So this is my basic shopping list for when you're first starting out with home-grooming and don't want to spend too much money until you decide if you're in it for the long haul. All of these (and more) are fully discussed and reviewed in the appropriate pages (as per menu bar above); this page is just a summary of what I consider to be the basics.
If you only have one dog and you don't turn into a scissor-tragic like I did, then it's probably pretty much all you'll ever really need. The exception would be a grooming table. Once you decide you're definitely going to be a home-groomer then a "proper" grooming table is a "must-have" in my opinion.
Brushes:El Cheapo doggy brush from K-Mart to start your puppy getting used to being groomed. For serious grooming nothing beats the Activet double sided Purple/Red double size brush; however at under $30, the budget-priced Groomsoft Professional Ball Pin Slicker comes in a very close second for a fraction of the price and is the brush of preference for all three of my dogs. I've reviewed others such as the Artero and Big K on the brushes page.
Kmart Brush on far left ($3 last time I checked, yes three
dollars!), then the Activet, Combs:The UWD double-pronged grooming comb (pictured below left). As far as I know you can only buy this online directly from Underwater Dogs - check around their site before placing your order as they frequently have special offers and combined packages (their puppy shampoo/conditioner and detangler are great). If you join their "coconut club" each order gets points which add up to money off future orders or a free gift.
The Gripsoft Comb (pictured above right) has rotating teeth so when you come to a mat, the teeth rotate in the handle and roll through it rather that being pulled through causing far less doggy-stress. The handle is hard plastic, so I'm not sure how long it will last (mine has been going well over a year with no sign of wear) - see Brushes & Combs page for any updates. At about AU$16 + postage from Mars Grooming Products, it's another bargain in my opinion. Other combs are discussed in full on the brushes and combs page. Corded ClippersAndis MGB2 Easyclip. October 2022 the cheapest I could find them new was $165 + $8 postage. The MGB2 takes the same clip-on A5 size blades as the AGCPro, the Wahl and Opal cordless; which is handy if you decide to upgrade later. If you can find them second-hand then remember to ask all the pertinent questions I listed on the clippers page where other corded clippers are reviewed as well.
Cordless Clippers:These are expensive, so you're not going to want to go cordless until you're 100% sure that home-grooming is for you. Cheap ones are a waste of money, so my advice is just don't go there. The best cordless clippers that I have ever used are the Heiniger Opals: last time I checked they were $567 at Clipperland plus postage of course! As with everything, do a web search before buying as prices are changing all the time. Don't bother with the (even more expensive) set that has a spare battery as you won't need it unless you have about 20 very hairy dogs - I've got one going cheap if you really want one! Other clippers are discussed on the clippers page.
https://clipperland.com.au/collections/heiniger-clippers/products/heiniger-opal-cordless-battery-clipper
Blades:Decent clippers come with an A5 size #10 blade as standard. You can use these with snap-on combs to give different lengths and finishes, but combs don't give as even a finish as different size blades. My preference is to use the #19 blade on topline and sides/shoulders (a 13mm in summer), with a 5FC for hygiene parts - including behind/under ears and round to under chin. I've used blades made by Wahl, Andis, Diamond Cut and Heiniger. I don't like Wahl blades, I just don't think they cut as well as Andis, they also seem heavier. Heiniger blades are great, but are quite a bit more expensive than Andis - hence most of the blades in my blade-box are Andis or Diamond Cut. I've sent two Andis blades back to Amazon as fakes so be wary who you buy from - check out the blades section for how to tell if you have a fake.
The #10 blade comes as standard with pretty much all clippers
that take A5 size and can be used
with snap-on combs;
Clipper, Blade & Scissor Care:Andis Cool Care is great for cooling blades during use, then cleaning your blades and scissors when you've finished grooming. Then you oil everything before putting carefully away for next time. If you bought your clippers new then usually a bottle of clipper oil comes with them. If not then it's cheap enough and 100ml bottle will last you years as you only use a few drops at a time - I haven't noticed any difference between brands. Clipperland is usually the cheapest place to get all this, but you know the drill (Google search every time before ordering). MAJOR UPDATE: I've recently learned that clipper oil is not the best for scissor care; for that you need Camellia oil. A small bottle will last forever, so don't go mad with a huge size unless you want to use it on your face/body as well (it's supposed to be good for human skin too).
Andis Cool Care, Heiniger Clipper Oil, Andis Clipper Oil and Camellia Oil
for your Scissors.
