Many different types of pets require clipping at some point, either to maintain their looks, so they can be shown, or in order to prevent them from becoming matted and unhealthy. Choosing the best clippers for the job depends on many factors, such as the size of the pet, the type of hair it has and how much clipping will be done. There’s a big difference, for example, between the type of clippers used to keep a poodle’s feet trimmed and those used to groom a pet sheep before a show.
Large, powerful clippers are used to clip very large pets, such as horses, goats and sheep. In most cases the clippers are plugged in while they are being used rather than running on a battery, so that they have enough power to finish clipping a large animal. Such clippers tend to be very sturdy so that they can stand up to heavy use and the possibility of being dropped or stepped on. They also have powerful motors that can run for an extended period without overheating, since most large animals take quite a while to clip. Pet clippers made for use on large animals also typically have large, wide blades on them to reduce the length of time needed to clip a large animal.
Pet clippers used for smaller animals, such as dogs, don’t need to be as big as the large animal clippers, and are usually not as powerful, either. In some cases these may be rechargeable, especially if they are intended for use on small animals or for simple jobs on large animals, such as cutting a bridle path in a horse’s mane. It typically easier to use cordless pet clippers for a quick job, especially outdoors, rather than wrestling with unwieldy cords that may get in the way when clipping some animals.
Small animal clippers cover a wide range of quality. Professional pet clippers typically have two or more speeds, quiet, powerful rotary motors and readily interchangeable blades. It is anticipated that such clippers will be run often and for extended lengths of time, and they are made to be able to stand up to a lot of use with a minimum of problems. They tend to be fairly expensive.
The final group of pet clippers includes the inexpensive ones that don’t have many features and are intended for light use. These clippers can be purchased many places, including discount stores, and usually work well for trimming dogs in between regular groomings. They do not usually have the staying power to handle long periods of clipping, coarse coats or large animals.