Best dog grooming scissors for every type of coat 2023

Dog grooming may not be your furry friend's favourite activity, but having a pair of specially designed dog grooming scissors in your pooch's grooming products kit will keep their coat healthy and looking its best with regular grooming. Plus, cutting your dog's hair often reduces the amount of dog hair that often covers furniture around your home and your clothes.

You may think that keeping your dog looking trim and tidy would require a trip to a professional groomer but there's no reason why you can't give them a pamper session at home. After a scrub in the bath with a dog shampoo, a rub dry, and a good brush out, you can attempt to neaten up their coat at home with a good quality pair of dog grooming scissors.

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Although you may be tempted to just use regular scissors to give your pooch a haircut, it is always recommended that you use a pair of grooming scissors, or dog fur clippers if you've got a thicker coat to get through. Of course, different types of grooming scissors will work for different fur coats. Straight dog grooming scissors are the most versatile while curved scissors provide more flexibility as they follow your dog's contours and individual style. Thicker coats will benefit from thinning and blending scissors while heavy curls will require chunker scissors being used. When it comes to those delicate areas, you'll want to make sure you've got a pair of rounded-tip scissors to hand.

Best dog grooming scissors at a glance:

• Editor's choice: PURPLEBIRD 7 Inch Straight Dog Grooming Scissors - view on Amazon UK
• Top pick for chunker scissors: Dream Reach 7 Inch Chunker Scissors - view on Amazon UK
• Best professional curved dog grooming scissors: Dream Reach Professional 7" Dog Grooming Scissors Curved - view on Amazon UK
• Best thinning scissors for thick coats: Mikki Pet Double Thinning Grooming Scissors - view on Amazon UK

Now that you know what different types of scissors are available, take a look at our ultimate guide to dog grooming scissors to find out more about each kind and our top picks for the best grooming scissors on the market.

Straight dog grooming scissors

These are the most commonly used scissors for trimming dog hair as they offer versatility across breeds and hair types. The scissor sizes will vary from four inches to ten inches. Smaller grooming scissors will work best on small dogs as they will give you more precision. However, if your pet has a heavy, coarse coat, it is best to choose a wider blade. Finally, when working with a finer coat, use a thinner blade.

Curved dog grooming scissors

Curved grooming scissors provide more flexibility for shaping as the scissors follow the dog's contours and individual style. This type of scissor works great for trimming the head area and for poodle tails.

Thinning and blending dog grooming scissors

Just like the thinning scissors you see at the hairdresser's, thinning grooming scissors have teeth on both edges and are useful for thinning out thicker coats. Blending scissors are similar but only have teeth on one edge and a normal, flat-edged scissor on the other side. This grooming creates a smooth transition between the coat lengths and blends them together.

Chunker dog grooming scissors

This type of grooming scissors creates a natural appearance for the dog hair but is recommended for thick coats or heavy curls. One thing to note is that these scissors require precision and practice, so maybe more experienced groomers or owners will benefit from these scissors the most.

Round-tipped dog grooming scissors

These scissors have blunt-nosed ends which allow you to cut your dog’s hair safely with a reduced risk of injury if they get too fidgety. This is best to use on the delicate parts of the dog, especially around the face and ears.

Dog grooming sets

If you are looking to get more scissors to adapt to your dog's coat, then investing in a dog grooming scissors kit would be a great idea. Here are some great choices that offer lower prices than buying each pair of scissors separately.

FAQs

What to consider when buying dog grooming scissors:

When purchasing your dog grooming scissors, you can look out for some of these features that elevate the standard of the scissors and your experience using them:

Scissor size - Smaller scissor sizes work best for detailed trims around the paws, ear, or eye area. A larger scissor is suitable for a full coat trim.

Stainless steel blades - If you want something long-lasting, look for stainless steel blades that are tough, lightweight and great for all hair types. If you're looking for the best quality, scissors made from 440C Japanese Stainless Steel are the best. You can find some options for these below.

Rubberised handles and different types - There are two types - symmetrical or offset handles. We would recommend offset handles as they allow for a more natural thumb position and less stress on your hand. A rubberised handle is also best for comfort, especially if the grooming will take a long time.

Tension adjusters - Tension adjusters allow you to alter the tension screw between the two blades so the hair cuts correctly without too much force. This will stop any unnecessary strain on your hand.

How often should I groom my dog?

You can keep your dog's coat in tip-top condition by giving them a good scrub with shampoo and regular brushing and cutting. According to the PDSA, how often you groom your dog can depend on your pet's coat type and length. It is also dependent on recent activities that can lead to tangling or matting.

This is a general guide to follow:

Long-haired breeds: For dogs with coats are prone to matting, it is best to trim their coat or strip the undercoat around 4 to 6 times a year.

Medium-haired breeds: Trim coat or strip undercoat a couple of times a year.

Short-haired breeds: These dogs don't need frequent haircuts, though certain breeds may still need their undercoat to be stripped away.

You should also make sure you keep your pooch's nails in shape with frequent trimming. This should be done every month or two, depending on your dog, and can either be done with a pair of dog nail clippers by yourself at home, or done by a grooming professional.

If you have any queries, ask your local veterinary centre for advice.

Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.