Our guide to the best dog grooming scissors to keep your pooch trim and tidy

Having a good-quality pair of dog grooming scissors in your pooch’s grooming kit is essential. It’s vital for dogs to have their hair cut regularly for their health, comfort and overall wellbeing. Even if your hound isn’t the biggest fan of a pamper session, they’ll feel better for having their coat stripped back and keeping it consistently well-maintained.

Ensuring that your pup’s coat stays tidy doesn’t have to be a job for a professional as long as you have the right tools. You can get some great dog grooming scissors delivered straight to your door for at-home grooms that are durable and sharp, so they last a long time and provide precision cutting. You can incorporate cutting and trimming your dog’s fur into a full grooming routine, so your hound knows what to expect when you reach for the scissors. You can start with a bath to get them squeaky clean before finishing with a nail trim using doggy nail clippers.

While you may be tempted to reach for regular scissors from your kitchen drawer to cut your dog’s hair, you should always make sure you’re equipped with the right tool for the task at hand. Dog grooming scissors are made for trimming and making their way through a pooch’s coat, with some hounds needing a full cut using dog hair clippers if they’ve got a particularly long and thick one.

As well as keeping them tidy, haircuts are essential for preventing severe matting and tangles. They also aid in helping your dog regulate their temperature, which is particularly important in hot weather. Not to mention, cutting your dog's hair often reduces the amount of hair and fluff that can cover furniture around your home and your clothes. That’s why we’ve searched the web to bring you the best dog grooming scissors, from straight and curved scissors to thinning, chunker and round-tipped scissors, as well as a selection of grooming kits that have all the scissors you’ll need inside.

Straight dog grooming scissors

These are the most commonly used scissors for trimming dog hair with versatility across breeds and hair types. Their sizes range from 4” to 10”, with smaller grooming scissors being better for smaller dogs. For a heavy, coarse coat, choose a wider blade and for a finer coat, a thinner blade.

Curved dog grooming scissors

Curved grooming scissors allow for easier shaping to follow the contours of the dog and their individual styles – a great solution for trimming over the head and for poodle tails.

Thinning and blending dog grooming scissors

Much like you’d see on your own trip to the hairdresser, thinning grooming scissors have teeth on both edges and are great for thinning out thicker coats. It helps remove bulky hair to make for a lighter coat.

In comparison, blending scissors are quite similar but with teeth only on one edge and a normal, flat-edged scissor on the other side. This grooming scissor creates a smooth transition between coat lengths to ‘blend’ them together and to style the dog’s coat.

Chunker dog grooming scissors

Chunker grooming scissors are used to create a natural appearance for the dog hair but are recommended more so on thick hair or heavy curls. These scissors require precision and practice, as chopping too much could affect the finish.

Round-tipped dog grooming scissors

Using scissors with blunt-nosed ends means you can cut your dog’s hair safely without a reduced risk of injury should they get too excitable! This is the best for use on the delicate parts of the dog, especially around the face.

Do I need more than one type?

Transgroom, the Pet Care Professionals, recommend that as a beginner you first buy straight and thinning dog grooming scissors for the most affordable and varied usage.

It would also be wise to use round-tipped grooming scissors, which you can use for trimming and blending as well and you may feel more comfortable using them.

However, if you have a dog with a thick coat or have more experience, it would be wise to invest in a dog grooming scissors kit as you’ll be more likely to use the full range. Here are some great options that offer lower prices than buying each pair of scissors separately.

FAQs

We put some of the most frequently asked questions about dog grooming scissors and grooming your dog at home to Andrea Flynn who is the Senior Product Development Manager for Mikki Pet, a brand that supplies grooming, training and care products to the everyday dog and cat owner.

What should I look for in dog grooming scissors?

“When choosing your dog grooming scissors, it’s important to consider the quality of the metal and style of blade, your scissoring ability, the style of cut you want to achieve, and how they handle/feel to you as you use them,” says Andrea.

“The metal quality is what ensures their durability. You should aim to purchase the best quality scissors you can afford, as if maintained correctly, these will need to be sharpened less often and will last for longer.  Selecting the correct type of blade for your skill level and type of groom you wish to achieve is also important.”

There are four types of blades to choose from:

• Micro-serrated blades have very fine zig-zag-like teeth that hold the hair like a comb & cut straight through it. Serrated blades are a low-cost option for beginners but will not achieve the trimming techniques (such as feathering and blending) required to effectively groom a doodle coat, as they are more likely to leave scissor marks and blunt edges.

