I’ve never had the need to own a pair of dog clippers, but I do know that for people who have long-haired dogs, owning a good set of clippers can save you a ton of money in grooming costs. What brought me to thinking about dog clippers was a question I was asked down at the dog park a few days ago. One of the newbies, Jayla, brought her Cocker Spaniel puppy for a visit, and one of those “Go ask Ash” moments resulted.
Well, I have been called an FKIA (Famous Know It All, I think) by my own sister, no less, and since no one ever actually Googles anything when they can “Go ask Ash,” (grumble) and since I have trouble saying “No” when anyone wants information about dogs, I ended up on a search for the best Cocker Spaniel clippers. I learned a lot about Cocker Spaniels in general during my research.
4 Best Cocker Spaniel Clippers On Amazon
Invalid table id.What Makes Cocker Spaniels Different?
A professional groomer would be able to answer this question probably without even thinking, but I didn’t realize that,for a Cocker Spaniel, not just any clippers will get the job done properly. And, in fact, I found it difficult to separate the really good Cocker Spaniel clippers from all the generic offerings out there. That seemed kind of odd to me since Cocker Spaniels are incredibly popular dogs, but hey, it is what it is.
I had no idea that Cocker Spaniels have such intensive grooming requirements. The conventional wisdom suggests that you should have your Cocker Spaniel professionally groomed at least every two months. I don’t know about you, but it sounds to me like a person could go broke keeping up with their Cocker Spaniel’s grooming requirements! You also have to brush your Cocker Spaniel every single day; otherwise, his coat is going to mat up in no time. You could opt to go with a very short clip, but even then, you’re going to have to bathe and trim your Cocker Spaniel every six to eight weeks in order to keep his coat healthy.
Owning a Cocker must be a pretty time-intensive proposition, from where I’m sitting. But you can cut back on visits to the groomer if you have a good set of Cocker Spaniel clippers.
How to Groom Your Cocker Spaniel
Begin grooming your Cocker Spaniel by using a slicker brush to remove matting and smooth out the tangles. Then, brush using a bristle brush. Make sure to pay attention to the feathering around the dog’s feet, and trim it back regularly. You should always brush before using your Cocker Spaniel clippers, and make sure to get down into the undercoat, as well. If you’re having trouble figuring out how it’s done, it might not be a bad idea to pay at least one visit to a professional groomer to learn a few tips and tricks.
Keep in mind, whether you are visiting a groomer or going it on your own, that Cocker Spaniels can often be singularly uncooperative dogs, and may be quite resistant to grooming. It’s important to begin grooming when the dog is calm, and provide positive reinforcement. Cocker Spaniels are not all that different from other breeds in that they are eminently bribe-able, so a pocket full of treats can buy you a lot of goodwill.
Keep your first grooming session brief until your best buddy has become a bit more accustomed to the whole process, and bring out the Cocker Spaniel clippers only when you are fully confident that the dog is relaxed. Otherwise, the noise from the clippers can undo all your efforts.
Choosing the Right Cocker Spaniel Clippers
When selecting a good set of Cocker Spaniel clippers, you should focus primarily on volume and motor strength. What this means is that you’ll want clippers that can get through very thick hair, but because Cocker Spaniels are so sensitive, you also want the clippers to be as quiet as possible.
You should also select a set of Cocker Spaniel clippers that has a variety of blades. This is because of the varying lengths of your dog’s hair. You might be able to find Cocker Spaniel clippers that come with all the blades you’ll need, but you can also buy blades separately. Just make sure, before you shell out your hard-earned cash, that any blades you are considering are fully compatible with your Cocker Spaniel’s clippers.
For grooming in the area of the throat, face and ears, professional groomers recommend that you choose a #10 or #15 blade. For the sides of the neck, the best blades are the #7F or #9. For the stomach, use the #10, and for the pads of the feet, the #15. So, what do all these numbers mean? Essentially, the higher the blade number, the shorter and finer the cut.
A Word on Further Grooming
Of course, grooming your Cocker Spaniel means more than just trimming his coat. You should also clip his nails at least monthly, and check his ears weekly to see if they need cleaning. Cocker Spaniels are particularly susceptible to ear infections, so take a look to see if there are signs of odors or redness that might indicate such a problem. Use a cotton ball soaked in a vet-approved ear cleaning solution to get rid of dirt, and make sure not to insert your finger too far into your dog’s ear – any further than the first knuckle, and you’re in too deep.
