Last week, I posted info about the book on Doodle grooming From Scruffy to Lovely. If any of you are interested in trying to do your own grooming, here is some info on what kind of equipment you will need.
The primary required tool is the clipper, which is the most expensive piece of equipment. Andis, Oster, and WAHL are the most common brands, and each seems to sell good quality equipment. Full price on a clipper will run you $150 to $200, but you can often find deals on-line that will reduce that by as much as half.
There are many different clippes available: corded, cordless, heavy duty, for small animals or large ones, with a case or just the clipper, and so on. Things to consider when choosing a blade include:
- Noise level: Some clippers are advertised as extra quiet. Since your dog might shy away from the noise a clipper makes, it may be worth looking for a super-quiet model.
- Heat: The clipper engine produces heat as you use it. Some have special features that help to reduce heat build-up. Keeping it well-oiled and functioning also helps to prevent dangerous heat build-up. Most clippers have automatic controls that will shut the clipper off if it gets too hot, but heat can still build up that may be uncomfortable for your dog. Look for a clipper with good heat-control functions.
- Motor power: There are varieties of blade drives, with different torque and power levels. If you're like me, this isn't that meaningful. For a professional groomer I'm sure this worth paying attention to, but I figure most clippers out there will be sufficient for home grooming.
- Detachable blades: These are must. Don't get a clipper where you can't exchange the blades or you'll be stuck with whatever clip length the blade gives you.
- Blade compatibility: You want to make sure that the clipper will work with the other blades you buy (and vice versa). The info on clipper will indicate that it's compatible with X and Y type of blades (such as ultraedge and ceramic).
- Corded vs cordless: This is more a matter of preference. We have a corded clipper and it works fine. If you prefer the cordless, so you're stuck to clipping close to an electrical outlet, that's fine too - you'll just have to make sure to charge the battery before you use it!
The clipper will most likely come with a single blade - usually for a very short cut (more of a shave than a cut). You will want to get one or two other blades so you can clip the hair to a more suitable length - as in not pretty much bald. We purchased the #3 and #3FC blades, which let you cut to 1/2" length - still short, but not naked. The "regular" #3 blade gives a "rough" cut, that is good for a first go-over to get through mats and tangles. The "FC" stands for "finish cut" and is what you'll use for a second go-over to get a cleaner, more tidy look. (Of course, you can stick with just the regular blade if you like the scruffy look!)
Things to consider when purchasing blades include:
- Compatibility: As noted above, make sure the blades you're buying will fit on the clipper you've purchased.
- Blade type: The main types of blades I've seen are UltraEdge, CeramicEdge, and ShowEdge. UltraEdge are chrome plated high-carbon steel for a razor-sharp edge. Ceramic ones have a ceramic-coated high-carbon steel. The ceramic coating them to stay cooler longer, so help to prevent clip burns, while maintaining a super-sharp cutting edge. The ShowEdge blade (designated "SE" after the clipper size number, eg: #7SE) is a chrome-plated, carbon steel-edged blade designed to give the smoothest finish possible on a dog's coat. All are high quality and keep a good edge.
- Blade length: The blade that ships with a clipper kit is usually a #10, which is 1/16" long - pretty short!! The bigger the number, the shorter the cut. A #7 blade is 1/8", a #5 is 1/4", a #4 blade is 3/8", a #3¾ blade is 1/2", (and a #30 blade is 1/50"!). (Note that the ShowEdge blade seems to cut a bit shorter - the #7SE says it cuts to 3/32", which is 1/32 less than 1/8".) We use the #3¾ blade. The half-inch cut is short enough to keep away mats, but still long enough to give a bit of insulation and good looks.
- Blade style: Is it skip-tooth or finish cut? If there are no letters after the number, it's likely skip-tooth. Finish cut blades will indicate "FC" after the number (eg: #3FC). You will likely want one of each in the same blade length - the skip-tooth to do a first, rough clip, and the finish cut to give a nice, smooth, finished look to your dog's coat.
Blades will cost you between $25 and $70 each, depending on quality and whether you can get them on sale.
The clipper also comes with a variety of plastic combs that are supposed to snap on to help with combing out the hair, or to extend the length of the cut without needing a separate blade. In other words, if you use a 1/2" comb with the 1/2" blade, your final cut will be 1" long. Frankly, we've never used them, but that's more because I have yet to figure out how to get them to snap on than for any other reason.
A final necessity will be some cleaning oil. I believe the kit comes with a small tube, but you might want to get a small container as well. The blades should be oiled lightly before every cut, then wiped with a soft dry cloth to remove oil from the exterior surface. Spray lubricants are fine for cooling a blade if it gets too hot, but deliver insufficient oil for sufficient lubrication of the working mechanism. Blades should also be properly cleaned after use to ensure they stay clean and work well for many years.
For the clipper, two blades, and some cleaning oil, if you manage to get them all on sale the total cost will come to about $200-$250 including tax. If you only have one dog, that's equivalent to a bit less than one year's worth of grooming costs (depending on how often you get your dog groomed.) With two dogs, you'll recoup your investment within six months. Or you can get a professional groom every six months and use your clippers for touch-ups in between.
As for sources, you can buy the basic clipper sets at many pet stores - I've seen them at PetSmart. The stores may not carry as wide a selection of extra blades, however, so you might end up getting those on-line anyhow.
If you want to order everything on-line, Amazon.ca is a good source, or you can buy from stores like PetSmart, Walmart, or Canadian Tire. There are also sites dedicated to pet supplies. One such site is Ren's Pets, which is a Canadian site for a store with retail locations in the Toronto-Waterloo area. Another is GroomerStore.com, which is based in Arizona so prices are in US$. Both stores have a wide selection of grooming supplies as well as other pet supplies. Or you can order directly from the manufacturer: Andis, Oster, or WAHL (links to Canadian sites).
Happy grooming!