• Bevelled edge blades are a lot more durable than semi-convex or convex blades and have a cleaner cut than a micro-serrated blade. However, they are cheaper and not as sharp as the convex or semi-convex blades.  A bevelled edge scissor will do a basic trim and is suitable to be used by beginners but is not as preferable as the semi-convex blade which will give a better finish.

• Semi convex blades are a mix of both convex and bevelled edge blades. Although not as sharp as a convex blade, the semi-convex blade is sharper than a bevelled edge blade and sharp enough to perform a precise trim.  Ideal for beginners - it's sharp enough for you to have control of the scissors without feeling like you're going to cut your finger off. You can use this blade like a true convex blade, as long as the sections you take aren't too thick.

• Convex blades are much sharper and more expensive than the other types of blades and require knowledge and experience to use them safely and correctly.  The convex blade will provide a much cleaner cut, actioned by the blades cutting cleanly through the hair with two smooth blades coming across each other. Ideal for professionals who have experience of handling scissors and performing trimming techniques with skill.”

Andrea also explains that quality scissors will have a tensioner where the blades meet.  “This ensures the blades work together to cut the hair, and it’s important that the tension is adjusted to the correct level.  Too loose and the scissors simply won’t cut and will fold the hair instead, too tight and you may be in danger of damaging the blade edge.”

“The handle design of the scissor is also important,” Andrea states. “The more comfortable they are for you to hold, the easier and more precise they will be for you to use. Finger rests, moulded holds, comfort inserts and stops are all good features to look out for that will improve the comfort of the scissor and encourage the correct hold allowing you to develop and use precise scissoring techniques.”

Lastly, Andrea explains the different types of scissors that are designed to help groom different coat types and achieve different scissoring results. “Many new groomers begin with a straight scissor and a thinner, but may look to add curved scissors and a chunker once they become more confident at scissoring and want to perfect a breed style or make grooming heavier coats easier.”

These are the four main types of dog grooming scissors, according to Andrea:

• Straight scissors remove bulk and/or for straight lines and clean finishes.
• Curved scissors follow the body contours and create shape.
• Thinning scissors thin the coat and blend for a more forgiving cut and finish with V-shaped teeth that help better grip the hair.
• Chunker scissors finish your groom and erase scissor marks as the flat blade helps to add texture to the trim. They’re also useful for thinning out thick/dense coats as when used in this way, they remove more than thinning scissors.

How often should I groom my dog?

“Regular grooming not only keeps your dog looking their best but also plays a crucial role in their overall health and well-being”, says Andrea. “The frequency of grooming will vary - for instance, dogs with longer or thicker coats (such as Doodles) will need more frequent trims to prevent matting and tangles, which can lead to discomfort as well as skin irritations and infections. On the other hand, short-haired breeds might only need occasional trims to maintain a neat appearance.”

“It's also important to consider seasonal changes. During warmer months, a shorter coat can help keep your dog cool, while in colder seasons, a longer coat can provide extra insulation. However, this will require more frequent grooming to maintain and if your lifestyle involves countryside or wet weather walks, then keeping your dog’s coat short throughout the winter and using a dog jacket is likely to be an all-around easier solution!”

“Regular grooming ensures that your dog remains comfortable and clean but also strengthens the bond and trust between you. If you're unsure about how often to trim your dog's coat, consulting with a professional groomer can provide personalised advice tailored to your dog's specific needs.”

Is it safe to cut your own dog’s hair?

“If you are careful and considerate, you can safely trim your dog’s coat at home,” says Andrea. She also shared some top tips with us to help get you started on an at-home grooming session:

Set up for success:

• Pick a time when your dog has been exercised, is relaxed, and content.
• Place a towel onto a table, ready for your dog to stand on.
• Enlist a helper and/or use a lick mat to help keep your dog still and engaged while you work.

Before you begin to trim:

• Ensure your dog is matt and tangle-free and a comb can pass easily through their coat.
• Help to desensitize your dog by gently running the closed scissors over them and rewarding calm behaviour with a treat.  This will help you to identify safe areas that your dog is comfortable with, as well as any areas that they may be a little worried about.

Ready to get started:

• Use the scissors to trim and shape, then the thinners or chunkers to blend.
• Begin by trimming the safe areas that your dog is comfortable with, these are great areas to build confidence.
• Trim a little bit at a time, to achieve the ideal length.
• Use a comb to help with blending.
• Go at the pace of your dog - you can complete the trim over a few sessions if you need to.

Be careful but confident, you learn by doing and it will always grow back!

This article contains expert advice from Andrea Flynn, Senior Product Development Manager at Mikki Pet. She has been with the company for twenty years and has her own dog.

Rosie Floyd is a Senior Home & Pets Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.