Dog Clippers

Home clipping saves a small fortune over a dog's life, and for breeders with a house full of coats it is simply part of the routine. The trick is having tools that cut cleanly instead of dragging.

This collection covers cordless body clippers, small paw and face trimmers and nail clippers, so you can handle a full tidy up or a quick touch up between grooms.

Choosing the Right Clipper

Match the tool to the job. A full size cordless clipper with guide combs handles body coats and full trims. A narrow blade paw trimmer, especially one with a light, is far better for the fiddly work between pads, around sanitary areas and near the face. Nail clippers come in scissor and guillotine styles, and scissor types tend to suit thick nails and give better control. Whatever you choose, quiet running and low vibration matter more than raw power for a nervous dog, and decent battery life saves you stopping halfway through. Blades you can oil and replace will outlast a sealed head.

Clipping Without Drama

Start on a clean dry coat, because dirt and moisture blunt blades fast and clipping a matted coat pulls painfully. Brush out first, work with the lie of the hair for a natural finish, and keep the blade flat against the skin rather than digging in. Blades heat up, so pause and check the temperature with your hand every few minutes. Introduce the noise before the cut by letting your dog hear the clipper running while they eat. Oil the blades before and after each session and brush hair out of the vents. With nails, take small amounts often, and if you nick the quick, styptic powder stops it quickly. Heavy matting or a dog that needs sedating is a job for your vet or a professional groomer.

Round out the kit with dog grooming supplies, a deshedding brush, styptic powder and a good dog shampoo for the wash afterwards.

Ready to groom at home? Explore the RPBA collection of dog clippers and set yourself up for a cleaner, calmer trim.