Dog owners who groom your dogs yourself.

[quckingduck22]

Could you please tell me what dog and what clippers you use and if you would recommend them?

After my dog has had 2 awful grooms where they have not listened to what I want. (Eyebrows and beard short and coat short so it's practical) he is a messy eater and you know likes to see, apparently it "takes the character out of his face"
He has been knicked badly underneath multiple times by one groomer and the second cut his ear.

I am now doing him myself, I got a great pair of grooming scissors but i am currently using men's clippers and they are not upto the job.

I've spent hours doing it today, he was so good he fell asleep but he looks a little hacked.

I've looked online but they seem to range from about £20 upto the hundreds.

So what do you use??

[TheHouseOfIllRepute]

I read lots of reviews and came to the conclusion that the only clippers worth buying were Oster or Andis
I had been given some Wahl which were useless
I bought Andis because they had free combs at the time. My dog is a poodle. Clipping with them is a dream

[MsAtomicBomb]

With dog clippers you get what you pay for I think. I bought some Wahl clippers for £20 and they're just not up to the job. Anything that has those plastic attachments are no good, you need something that you can change the actual blades on iyswim. Andis are meant to be very good. I have started giving my dog a trim myself just using scissors to tidy him up.

[MaidenMotherCrone]

I've got Andis. I did a year long course to become a groomer just to do my own dogs.

What breed of dog do you have?

If you look on eBay you can usually get a good set of pro clippers (used) for a really good price.

If you pm me I'll send you a grooming guide for whatever breed you have. It'll tell you which blades, direction of clip etc, I'll just photocopy it from the groomers bible for you

[quckingduck22]

Oh really glad I asked, one of the groomers used wahl so I have been looking at those. So pleased I asked.

Dog was a so say Snoodle (Shauzer poodle cross) but when I took him to vets for a health check they said they thought he was of a Scotty poodle cross.

I know two other Snoodles and they are both very different from each other. Coats and ears differ. My boys coat is much thicker than the two I know. He has down ears not up. So not 100% sure.

His fur is very thick the base is straight but when it gets to a certain length it curls.

[elwill312]

I have 2x Shih Tzus and I groom them with Andis AGC 2, they're amazing one of my best purchases if I'm honest, you can easily purchase the different blades to go on them too. I've had these for the past 4 years and they still work just as new.

I used to have a cheap pair of Wahl clippers, think they were about £20 and they were absolutely useless.

I guess it depends on what breed you have? If they have soft hair like Shih Tzus I'd highly recommend the Andis.

[nackle]

Andis,they're really very good. I have a toy poodle

[quckingduck22]

I've had a look on Amazon and like the sound of the Andis AGC 2 for the 2 speed setting.

This may be a silly question but do you use a guard on these to get the same length all over? If so do these come with them?

As I've said I've been using men's so dogs may be different. I tried a Guard this afternoon and it would not cut at all. So I'm assuming this is what groomers use to get a even all over cut??

This is all very new for me, sorry. I do have a long haired dog but his monthly maintenance is just a very good brush and a quick trim on his back end so this is way over my head

[TheHouseOfIllRepute]

You get a metal comb that you attach
Read carefully what you get. The attachments come in different sizes for length
When i got mine they were around£10 each but i shopped around and found a deal with 2 free
I wash my dog and put conditioner on her. It helps when i clip. I don't use any attachment on her legs but put a comb on for her body

[TheHouseOfIllRepute]

The guard is what i am calling a comb. I'm not sure of the proper name

[quckingduck22]

Ah fab, found them on Amazon. Comb guides they are called on there.

Fabulous thanks so much.

[elwill312]

I just use these on their own:
www.christiesdirect.com/en/gb/Andis-Clipper-Blades/bc-3-100.aspx
If those are what you are referring to? I get an even cut every time :)

[Ylvamoon]

I have a Andis Clipper and use one of the detachable clipper blades for different lengths. They are definitely better than the plastic guide comb that comes with some clipper sets.
I second a basic pet grooming course, you get to know all the professional tools and learn to clip around tricky areas like feed and privates.

[Marcipex]

MaidenMotherCrone I've pm'd you. I'd love some advice if you have time.

[yetwig]

I have always clipped my dogs, oes x and my mums cocker x poodle. i use the Andis clippers which are 8 yrs old and use a 4f blade. i leave eye brows on to protect from sun light and leave his beard but its shorter.