Bath Time:I love the Underwater Dogs sensitive skin shampoo & conditioner, especially for Indie's hyper-delicate skin. Their No-Knots detangler works just as well as any other product I've tried and better than some - full reviews of products I've tried HERE.
For more Curly-coated dogs I'd use the Tropiclean shampoo designed specifically for curly and wavy coats. Works like a dream and curls are left beautifully formed and springy with no "fuzziness". For this particular product, Amazon was the cheapest at the time I was looking for it, but as always do a Google search as prices are changing all the time. Only thing irritating about Tropiclean is that it only comes in small sizes - and I prefer to buy in bulk to share costs with my girlfriends.
Tropiclean Curly & Wavy Coat Shampoo Detanglers:My favourites are the Underwater dogs detangler or Pro Magic by Heiniger - I link to the concentrate as it can be diluted in different ratios for different applications, but you can buy a spritz spray that's already diluted (not as cost-effective long-term, but much cheaper if you just want to try it out). Dr Zoo is good but the tube is very small and it's difficult to get the last bit out. For really, really bad mats then just good old coconut oil from the supermarket does the trick. Yes I did try Cowboy Magic but I don't like it's chemical smell or the way it turns the floor into a skating rink if you drop some. I found it also dried out both my hands and my dogs' coat with regular use.
Underwater Dogs Detangle & Shine, Pro Magic Concentrate, Dr Zoo Grooming Cream and Coconut Oil from the Supermarket
Ears & Teeth:I don't pluck either of my ACD girls' ears. I do, however, trim ear hair and make sure it's growing OUT of ears and not IN. Ears should be cleaned and dried weekly. They should also be cleaned after any trip to the beach/river and after every bath. This ensures no water is left behind to cause problems down the track. I recommend Kleo ear cleaner, with el cheapo make-up remover pads to dry off afterwards as the pads don't drop as many fibres as cotton wool balls. The price of Kleo varies enormously so I research before every purchase. The make-up remover pads and coconut oil are from the supermarket.
Kleo Ear Cleaner and Make-up remover pads for ear health, coconut oil and Bicarb for teeth cleaning
I used to clean my dogs' teeth weekly as even with regular chews and bones tartar still builds up if I didn't. I used a home-made doggy toothpaste of equal parts coconut oil and baking soda (bicarb). Works better than any "special" doggy toothpaste I tried and is certainly cheaper. You can buy doggy toothbrushes at the Reject Shop for a few dollars, but I found the ones picture below to be kinder to gums and more effective at cleaning + you can use the little case for toothpaste so you don't "double-dip" into your bigger container. Make sure you wash well between uses to prevent bacteria build-up - I put mine in the dishwasher with no problem.
Then I discovered Simply Seaweed, a tiny amount in dogs' dinner every day and plaque became a thing of the past. Scissors:Minimum quality: Japanese 440C stainless steel with 60HRC, usually written "JP440 60HRC". If you want to upgrade from these or you're wondering what all those numbers mean read my scissor page. You'll need straight scissors, curved scissors, thinning shears and small scissors for between eyes if you're unsure about going near eyes with the big curved ones. Chunkers are also handy (similar to thinners but take more hair), so look for a set that includes the four as you'll usually get a free storage case and comb with most of them. Buying in a set is much cheaper than buying individually - last time I checked the set pictured below was about $72 including GST and postage. Length of blade varies between different sets and is subjective - more details on my scissors page.
Nail Clippers:I've had my doggy toenail clippers for donkeys' years so I can't remember where I got them. If you clean and oil yours after every grooming session, yours will last for donkeys' years too. I can tell you that they are the type that look a little like garden shears, not the ones that push the blade forward as that type can tear or crush the nail. I recently sourced the ones below from Clipperworld for a friend who is very pleased with them. At only about $16 (plus postage of course) they are excellent value for money.
Treats:Cleardog.com.au have the best range, most cost-effective, all natural dog treats with no additives whatsoever and ingredients sourced from Australia/NZ. They sell most of their treats in a variety of sizes from 150g up to a kilo. Orders arrive quickly and well packaged. If you subscribe to their mailing list they'll let you know about their monthly specials - otherwise they leave you alone so it's definitely worth doing. Orders over $99 attract free postage and if you place a recurring order you get a discount.
If you want to make your own doggy treats see my Treat-making page HERE.
last update 07/11/2024 |
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