Best clippers?

[Amy & Bernie]

We groom Bernie at home and we're in the market for new clippers. The ones we've been using were donated by a friend (they're human clippers) and worked fine until recently, they seem to have either dulled beyond repair or the change in Bernie's coat (thickening) as he leaves puppyhood makes them pretty useless.

We want to get a good, basic set that won't cost an arm and a leg. Based on his hair type we think he needs something reasonably heavy duty. And honestly we wish they just sold clippers and attachments separately because we don't do anything fancy, he gets the same length all over and then a little trimming with shears around his eyes. He's super cute so 'basic' works for us!

If anyone can recommend a brand that will work well with his thicker coat, we'd appreciate it, if it happens to be reasonably priced - we'll owe you big time!

 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Can someone tell me a little about comb attachments as opposed to blades for the clippers, what are they for?  Also anyone know what blades to buy, I think a no. 10 comes with the Andis so what and how many other blades do you need?

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Hi Nicky...the comb attachments only work on certain blade numbers. The higher the blade number the closer to the skin the cut. A #40 blade is one that 100% shaves to the skin and can also nick or give razor burn. I would only ever use it with a comb attachment. I'm pretty sure an attachment will fit on that size blade. I use the #10 blade and work with the 1 1/4", 1" on down to the 1/2" attachments. The largest is the 1 1/4". If you cut with the growth of the hair it will actually end up a little longer than what the attachment says. If you clip against the growth it will be shorter than the comb size. Most Doodles are a couple of inches long. Personally I like to keep Gracie Doodle about an inch. There is no way you can use a blade only to groom that length. Unless you have a good eye and a still Doodle where you can just skim across the hair. My Gracie has very soft wave hair and it just lays down if I try to scissor or clip just the edges fo a trim. The camb attachments come in plastic and metal and now in metal thart held in magnetically rather than clipping on. Of course I own them all!! I just used the magnetic one and really liked them. They are made I think by Andis. I am in Boston right now so I can't go look. I also have Andis metal and Wahl plastic. All are interchangeable with Oster or Andis clippers. The most determining factor as to whether or not you can use comb attachments on your Doodle will be the type hair they have. The Australian Labradoodles tend to have a thicker and denser hair and the attachments have trouble getting through. When that happens you need to go to scissor cutting. If you want your Doodle short many people shorten them roughly with scissors and then use the clippers to detail them and maintain the cut. The thicker or denser, wooly or wirey type hair the clippers will not go through and for certain the attachments won't either. The will just get caught and pull off. I hope this isn't too confusing. Let me know if you ave any more questions.