Are you looking for the right tools for dog grooming? Grooming at home can seem challenging, but with the right equipment you will feel like a pro! We’ve compiled a dog grooming tools list that you can feel confident purchasing and grooming your pet with.

You may also be asking yourself which products are worth the investment or have good reviews. Take a glimpse at some information we’ve put together for you to consider as you dive into the exciting world of dog grooming.

Equipment for bathing your dog

What you will need first is the ability to bathe your pet. This is because clean hair always cuts nicer than dirty hair. If you have a shower or tub there are a few adapters you can get to make rinsing your dog easier. A thoroughly rinsed dog is happy dog because all the soap and conditioner has been cleaned from their skin and there won’t be an urge for them to itch from remaining residue. An item like this adapts to your shower or hose and allows you to wash and rinse your pet easier.

Waterpik PPR-252 Pet Wand Pro Dog Shower Attachment 13″, Blue/Grey System for Fast and Easy Bathing

Equipment for drying your dog

Especially with hypoallergenic breeds, it can be important to dry them directly after washing to prevent matting. If you have a more sensitive dog, standing dryers can be a great option because they allow you to use two hands while the air blows your pet dry. There are also canister dryers, also known as velocity dryers, that are higher powered and can be helpful on larger breeds, like a golden-doodle or labradoodle. Either way, you want to make sure your furry friend is completely dry before beginning the hair cutting process.

XPOWER B-16 “Pro Finisher” is a Powerful Yet Quiet 1/4-HP Brushless DC Motor Stand Pet Dryer| Variable Speed and Heat, Anion Anti-static / Frizz Technology| -Blue

Where is your pet supposed to stand when they are being groomed? It is completely up to you, but many people find it helpful to have a grooming table and loop. This allows you to safely and securely perform grooming tasks on your pet without them being as distracted or trying to make a quick escape. No matter what you choose, be sure your pet is secured humanely and safely and that your table meets the weight capacity of your dog.Go Pet Club Pet Dog Grooming Table with Arm

Equipment for trimming your dog’s coat

Once your pet is dry you will want to select the length you want to trim your pet’s coat. Some necessary blades are that of a ten and if you want to use a clip comb, a thirty. A ten allows you to complete a sanitary trim and paw pad shave the safest. A thirty is the blade you will place under your clip comb if you decide to do a clip comb length on your pet. When you go to purchase clip combs you will want to invest in metal ones. These last a bit better than plastic and have better strength to work their way through your pet’s coat. It can save you a lot of frustration and will make the process easier.

Any of the Andis Ultra Edge blades work well and are economical. What blades you need to purchase will depend on what length you want to trim your pet’s coat. A few other blades to consider would be a forty, for clean feet and faces on breeds such as a poodle. If you’re looking to do a “shave down” on your dog but don’t want something as close to the skin as a ten, you may also want to look into a seven blade, five blade, and four blade.

Andis UltraEdge Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper, Professional Animal/Dog Grooming, AGC2

Andis Excel Pro-Animal 5-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper Kit – Professional Animal/Dog Grooming, SMC

When just getting started, buying a set of shears instead of individual scissors is the most economical way to purchase. When you’re first learning how to hold your shears and manoeuvre them safely over your pet’s hair, you may drop them. It’s better to break in a cheaper pair of grooming shears than to spend a lot and cry when you drop them! A good idea of basic shears to own would be a pair of short straights, short or long curves, and a set of thinning shears. Each shear holds a different purpose, but if you are looking to start with the minimum required, you can get by with thinning shears and either only a set of straight or only a set of curves. Thinning shears help you polish the groom, just like curved sheers may help you bevel the trim on your dog’s ears or around their feet.

Where do you really want to invest your money when you are beginning to groom? The answer is a quality pair of clippers. You need clippers that will be powerful enough to get through your dog’s coat and to last through many grooms. Grooming Edge offers a durable pair, as well as Andis. The clippers by Andis are especially helpful if you feel like you may be heavy handed because they are extra light weight. However, Grooming Edge is the choice of many professional groomers as they find them to be durable.

Master Grooming Tools 5200 Blue Titanium Shears — High-Performance Shears for Grooming Dogs, 3-Piece Value Kits

Equipment for brushing your dog’s coat

As you are grooming your pet, and before beginning, you will want to brush them. If you are trying to keep your dog’s coat longer, you will want to brush regularly. With hypoallergenic breeds it is always good to have a metal comb and a slicker brush. These allow you to work your way through tangles and brush the base and top of the coat. The slicker brush is great for brushing the top of the coat and helping brush out matts. But when grooming, you want to make sure your pet’s coat is tangle free from the skin to the tips of their hair. That is why it is important to invest in a metal comb too.

Andis Pet Steel Comb

Paw Brothers Extra Long Hard Pin Slicker Brush, Large

Equipment for clipping your dog’s nails

The nail clippers you choose just need to be the right size. If you have a little dog you can go with small clippers, and a large dog needs large clippers to easily trim through the nail. Having the right sized clippers will help prevent cracking or any over-trimming to your pet’s nail. When trimming the nails, unfortunately sometimes you can take off just a little too much.

Millers Forge Quality Nail Clipper

It is helpful to have a “quick stop” powder that you can pinch and place on your pet’s nail. This quickly stops any bleeding so you can continue the groom. Please note quick stop is only for nails and should never be used on your pet’s body. Once the nails are trimmed, you may find that you want them a little shorter and smoother.

Remedy + Recovery Professional Groomer’s Styptic Powder for Pets

By purchasing a nail-grinder you can get the nail as short and smooth as possible by getting closer to the quick. The quick is the living part of the nail and when slightly exposed to oxygen it will begin to recede over time. Because of this, your dog’s nails will also be able to be trimmed back shorter over time, and hopefully will stop that obsessive clicking on your hard wood floors!

Dremel 7300-PT 4.8V Pet Nail Grooming Tool