How to Choose the Right Clipper

You’ve recently decided to begin groomOn your quest to become an at-home ing your dog at home –awesome! groomer, you’ve started researching pet Grooming your pup is a great way to clippers. Whoa, there are a ton of opdeepen your bond while also staying in tions! It can be overwhelming, but this tune with any changes in their fur or guide is here to help break down the difskin, which can indicate potential health ferent clipper types to help you make 34 issues. Copyright © 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Subscribe www.egroomer.com (Continued on page 36)

the right purchase for your dog’s needs. Look for the orange and blue icons to In order to determine the best clipper for your pup you’ll first you need to idenMEDIUM tify their coat type. Dog coat types can be broken into several different categoBreeds in the medium coated category ries but, to make things simple, let’s have a wide range of types, including use the following four classifications: Shih Tzus, Malteses, Bichons, and CavaSmooth/Short, Medium, Heavy, and lier King Charles Spaniels to Scottish Curly. We will also talk about which areTerriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Aireas on the dog are referred to as “Trim dales, Cocker Spaniels, and everything Only.” in between. These are small to medium It is important to note that prior to any clipping, you should always bathe and If your pup falls into this category, your brush your dog first. Not only will this clipper options are plenty. Standard adhelp provide your pup with a stress and justable blade clippers will do a fine job tangle free clip, but will help keep your clipping and trimming through a mediblade from having to work in overdrive um coat, but a 5-in-1 adjustable blade to power through dirt, debris, and mats. clipper will do even better. An adjustable 5-in-1 blade clipper is a professional SMOOTH/SHORT style clipper that assists in finesse and Dog breeds that fall into this category cutting size adjustments which aids in include Jack Russell Terriers, Boxers, leaving a smoother, more professionalGreat Danes, French Bulldogs, Smooth grade finish to your pet’s coat. Fox Terriers, Dachshunds, and all other breeds with similar coats. Look for the orange Adjustable icon and blue 5-in-1 icon to help you find the right For breeds with smooth and/or short clipper. coats, you will not need a heavy-duty professional clipper. You can certainly HEAVY purchase one if you’d like, especially if you plan to groom often, but will not Heavy coated dog breeds include Goldneed a heavy duty motored clipper for en Retrievers, Pomeranians, Great Pyresmooth/short coated breeds. When purneeses, Samoyeds, and Sheep Dogs. chasing, look for clippers with a standhelp you find the right clipper. sized dogs with manageable coats. precision cutting due to the number of ard adjustable blade or a 5-in-1 adjustaIf you have a double-coated dog, such ble blade to assist grooming your pet. as an Australian Shepherd, German 36 Copyright © 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Subscribe www.egroomer.com (Continued on page 37)

Shepherd, Siberian Husky, or Newfoundland, please contact your groomer or vet CURLY before shaving. A double coat means that your dog’s coat has two distinct layDog breeds that fall into the Curly cateers –a fluffy undercoat that provides ingory include Poodles, Portugese Water sulation and an overcoat with longer Dogs, Haveneses, Terry Blue Terriers, hair that serves protection from the eleLagotto Romagnolos, and every type of ments. Double-coats protect your pup “Doodle”. Technically, some of the from the elements, keeping them warm smaller breeds such as Bedlington Terriin the winter and cool in the summer. ers and Bichon Frises also have curly Improperly shaving a double-coated dog coats, but since these coats tend to be can have unintended consequences much lighter and easier to clip, we put such as sunburn, overheating, and can them in the “Medium” category. even damage their fur and cause it to grow back differently. A regular de-shed Like the heavy coats we mentioned brushing routine can help curb unwantabove, for these breeds with thick, curly ed shed and will help cool your pup in coats, you are going to need a clipper the warm months. with a lot of torque to drive blades To shave down a heavy or thick-coated want to look for a professional-grade dog, you will need a powerful clipper. A clipper that uses detachable blades, common mistake owner’s make is pursuch as Wahl’s Competition Series or Ulchasing a lower powered clipper intendtimate Competition Series. Options such ed for light use coats. If the clipper isn’t as the Wahl KM10™ or Power Grip® powerful enough, the blade can catch have a built-in feature that provides exand pull your dog’s coat –causing grief tra power and torque when you need it for both you and your dog. When searchmost. Look for the green Detachable ing for a clipper, look for one that specificon to help you find the right clipper. ically calls out that it is for thick coats or heavy duty use. Often, a good indicator TRIM ONLY is a corded clipper that uses detachable though your pet’s dense fur. You will blades, such as Wahl’s KM10™ which When researching grooming products, uses Wahl Competition Series or Ultiyou might see the words “clipping” and mate Competition Series detachable “trimming” used interchangeably. Techblades. These are clippers built for pronically speaking, they are not the same fessional use and tackling big jobs every in definition, but many products can be day. used as both a clipper and a trimmer depending on the size of the animal Look for the green Detachable icon to you’re grooming. eGroomer Journal Copyright © 2011 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved help you find the right clipper. 37 (Continued on page 38)

Trim work often refers to trimming hair around eyes (so they can see), trimming the fur that grows between their paws (so they don’t slip or track mud on your floor), or sometimes even trimming long hair around their private parts to help keep these areas clean and sanitary (referred to as a sanitary trim). Trimming does not include body clipping or shave downs.

For small breeds, a pocket-sized trimmer such as the Wahl Super Pocket Pro® or the Touch-Up® trimmer will help you access and trim these niche areas. the BravMini+ and the Mini Arco, that have a little more power behind them to trim up larger areas quickly. Bonus –they’re quiet AND rechargeable!

For large or thick-coated breeds, you may want to consider a full-sized clipping for your trimming needs. An adjustable 5-in-1 blade clipper will be able to tackle trim work on large dogs, as well as trimming bridle paths, ears, muzzles, and fetlocks on horses.

Look for the purple Trimmer icon and blue 5-in-1 icon to help you find the right trimmer. ▀

For medium-sized breeds, there are larger, professional-grade trimmers, like