One of the best ways to avoid ear problems with your Cocker Spaniel is to use water and food dishes that are deep and narrow, so that he’s not dragging those long, silky ears in the bowls. If he can drink and eat without getting his ears all mixed up in the business, he’s likely to be far less prone to ear trouble.
Now, onto the Cocker Spaniel clippers reviews.
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The Best Cocker Spaniel Clippers
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of dog clippers on the market, but not all are appropriate for Cocker Spaniels. I believe that the following are the best Cocker Spaniel clippers on the market today.
1. Wahl 9766 Lithium Ion Pro Series
The Wahl 9766 Lithium Ion Pro Series clipper is cordless and rechargeable, so you’ll have a full range of movement when grooming your Cocker Spaniel. The clippers also work very quietly, so your dog is not likely to become startled. The price point is also very pleasing (about $43 at Amazon), and it includes a comb, scissors and color-coded guards. You’ll have pretty much everything you need to groom your Cocker Spaniel at home, but if you’re really fussy about how your dog looks, you might want to invest in a few different-sized blades.
These Cocker Spaniel clippers do not come with a cooling spray and lubricating oil, so unless you want to buy those separately, you’ll have to pause every so often to avoid having the blades overheat. That’s probably a good time to offer your dog a treat!
Other than that, the only downside I see is that it can be a bit slow going when you’re cutting through thick hair. This is really a minor complaint, though, and I have no problem recommending these Cocker Spaniel clippers.
2. Wahl 9590-210 Pro-Series Complete Pet Clipper Kit
The Wahl 9590-210 Pro-Series kit is also cordless, although you can use it with a cord as well. The self-sharpening blades are a really nice feature, and if your Cocker Spaniel is skittish about grooming, you’ll both appreciate the fact that the constantly-sharpened blades don’t pull on his long hair. The kit comes with a recharger, comb, scissors, four guides, cleaning oil and a storage case. There is also an instructional DVD, which is definitely useful if you’ve never attempted using Cocker Spaniel clippers before.
The downsides are the same as with the Wahl 9766, but again, they’re pretty minor. I was a little mystified by the huge price differences at Amazon, though – you can buy these clippers, new in box, for as little as around $53, or as high as almost $130. If your considering these Cocker Spaniel clippers, don’t just buy the first ones you see.It could really save you a lot of money if you spend a little time shopping around.
3. Oster A5 Turbo 2-Speed Professional Animal Clipper
The Oster A5 is very zippy, operating at 3,000 strokes/minute on low speed, or 4,000 at high speed. It’s also very quiet. I wouldn’t recommend this clipper for a Cocker Spaniel who typically gets agitated while being groomed, though, because it is not cordless. However, if your dog is calm and stable, it could be a good choice.
One thing I do like about these Cocker Spaniel clippers is the tendency not to overheat as much as some other models. It doesn’t come with a cooling spray, though, so if you’re in for a lengthy grooming session, you might want to purchase some separately.
The only thing I can really find to criticize is that it only comes with a #10 blade, so if you’re going to do a really good job of grooming your Cocker Spaniel, these clippers would be best augmented with a kit containing additional blades.
The Oster A5 will cost you about $100 at Amazon.
4. Andis Pro-Animal Detachable Ceramic Blade Clipper Kit
The Andis Pro Clipper Kit is unique in that it has ceramic blades. The advantage to this type of blade is that ceramic takes a lot longer to heat up than stainless steel. That means that you can use it for quite a bit longer. Keep in mind, though, that this doesn’t mean the blade will never heat up, so you will still have to check from time to time to make sure that you are not running the risk of burning your Cocker Spaniel.
These Cocker Spaniel clippers are very quiet, so if your dog is a bit skittish, they could be a very good choice. The kit also comes with an instructional DVD, but as is the case with the Oster A5, you will get only a #10 blade, so to really get the job done right, you will have to purchase additional blades.
The cost of these Cocker Spaniel clippers also varies quite a bit at Amazon – from a bit over $62 to a bit under $110.
4 Best Cocker Spaniel Clippers On Amazon
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The Final Word
Now you know as much as I do about the best Cocker Spaniel clippers (No problem, Jayla, happy to help out!).
What really surprised me while researching this post was how often Cocker Spaniels need to be clipped. It’s a great relief to me, to say the least, that my Boxers don’t have that type of coat. If I did have a Cocker Spaniel, I think I’d be doing my best to learn how to handle at least some of my grooming tasks at home. Doing so would definitely result in a lot of money left over for toys and treats!