Are Pet Grooming Clippers Different than Regular Clippers?
The truth is that there’s a huge difference between these two types of clippers and it isn’t recommended to use regular clippers for human hair on pets. The main reason lies in the blade’s type and the clipper’s power, so if you try clipping or trimming the hair on your pet with your clippers, you’ll end up causing cuts on its skin.
Unfortunately, this can lead to the appearance of bald patches and excessive shedding which can be both unsightly and not good for your furry friend. So no, you really shouldn’t use your regular clippers on your dog. You should either invest in one or take it to a professional groomer. In case you decide to groom your dog on your own, you should get some basic knowledge of the different pet clippers to keep the fur clean and neat.
What Are the Common Clippers According to Dogs’ Coats?
The first thing you should know when investing in a pet grooming clipper is that clipping and trimming aren’t the same thing. While trimming means cutting hair on body areas where the hair is naturally shorter and thinner like inside the ears or around the face, clipping means cutting the hair on the entire body, even on the areas where you can trim it.
That being said, a pet grooming clipper is a versatile and handy tool that can save you the need to invest in a trimmer as well. When it comes to buying a grooming clipper, you should know that not all can be used on any kind of coat. The main reason for this is the type of blade they have, so understanding this will help you find the right grooming tool for your needs.
Light-Use
These grooming tools can be used for both trimming and clipping puppies because of their thin and light coat. You can use them until they start showing their adult coat which is around 6 to 9 months of their age. Once your pup obtains its adult coat, you can use these light clippers only for trimming its shortest hair on the body.
Medium-Duty
These grooming tools can be found in two types: light to medium and medium to heavy-duty types where the first ones are used mainly for trimming all dog breeds that have a thinner and lighter coat. The medium to heavy-duty models of tools are mainly used for trimming and clipping all puppy breeds. They can also be used on adult dogs but only on those with medium-thick coats.
Heavy-Duty
As the name suggests, these clippers are perfect for both trimming and clipping different coats on different breeds whether puppies or adults. This makes them the perfect and most suitable option for anyone who plans on grooming their dog. Whether a thin, thick or extra difficult and dense coat, grooming it with these heavy-duty grooming tools would be a piece of cake. They are perfect for being used even on matted and knotted coats.
Super-Duty
These clippers can be used literally on any kind of pet or animal, from little puppies and cats to horses. Thanks to the newest technology available on the market, you can also find some models that have brushless motors which makes these tools lighter in weight and more quieter when they work.
Clipping Different Breed Coats
Shih Tzu
The coat of this dog breed is thicker, it doesn’t shed, and is prone to knots so it is recommended to keep it shorter. For their grooming, you’ll need to use a super-duty grooming tool.
Poodles
These dog breeds are known for their curly, thick, cute and dense single-layer coat for which you’ll also need a super-duty clipper. They can knot and mat easily, so a grooming tool of this kind would make its grooming easier.
Maltese
Even though they have extra fine fur, Maltese dogs are prone to knotting regardless of their coat (soft, silky or wavy). Some of them can even have different textures wavy on some parts and straight on others, so for grooming a Maltese it would be best to use a heavy-duty or super-duty grooming tool.
Lhasa Apso
These dog breeds have a hard, dense and heavy coat so prepping it before clipping would be great. For grooming purposes, it would be better to use heavy-duty or even super-duty grooming tools.
Schnauzers
These dog breeds have a mixed texture and a double coat, so using a super-duty grooming tool for their purpose is paramount.
West Highland White Terrier
This dog has a double coat with softer coat under and harsher on its top body area, so for its grooming it would be better if you use heavy-duty or super-duty grooming tools. Given the fact that these dog breeds can have dead and stuck coats, it would be better if you remove them before clipping in order not to damage the clipper’s blade.