Clipper Reccomendations?

[Cheryl]

I clipped Taps this weekend. He had been bathed  and blow dried, back combed him several times. No mats.. I am disappointed w/ my Oster A5 Turbo 2 speed - they are older but I just had them serviced.  I used #5 comb on a #10 blade.  It just did not go through as expected, or like last time. His hair seemed to clog up in the comb/blade. Very frustrating for both he and myself.  I spent over 3 hours yesterday and again today, close to 8 hours totall split over the two days, with some rest breaks.  I am so disappointed... What brand clippers are others using and suggestions? He is 9 months, I would describe his coat as soft, wavy, not over curly...any input re clippers will be much valued?

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Well, IMO he looks great!  I have two doodles and I can groom one of them, but the other has a difficult thick coat.  I hope some of the others chime in that groom. For clippers I just use the cheap Wahl Arco SE Cordless because they are super light and do an ok job.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I think you did a great job! It really sounds to me like your blade is dull. When hair starts collecting around the blade and the clipper doesn't seem to want to cut, that's when I get a new blade and it works like a charm. I use a 30 blade (I prefer the Andis UltraEdge detachable type) with my Wahl stainless steel attachment combs. If you're using a fresh blade and know for certain it's the clipper that's the problem, you can't go wrong with an Andis 2 speed. I have the Andis ProClip Super 2-Speed AGC2 and it's never given me a problem in the 3 years I've been grooming my 2 doods.

[Cheryl]

Brand new blade, one of those "cryotech" ' 1 used #10.. maybe a #30 would be better choice?

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Depending on what type of attachment combs you have, a #30 might be best. Wahl brand suggests you you that blade with their combs. Actually, a #30 blade probably would be better than a #10 for any comb attachment, because its a closer shaving blade. The only problem I ever encountered with the Wahl SS attachment combs was with a #50 blade. For some reason they just don't work with those (I have used a #10 though, in a pinch when my first #30 went dull. It worked fine, but I find a #30 is much, much better, as far as gliding through the coat like butter.).

I doubt the problem you encountered had much to do with the blade, if your #10 was new. Maybe it's time to invest in a high quality clipper? It costs about the same as 2 professional grooms would cost, give or take.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Taps is adorable. We also have a doodle grooming group here you might be interested in. Lots of great advice there as well.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/doodlegrooming

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Sounds to me that the blade is dull. I use Andis AGC Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper and instead of attachment combs, I just bought the blade size I wanted. I've got Andis UltraEdge 4FC (cuts down to 3/8") and Andis UltraEdge 3-3/4 FC (cuts down to 1/2").

I had an issue with the clipper not going through the hair and had my blades sharpened. It didn't work, so I just ordered new blades and it worked like a charm. I tried using the attachment combs, but they just don't slide through the hair as easy and tend to fall off when they get stuck. Having a blade that has the length you want your doodle to have works best for me.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I guess it depends on the doodle's coat type. When I first started grooming at home I went out and bought several blade lengths, but they just wouldn't go through either Lucy's or Oscar's coats. They both have thick, curly/wooly coats, fwiw. The attachment combs made the difference between night and day for me. The ones I have (Wahl stainless steel) have never fallen off the clipper once in the 3 yrs I've used them.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

To clarify, I use the Wahl stainless steel clip on type attachment combs.

[Cheryl]

brand new blade. attachiment combs are plastic.