiet but powerful clippers for both large and small breed dogs.
- Self-sharpening blades ensure you always get a smooth cut.
- Includes patented Power Drive motor for even the thickest of coats.
These clippers have carbon stainless-steel blades that self-sharpen to keep your grooming smooth and simple. Blades stay sharp for longer periods, which means you don’t have to replace them as frequently. The self-sharpening also prevents the blades from catching in your dog’s fur or pulling on their coat.
If you need a heavy-duty trimmer for a larger breed, a dog with dense fur, or even if you have livestock that need trimming, this is the clipper for you. It is incredibly powerful without sacrificing the important quiet factor. Recommended for: Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, Spaniels, and more.
Best Value Dog Clippers
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Review Highlights:
“… These clippers worked fantastic on my dog’s fur. He has very coarse and thick fur and these clippers just went through it like a hot knife through butter. …”
“… Never thought having a cordless clipper would make a huge difference but it does! Having the ability to move around without getting the dog tangled in the wires cut grooming time in half! …”
“… It was especially important to me that the clippers are quiet because my pup is a little nervous and I wasn’t disappointed. …”
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When it comes down to it, sometimes value is the most important consideration when looking for the best dog clippers. Not everyone has the expertise of a professional dog groomer, and not everyone needs the top-notch trimmers for their pet. With this pick, you get the best bang for your buck. These clippers are affordable without forfeiting many of the perks you receive from the pricier options.
Feature Highlights:
- Quiet motor to keep your dog calm.
- Rechargeable for a quick and easy clip without cords.
- Adjustable combs for your favorite length or style.
For many dogs, noise when clipping is everything. A quiet trimmer is incredibly important in ensuring your pet is calm throughout the grooming process, and this product doesn’t fall short in that category. With this trimmer, you can breeze through your dog’s haircut easily, and quietly! Even though this product is quiet, you don’t lose much trimming power in the process.
While this clipper is powerful enough for most dogs, you will need to take some additional measures for dogs with long or extremely dense coats. However, as long as you trim longer or thicker hair prior to clipping, this affordable option makes for a great choice on a budget! Recommended for: Toy Poodles, Maltese, Yorkies, and more.
Best Dog Clippers for Small Breeds
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Review Highlights:
“… The clippers did the entire job on one charge and now we’ve got a semi-hairless matt-free, 4 lbs lighter… kitty running around the neighborhood *AND* it cost way less than getting him professionally groomed …”
“… These clippers are SUPER quiet. The dogs never flinched when I turned it on. The attachments are easy to get on and off …”
“… My cat had horrible mats on her entire body… It was so quiet the noise didn’t bother her and I was able to easily shave off all of the mats without hurting her …”
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With over 2,000 customer reviews, an 75% five-star reviews, this dog clipper comes well recommended! Like some of the more expensive choices above, this clipper features a ceramic cutting blade for sharp, smooth trimming without the worry of hot blades burning your dog. You can also choose from four different guard combs, 3 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm, and 12 mm.
Feature Highlights:
- Rechargeable battery to help you trim your dog without annoying cords.
- Ceramic blade stays cool and sharp for a safe and easy cut.
- Ultra-quiet and low vibration to keep your dog calm throughout the grooming process.
- Features several different guides, combs, and scissors.
The true power of this clipper is not just its reviews and options, but its sound, or lack thereof. Multiple reviews rave about how quiet these clippers are. They provide you with a powerful and smooth trim without the scary sound usually associated with clippers. Especially with smaller breeds, loud noises can be quite stressful and can make the trimming experience a nightmare for all. Thankfully, these clippers zip through your haircut quietly and with ease.
Can we take a moment to acknowledge the fantastic price for this clipper? This is one of the most affordable options available, and despite its affordability, it provides you with 80 minutes of smooth, powerful, and quiet clipping. Because it is cordless, you do not have to worry about pesky wires pulling on your dog or becoming tangled. Overall, this is a great option for small breed dog owners who are looking to reduce their grooming bill by trimming their dog at home. Recommended for: Golden Doodles, Yorkies, Spaniels, Pomeranians, and even Cats!
Best Dog Clippers for Face and Sensitive Areas
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Review Highlights:
“… I love these little clippers, they’re small but get the job done in hard to reach areas like the toenails or ears. The metal comb that comes with the kit is amazing quality and made brushing so much easier. …”
“… I was finally able to use these and am impressed! I was able to trim my Yorkie’s face…around his eyes, nose, and mouth pretty effortlessly. It is very easy to handle and isn’t loud at all. …”
“… These trimmers are perfect. The small head fits nicely in between the pads of his feet and the guard ensures I don’t jab him while he resists my help. …”
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For some jobs, a regular clipper is simply too large and ungainly to use properly. Especially if your dog squirms, dislikes grooming, or is flat-out trying to escape, getting those sensitive areas trimmed quickly and safely is priority number one. That’s where the Visson dog clippers come in. This clipper provides a petite grooming head with a specialized guard to safely and quickly trim even the most sensitive of areas.
Feature Highlights:
- Extremely narrow head for hard-to-reach areas.
- Safety features include cool ceramic blades and safety guard.
- Lightweight and cordless design make grooming quick and easy.
Even though this clipper features smaller blades, it is still equally important to ensure those blades do not heat up during the trimming process. A hot blade in between the toes or on the face is incredibly uncomfortable and simply dangerous. Thankfully, these clippers feature super smooth ceramic trimming blades that do not heat up as you groom your dog. Ceramic blades also have the benefit of staying sharp for longer periods, which means you do not have to replace them as frequently as titanium blades. The blades also feature a specialized guard to ensure that you do not knick your dog’s sensitive skin during the trimming process.
Not only is this trimmer practical and useful, but it is also affordable. However, we would not recommend attempting to trim your entire dog with these minute trimmers. Instead, you should purchase a standard clipper for the main body of the dog. Once the body is clipped, you can use this clipper for the face, ears, paws, and other detailed areas. With the low price point of this product, you can easily purchase both clippers for an all-around smooth and seamless grooming experience. Recommended for: Beagles, Yorkies, Maltese, Cats, and more.