Home Grooming Tools?

[Roberta Dulay]

Hi all,

I want to buy some clippers so I can trim up Milo myself.  Does anyone have experience with trimming their own doodle, and if so, does brand matter?

I'm looking as some fairly inexpensive clippers on eBay by Oster and wondering if those will do the trick?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OSTER-pet-10-PC-set-DOG-animal-Clipper-Trim...

Or do I need something more robust?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Andis-Company-Andis-7pc-Pro-ANIMAL-CLIPPER-...

[Ginny Nightingale]

Hi there--I would say the more robust the better--I started grooming my own doodles then I branched out to a small home grooming business. I have Andis two-speed clippers that were over $100 from Petedge, but even they are not powerful enough if the doodle has a thick curly coat that mats easily. You might also want to get the accessories separately--the plastic combs that go over the clipper are not very good---they are too rough and catch on the hairs. I bought a set of steel combs and they are much better.

The most useful tool I have is my folding grooming table--you need to be able to work on the dog on a table--so see if you need to buy one or if there is one you have that you can modify for this use--with a rubber mat, for example. 

Lastly, I would join the grooming group and search there--there are lots of discussions about equipment.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

1. Determine how frequently you'll be using the clippers. If you have just one dog that needs an occasional trim, a basic set of inexpensive clippers will be fine. At the other end of the spectrum, if you'll be frequently grooming several different breeds of dogs, purchasing high-endprofessional clippers will be worth the investment.

2. Evaluate your dog's coat. The thicker its coat, the more power you'll need from your dog grooming clippers. For pets with thin coats or coats that don't require much grooming, consider a set of electromagnetic motor clippers for dog grooming. These low-maintenance clippers are typically the least expensive style of dog groomers. Pivot motor clippers are ideal for dogs with thin to medium coats that require more frequent grooming. Pivot motor clippers also feature an electromagnetic motor that uses a configuration that gives it more power than standard electric dog clippers. For dogs with heavy coats, rotary motor pet clippers will give you the power you need to work through the thick hair. Professional clippers use a rotary gear-driven motor and have a blade attachment to allow quick blade changes when pet grooming multiple breeds of dogs.

3. Decide whether you want cordless clippers. Consider your dog's size and temperament.Cordless clippers are typically not a good idea when grooming large breeds because of the potential to run out of battery power before you've finished clipping. An advantage to cordless clippers over traditional dog groomers, however, is the ability to clip wherever the dog is most comfortable without having to worry about an electrical supply. If your dog has trouble remaining still, cordless clippers also allow you to clip without worrying about entanglement while dog grooming.

4. Look for dog clippers sold with accessories. You will particularly use the guide combs that snap onto the dog clippers. If you're planning on grooming multiple breeds of dogs, you may need to purchase additional guide combs and blades. You'll also need lubricating oil and a small cleaning brush, which typically are sold with pet clippers.  

[K and Racey]

I have the Andis. It works great. 

[K and Racey]

When I was looking for clippers I looked for ones that said they were for poodles. I don't know if it makes a difference or not, but different clippers will say on the box what type of dog they are made for. Also, I have the cordless set because I like to trim Racey outside in my yard. I just let her hair blow away in the wind.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I cant help im afraid, I scissor cut Cooper

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I would go with the more robust clipper, I have purchased less expensive kind in the past and they really did not hold up at all.  I have the Oster A5 "buzzer" and love it, I bought a few different blade attachments to cut poodle hair since my Sasha is very poodley, I also bought a blad that was small to get inbetween the pads and keep the hair short.  I also invested in a good pair of sheers as well.  I don't recall the brand but paid over a $100. for them, they are 8" long and absolutely love them.  I do more scissoring than buzzing on my doodles.  I have always had high maintenance dogs and have been thru tons of different grooming tools and found the better quality tools will last longer and are better to use all around - just my opinion.