Dog pro clippers
A pro clipper is a step up from a basic trimmer: a stronger motor, tougher blades and the power to work through a thick, dense or slightly matted coat without bogging down halfway through. If your dog has a coat that a lightweight clipper struggles with, or you are grooming regularly rather than the odd tidy-up, this is the type built for it.
What actually makes a clipper 'pro'
The difference between a basic clipper and a pro one is mostly in the motor and the blade. A pro clipper keeps a steady speed as it works, rather than slowing down and heating up when it hits a dense patch of coat, and the blades are built to hold an edge through longer sessions rather than dulling after one groom.
That matters most on double-coated or thick-coated breeds, and on any dog whose coat mats easily around the ears, legs or collar line. A clipper that struggles on that kind of coat tends to pull rather than cut, which is uncomfortable for the dog and makes the whole job take longer than it needs to.
When you actually need one
If you are doing occasional tidying — feet, a sanitary trim, tidying round the face — a lighter clipper or a trimmer is usually plenty, and a pro clipper is more machine than the job needs. Where a pro clipper earns its keep is a full coat clip, a dog who mats between grooms, or a household doing this regularly rather than a few times a year.
Cordless models are easier to move around a wriggling dog, but run on battery and slow down as charge drops. Corded clippers keep constant power for a long full-body clip but mean managing a lead. Either can do the job; it is a question of which trade-off suits how you actually groom.
Getting the most from one
A clipper is only as good as its blade. Keep it oiled between uses, brush out hair caught in the blade teeth, and replace a blade once it starts dragging rather than cutting cleanly — a blunt blade is what turns a quick groom into an uncomfortable one for the dog.
Always clip in the direction the coat grows for a first pass, and go slowly around ears, the tail base and any skin folds where a dog is most likely to flinch. If your dog's coat is already matted rather than just thick, a comb-through or a trip to a groomer first makes the clipper's job much easier and safer.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Wahl Pro Bravura Cord/Cordless Animal Clipper
A cordless-with-cord clipper with a 90-minute run time and an adjustable 5-in-1 blade
£206.55
Wahl Colour Pro Cordless Clipper
A cordless pet clipper with 8 colour-coded combs, 120 minutes from a 180-minute charge
£59.99
Wahl Pet Lithium Ion Pro Series Dog Clipper Kit
A cordless Lithium-Ion dog clipper kit with a 120-minute run time and 4 attachment combs
£69.99
Wahl Pro Small Slicker Brush
A small slicker with firm stainless steel pins and a non-slip gel handle, for coats that mat
£10.99
Electric Pet Grooming Clipper
A quiet, rechargeable electric clipper for trimming dogs, cats, rabbits and other pets at home. Low-noise and low-vibration with an adjustable blade for tidy, stress-free grooming around the body and paws.
From£11.99
Ancol Ergo Nail Guillotine Clippers
Ancol Ergo Nail Guillotine Clippers: a SGL claw tool for clipping claws
£8.79
5-Piece Pet Grooming Set: Combs, Clippers & Bath Glove
A complete at-home grooming kit with two stainless steel combs, nail clippers, a nail file, a silicone bath-scrubbing glove and a brush. Covers bathing, brushing, deshedding and nail trims for cats and dogs in one set.
From£8.99
Groom Professional Curved Soft Slicker Brush
A professional-grade curved slicker brush with soft pins, designed to groom delicate and soft-coated pets without discomfort.
From£8.99
Common questions
- Do I need pro clippers for a short-haired dog?
- Usually not for routine care — a short, single coat rarely needs more than occasional tidying, which a lighter trimmer handles fine. A pro clipper earns its place on thicker, double or easily-matted coats, or if you are clipping a full body regularly rather than a quick tidy.
- Can dog clippers be used on a cat?
- Some can, but check the specific model first — a cat's skin is thinner and more easily nicked, and a clipper built and blade-guarded for dog coats is not automatically the right tool. If you regularly groom a cat, a clipper designed with that in mind is the safer choice.
- How often should clipper blades be oiled or replaced?
- Oil the blade before and after each use to keep it moving smoothly and stop it overheating mid-groom. Replace it once it starts pulling hair rather than cutting cleanly, which happens sooner on thick or wiry coats than on fine ones.
- Are cordless or corded clippers better for a full groom?
- Corded clippers hold constant power right through a long session, which suits a full-body clip on a big or thick-coated dog. Cordless models are easier to manoeuvre around a moving dog but lose power as the battery runs down, so they suit shorter sessions better.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.