Keeping your dog's coat trimmed not only ensures they feel cool and comfortable in warm weather, but helps to get rid of matted fur and keep their fur looking great.
Trips to the groomers can be costly if your dog needs regular grooming, plus it can be time-consuming if appointments are scarce, so you may have thought about doing it yourself.
To do so, you'll need to be patient, do your research, choose the perfect time and, of course, invest in a great pair of dog clippers that make the job easy and keep your pet calm.
What to look for in a pair of dog clippers
Clippers are noisy, vibrating and sharp, which can be alarming for your dog. Opt for dog clippers that are low-noise, low-vibration and professional grade to spare their nerves.
Having a cordless pair can make things simpler if your dog is likely to wriggle around or may try to escape during your grooming session.
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Even if you don't plan on grooming your dog often, having a pair of dog trimmers or scissors in the house is a great idea, in case your pet gets something stuck in its fur, or the fur around their eyes or pads needs a quick trim.
We've rounded up the top-rated dog clippers to help you find the best ones, so all you need to do is get the treats ready and be as prepared as possible. What's more, all of these clippers are suitable for cats, too, as an added bonus if you have more than one pet.
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The best dog clippers
1 of 7P&U Dog Clippers Set
This grooming set is more than just a pair of clippers. For the purse-friendly price, you also get scissors, a grooming comb, nail clippers, nail file and cleaning brush. It's low-noise and low-vibration and can precisely adjust to the length you need. It's rechargeable and cordless, giving you 120 minutes from a 3/4 hour charge. It can also be used while plugged in. Review: "My husband loves these, he likes to cut our dog's hair but hasn't found any clippers that will work on our dog who is a mix Shitzu Bison. He has lots of knots and long hair but this time it didn't take him long too trim/cut his hair. Clippers were easy to use, easy to clean and my dog wasn't afraid of them. I would totally recommend them."
2 of 7PETKING Dog Grooming Clippers
This set features a cordless ceramic blade pair of clippers, four comb attachments, a cleaning brush, scissors, thinning scissors, a steel comb, nail clippers and a nail file. They're super quiet, brilliantly sharp and will give you 60-70 minutes of use from a 3/3 hour charge.Review: "Really happy with this purchase. Good quality, light, rechargeable, cuts well and got all the extra bits. Most importantly it's a lot less noisier than other brands. I trimmed my small dog for the first time and she wasn't scared at all."
3 of 7COMBLU Electric Dog Clippers
This lightweight and ergonomically designed clipper makes easy work of trimming your dog's fur, regardless of your experience. You'll get around 70-80 minutes from a 50 minute charge, which should be plenty of time to trim your pet. It's cordless, low-noise, low-vibration and comes with a cleaning brush and four comb attachments.Review: "I decided I'd rather groom our Labradoodle myself instead of paying the groomer. These clippers do the job. My dog doesn't mind them and is great about standing still while I clip him. It is rechargeable, cordless, and lightweight with plenty of plastic shields for different lengths. Perfect for DIY dog grooming."
4 of 7Wahl Dog Clippers
Wahl is a well-known name in the clippers game, so it's only natural the brand turned its hand to dog clippers, too. These mains-powered dog clippers feature carbon steel blades that won't snag or leave tracks. The eight coloured attachments make it easy to select the length you need, plus it's robust, durable and comfortable to hold. The cable is 2.5m, so are long enough to manoeuvre with.Review: "Excellent, I have 4 clippers, all Wahl, but this one is the best for clipping my dogs. It's quiet, leaves no clipper lines, very precise, clips all coats as each dog has different textures, no snagging on the hair. Would buy again."
5 of 7PetLab Dog Clippers Professional Dog Grooming Kit
This all-in-one set comes with cordless clippers, comb attachments, a comb, a cleaning brush, scissors, a nail file and nail clippers. The ceramic and titanium blades cut through even thick fur easily, plus they're low-noise and low-vibration.Review: "This is a great pets' grooming set. It includes all essential items to trim the hair and nails. All items have a safety shape so you don't hurt your pet. The blades of the clippers are very sharp, so you don't need to go back to trim the hair a few times in the same place, I trimmed the hair of my dog on the first try. The noise and vibration are very low... not scary for the pet at all. It's really very easy to use. All products are very good quality and satisfied the price in full. I really liked it and would recommend it."
6 of 7CLEEBOURG Dog Clipper
These cordless clippers have an LCD display which is great for seeing the battery life. On charging for 3-5 hours, you should get around three hours use, so it's great if you have more than one pet. The ultra-quiet motor makes the job fast and easy and the 33-tooth blade is a great addition for really thin hair. It comes with six comb attachments, nail clippers, scissors and a comb.Review: "Don't laugh but we have a Poodle that's been barred from all the pet grooming salons near by and so have to resort to grooming him at home. So after years of using very expensive and very problematic electric clippers and scissors, my partner encouraged me to buy one more - and WOW!! For less then £20 this product out-guns all the rest put together - it's cheap, it's quiet, it's rechargeable so no cords, and if all that wasn't enough, it comes with half a dozen attachments, steel comb, grooming scissors, nail clippers and nail file - so stop searching - you've just found the one you've been looking for."
7 of 7Scaredy Cut Silent Pet Grooming Kit for Cats & Dogs
If you've decided that clippers aren't for you, these scissors are the next best thing. Teamed with the clipper comb, it makes for a relaxed grooming session with your pet. The set includes seven combs to get the perfect length.Review: "As a dog owner whose dog is a real scaredy cat of scissors, I needed a small pair of scissors to get those little knots out that the comb wouldn't. These scissors have allowed me to get to ticklish paws without fear of cutting him. Grooming is much more pleasurable to me a non expert."
Can you use human clippers on a dog?
It isn't recommended to use human clippers on your dog, simply because human hair is thinner. The blades tend to be closer together than those on dog clippers. Using standard hair trimmers on a dog could end up causing a jam which could be uncomfortable and generally hard work.
How often should you clean dog clippers?
Always double check your specific model for cleaning instructions, but generally speaking, your clippers will need cleaning after each use.
Can all dogs be shaved?
Dogs without an undercoat can usually be shaved without issue, but always speak to a professional groomer if you're unsure.
As a rule, double-coated dogs should never be shaved, as it can ruin their fur and make it difficult for them to regulate their temperature.
Breeds like Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Border Collies and Newfoundlands all have double coats to keep them warm and dry. Shaving them would remove the guard hairs (the outer coat), making them hotter in summer, rather than cooler, and potentially leaving them susceptible to sunburn.
Double-coated dogs need to be brushed regularly to keep their coats in tip-top condition, but never shaved.
PETA has put together a brilliant list of dos and don'ts for shaving your dog and if in doubt, get in touch with a professional groomer for some tips.