Best Pet Grooming Kits

The Australian sheep Baarack, before and after being sheared

It’s a widely known fact that dogs don’t have sweat glands all over their bodies like humans. (They actually have sweat glands in their paws, where there is no fur.) If your dog has long hair, you might want to trim his hair a bit, especially in the summer. That’s where a good pet grooming kit comes in.

However, it’s actually a misconception that your pet suffers from long hair in hot weather. A dog’s fur can actually insulate him from extreme heat. But, a thick coat of fur can prevent him from cooling down properly after exercising outside in the summer sun. And, if you see your dog is suffering from fleas or ticks, cutting his hair will help you rid him of these bloodsuckers.

But, there are several types of grooming kits. You can use specialized scissors to trim your pet’s hair, or you can use an electric shaver. But the way you cut their hair, and the instrument that you use, should match the pet’s hair type. We’ll go through some of the features and extras of the best pet grooming kits. Hopefully, the information will help you choose the right equipment for your pet’s needs!

You'll typically have a choice of manual and electric clippers:

• Manual clippers: You’ll see a number of varieties of scissors that are specifically for pet hair. There are scissors to which you can attach combs of various lengths, to cut different size locks of hair. A shorter comb cuts less hair, but lets you cut hair at a faster pace. An example is the Scaredy Cut Silent Pet Grooming Kit. It’s suitable for dogs and cats, and includes 7 combs of lengths varying from ½” to 1”. The clippers come in both right-handed and left-handed versions.

Scaredy Cut Silent Pet Grooming Kit

• Electric clippers: You can also find electric clippers, which can shorten the task significantly. But, some pets may be frightened by the buzzing sound of the motor.

  • Corded: The Wahl Deluxe U-Clip Pro Home Pet Grooming Kit includes electric clippers with an 8-ft long power cord. That should give you enough mobility. With a power cord, you’re never at risk of losing power in the middle of grooming your pet! This model is primarily for short and medium-length pet hair. If you have a pet with a thick coat, the Wahl Professional Animal Thick Coat Pet Clipper is probably the best idea.

Wahl Deluxe U-Clip Pro Home Pet Grooming Kit

Wahl Professional Animal Thick Coat Pet Clipper

• • Cordless: There are also cordless versions of pet clippers. The Wahl Professional Animal Bravura Pet Clipper Kit uses a rechargeable battery that allows you 90 minutes of trimming, after charging up for as little as 60 minutes. (You can also use the trimmers with the cord attached if the battery runs out of power in the middle.)

Wahl Professional Animal Bravura Pet Clipper Kit

• Clippers for horses and livestock: There are also clippers that go beyond the standard shavers for dogs and cats. The Oster Turbo A5 Pet Clippers with detachable blades are also suitable for horses and other livestock.

• Comprehensive kits: There are pet grooming kits that include 1) an electric trimmer, 2) a nail clipper, 3) two scissors, one with a combed blade and one with a straight blade, and 4) a rasp for filing down nails. The Pet Union Professional Dog Grooming Kit has all of these items.

Pet Union Professional Dog Grooming Kit

Here are some comments from customers, about their impressions of their pet grooming kit:

• Alternative to professional grooming: There are instances where your pet needs a professional to cut their hair. A professional is going to be familiar with the different hair types and how to groom appropriately. But, if you have a cat or dog who isn’t cooperative with someone unfamiliar, it’s best to take the matter into your own hands and groom your pet yourself. Also, combing your pet’s hair before the haircut will calm them down, as well as make the hair easier to cut.

• Don’t tug on hair: One customer who was pleased with the Scaredy Cut scissors advised not to pull on your pet’s hair when giving them a haircut. This can cause you to accidentally cut your pet’s skin.

• Care of the blades: If you buy an electric pet groomer, you should clean the blades after each use. Also, apply oil to the blades to keep them lubricated. (Many manufacturers supply a small vial of machine oil.)

Here are some features that are worth considering when shopping for a pet grooming kit:

• Different speeds: You’ll notice that many electric clippers can go at two speeds. The low speed (around 3000 strokes per minute) is for sensitive areas that you wish to trim precisely. The higher speed (around 4000 strokes per minute) is when you want to cover large areas quickly.

• Interchangeable blades: Many electric trimmers have either plastic guards that you clip onto the blade or interchangeable metal blades. The oneisall Dog Shaver has plastic guards to let you cut hair to lengths of 18 mm, 15 mm, 12 mm, 9 mm, 6 mm, and 3 mm. On the other hand, the Oster Pet Clippers can accept a variety of detachable blades. There are blades for curly hair, as with poodles, blades with a full-tooth pattern for general grooming, and a special cutting blade for the face, stomach, and other sensitive areas.

• Types of dog coats that shouldn’t be shaved: For some dogs, shaving them down can actually hurt them. There are “double-coat” breeds, such as German Shepherds, Pomeranians, Golden Retrievers, and Siberian Huskies. Their coat consists of a fast-growing soft undercoat and a coarser topcoat. Shaving them too close can actually expose them more to the sun, leading to heat exhaustion, sunburn (yes, dogs can get sunburn), and even skin cancer. It is usually sufficient to brush your dog’s hair regularly and give them a bath monthly. Cutting their hair is only recommended when their hair has become too dense and matted to comb properly, or if they’re suffering from ticks or fleas. Also, if your pet is shedding, and you’re allergic to pet hair, it’s a good idea to trim it down a bit.

Final Verdict

We went through some of the features of the Best Reviews Guide’s list of the best pet grooming kits. There are certain breeds of cats and dogs that may need a professional groomer. But, the chances are that your pet will prefer you to be the barber over someone else. With a little practice and familiarity with your pet, you’re sure to get results that will satisfy both you and your pet!