Our Dog Clipper Blade Guide lists blades and dog trimming scissors suitable for different dog breeds. Use the guide as a starting point. As you gain experience and get to know your preferences you can adjust your blade selection accordingly.
The Dog Clipper Blade Guide includes 33 different dog breeds. Website addresses to the parent breed clubs, approved by the American Kennel Club, have been included as they often provide useful grooming advice on their sites.
If you have a cross breed dog or the breed of your dog is not on the list, the information included might still give you an idea what clipper blades and trimming scissors are suitable for different types of coats and for different trimming tasks.
One tip, when it comes to clipping dogs with thick coats and blades heat up easily, make sure you have two sets of blades. That way you can alternate the blades and continue clipping while the heated set of blades cool down.
Which Clipper Blades Should I Use?
Afghan Hound
https://afghanhoundclubofamerica.org
You don’t normally clip the coat short on an Afghan Hound. If you do decide to clip, the desired length of the coat will determine which blade you choose.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Tummy and paws: 10
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Nose and paw scissors
Airedale Terrier
Dogs with wire haired coats such as the Airedale Terrier are normally hand stripped, or “plucked”, with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
If you use a clipper, clip against the direction of the coat growth where possible. The clipper blade you use depends on the length of coat you want.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Face: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Thinning shears
- Paw scissors
Bearded Collie
Bearded Collies are usually not clipped with dog hair clippers, but it you do want to clip your Bearded Collie, the blade used is determined by the desired coat length.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
Bedlington Terrier
https://www.bedlingtonamerica.com
Clipping of Bedlington Terriers is usually done with scissors with the exception of the front of the throat area and the chest.
Clipper Blades
- Body, throat/chest: 5F, 7F
- Face: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Paw scissors
Bichon Frisee
The coat of the Bichon Frisee is easily managed by using dog hair clippers. However, trimming for an exhibition should be made by using hand trimming scissors only.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F
- Face and paws: 10
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Short: 6.5 inches
Bouvier des Flandres
Clipper Blades
- Body: 7F, 5F, 4F, 3F
- Tummy: 10
- Head, ears, paws: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Nose and paw scissors
Cairn Terrier
Dogs with wire haired coats such as the Airedale Terrier are normally hand stripped, or “plucked”, with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
If you use a clipper, clip against the direction of the coat growth where possible. The clipper blade you use depends on the length of coat you want.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Face: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Thinning shears
- Paw scissors
Chow Chow
If you want to clip your Chow Chow, a tip is to buy two sets of each blade. The density of a Chow Chow’s coat means your dog hair clipper blades will easily heat up, and instead of waiting for the clipper blades to cool down, you simply alternate them.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Tummy: 10
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
Cocker Spaniel
https://www.asc-cockerspaniel.org
Cocker Spaniels are normally “plucked” or hand stripped with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
If you use a clipper, clip against the direction of the coat growth where possible. Front and feathering should always be trimmed with dog trimming scissors.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 7, 7F, 5, 5F, 4, 4F
- Face: 10, 15, 7/8
Scissors
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Thinning shears
- Nose and paw scissors
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Dandie Dinmont Terriers and other dogs with wire haired coats are usually stripped, or “plucked”, by hand with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
If you use a clipper, clip against the direction of the coat growth where possible. The clipper blade you use depends on the length of coat desired.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Face: 10, 7/8
English Setter
English Setters are normally hand stripped, or “plucked”, with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
Front and feathering is always trimmed with dog trimming scissors.
If you use a clipper, clip against the direction of the coat growth where possible. The clipper blade you use depends on the length of coat you want.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 7, 7F, 5, 5F, 4, 4F
- Face: 10, 15, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Thinning shears
- Nose and paw scissors
Gordon Setter
Gordon Setters are normally hand stripped, or “plucked”, with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
Front and feathering should always be trimmed with trimming scissors.
If you use a clipper, clip against the direction of the coat growth where possible. The clipper blade you use depends on the length of coat you want.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 7, 7F, 5, 5F, 4, 4F
- Face: 10, 15, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Thinning shears
- Nose and paw scissors
Irish Setter
https://www.irishsetterclub.org
Irish Setters are normally hand stripped, or “plucked”, with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
Front and feathering should always be trimmed with trimming scissors.
If you use a clipper, clip against the direction of the coat growth where possible. The clipper blade you use depends on the length of coat you want.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 7, 7F, 5, 5F, 4, 4F
- Face: 10, 15, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Thinning shears
- Nose and paw scissors
Irish Terrier
Wire coated terriers, including the Irish Terrier, are normally hand stripped, or “plucked”, with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This is to permit the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
If you use dog hair clippers, clip against the direction of the coat growth where possible. The clipper blade you use depends on the length of coat you want.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Face: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Thinning shears
- Paw scissors
Kerry Blue Terrier
The Kerry Blue Terrier is normally clipped with trimming scissors. Some areas, however can be trimmed with dog clippers.
