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 coats in good shape all year round.
Trips to the groomers, while brilliant for the business you're supporting, can be costly if your dog needs regular grooming and time-consuming if appointments are scarce, so you may have thought about taking the plunge and doing it yourself.
To do so, you'll need to do your research, be patient, choose the right environment and invest in a good pair of dog clippers that keep your pet calm and work well.
The best dog clippers at a glance:
Best overall dog clippers: Everesta Dog Grooming Kit
Best battery powered dog clippers: WenTop Dog Clippers
Best lightweight dog clippers: COMBLU Electric Dog Clippers
Editor's pick: Wahl Dog Clippers
Best cordless dog clippers: PetLab Dog Clippers Professional Dog Grooming Kit
Best battery life dog clippers: CLEEBOURG Dog Clipper
Best manual dog clippers: Scaredy Cut Silent Pet Grooming Kit for Cats & Dogs
What to look for in a pair of dog clippers
Any human would fret if you suddenly ran towards them with an object that was noisy, vibrating and sharp, and it's no different for your dog. Look for dog clippers that are low-noise, low-vibration and professional-grade to spare their nerves.
If your dog is likely to try to escape during your grooming session or is particularly wriggly, you might want to opt for cordless to make things easier.
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Even if you don't plan on grooming your dog often, having a pair of dog trimmers in the house is a great idea, in case your pooch gets something stuck in its fur, or the fur around their eyes or pads needs a quick trim.
We've checked out 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.
Best dog clippers
1 of 7Everesta Dog Grooming Kit
Best overall dog clippersThis grooming set is more than just a pair of clippers. For the purse-friendly price, you also get scissors, four attachment combs, nail clippers, a 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 70 minutes charge. Review : "I ordered a grooming kit for my shitzu as she was too long! it arrived really fast and sooner than expected which was perfect for us. It was quiet, easy to follow, and easy to use. I would definitely recommend this product if you cant get to a groomers, or even want to save a little money and want to do it at home every now and then."
2 of 7WenTop Dog Clippers
Best battery powered dog clippersThis 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. With the ultra-low mute design, the clippers are quiet enough not to scare your pets. The lithium-ion battery powered clippers will be fully charged in 3-4 hrs and it can last for 120 minutes.Review: "This is a comprehensive grooming set everything you need is in here. both sets of scissors cut well and cleanly, no pulling or missed hairs, cuts through matted fur no problem at all which our spaniel gets behind his ears, also they are nicely rounded at the ends to protect the dogThe clippers came fully charged with several guards, they cut very well and the blade looks to be quality items."
3 of 7COMBLU Electric Dog Clippers
Best lightweight dog clippersThese lightweight and ergonomically designed clippers make 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."
£91.47
4 of 7Wahl Dog Clippers
Editor's pickWahl 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 the handset is robust, durable and comfortable to hold. The cable is 2.5m, so is 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
Best cordless dog clippersThis 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... so 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
Best battery life dog clippersThese cordless clippers have an LCD display which is great for seeing the battery life. After 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
Best manual dog clippersIf 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 you're not shaving human hair, you're shaving fur/dog hair.
Human hair is thinner, so the blades tend to be closer together than those on dog clippers. Using your standard hair trimmers on a dog could end up causing a jam and wouldn't be comfortable for your dog.
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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 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.
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Jade Moscrop is the Deputy Editor for WhatsTheBest, specialising in lifestyle topics. She also writes for Closer, Heat, and Mother&Baby.
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