Some types of dogs need monthly grooming and regular haircuts. If you rely on a professional groomer for this service, you might find yourself paying out a lot of money each month. One option is to cut your dog's hair yourself, but before you can do that, you need to choose the right blade size for your dog's fur. Once you do that, you'll be ready to give him a free haircut or trim.
Familiarize yourself with how dog clipper blades are sized. Different sizes cut hair to different lengths. For example, a size 10 blade will cut hair to approximately 1/16 of an inch long. A blade that cuts hair this short is generally used on the stomach and genital areas.
The direction in which you choose to clip your dog's hair will impact the blade size you choose. For example, a size 3 blade will leave half an inch of hair if you cut against the hair's growth. If you cut with the hair's growth, a size 3 blade will leave twice as much hair behind, or one inch.
Decide which type of blade is appropriate for your dog. Understand that different sizes and different types may be used on different areas. A skip-tooth blade is usually used to blend short and long hair and to cut coarse fur. Finishing/full-cut blades are used to completely shave the fur. Wide/T-blades are typically used to cut hair on very large dogs or to remove a lot of hair quickly. To shave down to the skin, you'll need a surgical blade, which is used mostly by veterinarians.
Decide approximately how long you want your dog's fur to be in different areas. For example, if you want to leave only 3/8 of an inch of hair on your dog's stomach, use a finishing/full-cut size 4 blade. If you want to leave one inch of hair on his entire body, use a wide/T-blade in size 3 and cut in the direction of the hair's growth.
FAQs
Clipper blades are available in a variety of different lengths and tooth patterns to achieve different trim styles and coat lengths. They are differentiated by blade numbers; blades with higher numbers actually cut the coat shorter, and blades with lower numbers leave the coat longer.
How do you determine what blade size to use when trimming a dog's hair? ›
Blade length explained in Groomer terms:
- #40 – Skin bald. ...
- #10 – Very short. ...
- #7 – Not recommended. ...
- #5 – Good all round short blade.
- #4 – The blade I use most for the short-but-not-shaved look.
- #3 – You'll need to do some scissoring afterwards.
- 1/2″+ – You'll be doing a lot of scissoring afterwards.
Clipper blades are available in a variety of different lengths and tooth patterns to achieve different trim styles and coat lengths. They are differentiated by blade numbers; blades with higher numbers actually cut the coat shorter, and blades with lower numbers leave the coat longer.
How do I choose dog clipper blades? ›
Clipper blade numbers for dogs
- Blade #10 – Leave 1.5 mm to 1.8mm of hair. ...
- Blade #15 – Leave 1.2 mm to 1.5 mm of hair. ...
- Blade #7 – Leave 3 mm to 4 mm of hair. ...
- Blades #3, #4 and #5 – The length of hair left behind ranges from 6 mm to 19 mm. ...
- Blades #40 and #50 – Leave around 0.1 mm to 0.25 mm of hair behind.
Description of Cut
| Blade #3 or #3F | Cuts and leaves 1/2″ or 13mm length of coat on the dog |
|---|
| Blade #4 or # 4F | Cuts and leaves approximately 3/8″ or 9.5mm length of coat on the dog |
| Blade #5 or #5F | Cuts and leaves approximately 1/4″ or 6mm length of coat on the dog |
9 more rowsThe 10 blade is a popular dog clipper blade size that is commonly used for pet grooming and hair cutting. At Frank Rowe and Son, we offer a range of high-quality 10 dog clipper blades from top brands like Andis, Oster, and Wahl.
How short does a 10 blade cut? ›
Blades come in various sizes, each numbered to indicate the length of cut it will give. Higher numbers give shorter cuts, with a #10 blade leaving about 1/6” of length. #10 blades are ideal for very short summer haircuts and for clipping inside the ears, around the backside and under the hind legs of any breed.
What is a 10 blade used for in dog grooming? ›
#10 blade is a good choice for sanitary prep. #5 or #7 blades work well on mats. #15 blade is generally suitable for pads. #7 blade may be best for body work.
What is a 7 blade in dog grooming? ›
Blades differ in both size and material, with each blade given a number indicating the length of cut. Larger numbers trim hair shorter than lower numbers, with a #7 blade leaving about 1/8” of length. #7 blades are great for an all-over summer cut on the body of the animal, especially on mixed and wire coated breeds.
How short does a 7 blade cut? ›
For instance, a #7 clipper blade leaves approximately 1/8" hair when going against the grain, but will leave approximately 1/4" when going with the grain.
F or FC stand for the same thing: fine cut or finish cut. One brand might call their blade an F and another might say FC but they are referring to the same thing. The teeth on an FC blade are all the same length, so result in a smoother finish than the same blade in skip tooth (ST).
What do dog groomers use to cut hair? ›
For example, a number 40 blade is used by veterinarians to perform extremely close surgical clipping. Conversely, a number 4 blade will leave a velvety, plush length on most coats and is a common choice for pet groomers when they want to clip a dog but not too short.
What is the difference between a 7 and a 7F clipper blade? ›
#5 or #7 are skip tooth blades designed for cutting fur quickly with little combing out first. #5F and #7F are finer tooth blades to be used to smooth out the rougher cut left by the first blades mentioned.
What blade do vets use? ›
In veterinary medicine, #10 blades are most commonly used.
Do you cut dogs hair against the grain? ›
Apply COWBOY MAGIC®Detangler & Shine™ to your dog's coat before clipping. This will help the clippers glide through the hair, making the clip quicker and more pleasant for your dog. Go with the grain. When clipping the coat, go with the hair, not against it.
How long does a 10 blade leave dog hair? ›
For example, a size 10 blade will leave the coat under 2mm. An Andis, Laube, Shernbao or Smart Coat size 10 blade leaves the coat 1.5mm, but a Buttercut Geib size 10 is 1.6mm, and the Wahl 10 blade is 1.8mm.
What size blade for cutting hair? ›
The right length blade for your hair cutting shears
The average blade length size is 5.5” to 6”. These can be great for cutting the hair palm to palm. The key factor in choosing the right blade length is actually the use that you have in mind for the blade, not the size of your hands.
What length is a 7 blade grooming? ›
Blades differ in both size and material, with each blade given a number indicating the length of cut. Larger numbers trim hair shorter than lower numbers, with a #7 blade leaving about 1/8” of length. #7 blades are great for an all-over summer cut on the body of the animal, especially on mixed and wire coated breeds.
How long is a #3 clipper blade? ›
Haircut Numbers and Clipper Guard Sizes
| Clipper Guard Number | Inches | Millimeters |
|---|
| 3 | ⅜ | 9.5 |
| 4 | ½ | 12.7 |
| 5 | ⅝ | 15.9 |
| 6 | ¾ | 19 |
6 more rowsMay 29, 2023