Clipper Blades
- Skull, cheeks, throat, inside of the thigh: 7F
- Ears: 10
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Nose and paw scissors
Lagotto Romagnolo
Clipper Blades
- Body: 7, 7F, 5, 5F
- Face, paws, ears: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Nose and paw scissors
Lakeland Terrier
Lakeland Terriers, like other wire coated terriers, are normally hand stripped, or “plucked”, with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
If you use a clipper, clip against the direction of the coat growth where possible. Choose clipper blade according to the desired coat length.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Face: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Thinning shears
- Paw scissors
Lhasa Apso
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
Scissors
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Thinning shears
- Nose and paw scissors
Maltese
https://www.americanmaltese.org
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
Scissors
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Thinning shears
- Nose and paw scissors
Old English Sheepdog
https://www.oldenglishsheepdogclubofamerica.org
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
Pekingeser
https://www.thepekingeseclubofamerica.com
Clipper Blades
- Body: 5, 5F, 4, 4F, 3, 3F
Poodle
https://www.poodleclubofamerica.org
Clipper Blades
- Body: 5, 5F, 4, 4F
- Face and paws: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Short: 6.5 inches
Portugese Water Dog
Use dog hair clippers only on the hind legs, nose and two thirds of the tail.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 7F
- Face and paws: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Nose and paw scissors
Schnauzer
https://www.standardschnauzer.org
The Schnauzer is often “plucked” with the aid of a dog stripping knife in order to maintain the color, structure and water repellant properties of the coat.
However, using a dog hair clipper is also common practice.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 7, 7F, 5, 5F
- Face, ears, paws: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Thinning shears
- Nose and paw scissors
Scottish Terrier
Scottish Terriers, along with other wire coated terriers are usually hand stripped with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
If you use a clipper, try to clip against the direction of the coat’s growth where possible. The clipper blade you use depends on the length of coat you want.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Front, hind quarters: 7F
- Face, ears: 8, 5, 7/8
Scissors
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Thinning shears
Shih Tzu
https://www.americanshihtzuclub.org
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Face: 10, 15, 7/8
Scissors
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Thinning shears
- Nose and paw scissors
Silky Terrier
https://silkyterrierclubofamerica.org
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Face: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Thinning shears
- Paw scissors
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
The Soft Coated Wheten Terrier can be clipped with dog hair clippers, but apart from the ears, it is often trimmed with scissors.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F
- Ears and paws: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Thinning shears
- Paw scissors
Springer Spaniel
The Springer Spaniel are normally hand stripped, or “plucked”, with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
Front and feathering are trimmed with trimming scissors.
If you use a clipper, clip against the direction of the coat’s growth where possible.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 7, 7F, 5, 5F, 4, 4F
- Face: 10, 15, 7/8
Scissors
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Thinning shears
- Nose and paw scissors
Welsh Terrier
As with other wire coated terriers, the Welsh Terrier is normally hand stripped, or “plucked”, with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
If you use a clipper, clip against the direction of the coat growth where possible. The clipper blade you use depends on the length of coat you want.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Face: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Thinning shears
- Paw scissors
West Highland White Terrier
https://www.westieclubamerica.com
The wire coated West Highland White Terrier, is usually hand stripped or “plucked”, with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
Therefor, if you use a clipper, clip against the direction of the coat growth where possible. The clipper blade you use depends on the length of coat you want.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Face: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Thinning shears
- Paw scissors
Wire Fox Terrier
Terriers with wire haired coats, like the Fox Terrier, are normally hand stripped, or “plucked”, with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
If you use a clipper, clipt against the direction of the coat growth where possible. The clipper blade you use depends on the length of coat you want.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Face: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Long: 8 1/2 inches
- Thinning shears
- Paw scissors
Yorkshire Terrier
https://theyorkshireterrierclubofamerica.org
Yorkshire Terriers are generally hand stripped, or “plucked”, with the aid of a dog stripping knife. This allows the coat to retain its color, structure and water repellant properties.
For this reason, if you use a clipper, clip against the direction of the coat growth where possible. The clipper blade you use depends on the length of coat you want.
Clipper Blades
- Body: 4, 4F, 3, 3F
- Face: 10, 7/8
Scissors
- Short: 6.5 inches
- Thinning shears
- Paw scissors