DIY dog grooming not only saves you money… it also gives you that certain rewarding feeling. And, as I’ve mentioned before, it helps you bond even closer with your pet.
It can sure feel confusing, though. What often puzzles people are clipper combs for dogs, how they exactly work, and how they compare to dog clipper blades.
Let’s clarify things a bit, shall we?
I’ll focus on the most convenient clipper combs. That would be the snap on type, with this Andis’ set from Amazon.com being their best representative.
When is it better to use dog grooming combs?
Snap on combs (sometimes referred as dog clipper guards too) are generally a safer approach to controlling the length of your pet’s hair.
If you’re a total beginner, a DIY grooming session with your pooch might make you feel anxious. What if you hurt your dog?
That’s why some people tend to steer away from cutting dog hair with naked blades until they feel more confident. Doing freehand work on a non moving subject is tricky enough. Now trying it on a fidgety dog can be a recipe for disaster. It takes years of experience before you would feel like you could do it yourself. Clipper combs can take away all of that fear and years of messing up your dog’s fur.
Snap-on combs are attached to the clipper’s blade end. This means they “soften” the cutting edge with their plastic.
Using a comb attachment is the best way to give your pooch and even and proportionate cut all the way around. If you want the length of the coat to be somewhere under 2 inches long then you need only snap on a comb and work your way around. There is no way to go too short this way.
Even if your hand slips or your technique isn’t that great, you shouldn’t be able to poke your pet and hurt them. In this sense, attachment guards are a beginner-friendly starting point to proper pet grooming.
You would also want to use snap-on combs when you want to leave more hair on your dog’s body. It’s no secret naked blades cut quite close to the skin which might be too much for some breeds.
I can’t know what breed your dog is, but in some cases, going with snap-on combs is the better choice even if you’re a pro DIY groomer.
Are all snap on combs the same?
Not really. I mean, the top 3 brands – Oster, Andis and Wahl, all have their snap combs for pro dog grooming tools.
I’m usually a big fan of Oster products, but in this case the nod definitely goes to Andis. No matter which combs you get, they are all very durable and very comfortable on your pet’s skin. They glide much better and the teeth don’t bend. They are ideal for those with dogs with thick or matted fur. Be careful around the matted coat though as they will pop off if you haven’t attached them securely!
Where things get different is the material they’re made of.
Andis pet grooming comb attachments from Amazon.com are the most diverse bunch. You have the standard plastic combs, but you can also get chrome or stainless steel snap on sets.
Wahl don’t fall behind either and their stainless steel combs from Amazon.com are outstanding:
Honestly, if you have the opportunity, I recommend always picking the steel clipper combs for dogs.
They attach more securely to the blade which means they won’t slip/move while you’re grooming your dog. This allows for more comfortable, more precise grooming sessions.
The stainless steel blades are thinner than the plastic ones so they separate the hair much more evenly. This means you won’t have to keep running over the same spot multiple times.
They are a huge time saver also for the fact that you won’t need to use your scissors as often. You can run the clipper with combs attached to get the hair down to a specific length, usually around an inch long or so and not even touch your scissors until you need to do some detail work.
Keep in mind that combs can be used across clipper brands!
So for example, Wahl’s set can be used over Andis’ pet clipper blades. Andis recommend using snap on combs on their #10 size blade, while Wahl recommends using their #30 size blade for optimum results.
They can be used across all brands so even if you don’t have Wahl clippers you can still use these combs. The only caveat is that you can’t use them with the #40 blade of any model. They won’t fit right and will likely pop off during the cut. Especially if you are faced with thick or matted fur.
The main thing to look for is a sturdy construction. If the combs are prone to bending when faced with a lot of thick fur, then you’re going to end up with an uneven cut. Then you’re forced to keep going over the same spot. When time is of the essence as your dog only has so much patience before he starts to get antsy, then you want to make sure your tools help you work quickly and efficiently. I like Andis clipper guards as I feel they have a very sturdy construction.
There are some limitations to clipper combs for dogs. First, using them over blades that leave hair shorter is your best option. That would be #30 or #40 blades, leaving hair at 1/50″ or 1/100″ respectively.
The major downside to using these combs is that you are boxed in by the longest length. If your combs only go up to an inch, for example, then that is the longest you can leave the coat. What do you do if you want to leave the fur 1.5 inches? You can either shop around until you find a guard that goes to that length or you have to freehand.
You can use a clipper over comb technique so you don’t have to worry about balding your pup by accident. But, the best way to make sure the coat is evenly cut is with combs.
For the novice or the DIY dog groomer, then these are your best bet.
Most clippers come with a #10 blade (1/16″.) Snap on combs perform somewhat okay with a #10 blade or lower, but they aren’t the most optimal solution. At that point, just going with naked blades is a better option.
Also, let’s get this clear: clipper combs and their attachments have nothing on pure blades on breeds with thicker hair.
If your dog has matted hair, you not only want to have the proper clippers for that. You also want to skip on the snap on combs, because they’ll just get stuck in the tangles.
Even the sturdier steel combs can’t take on matted hair with good results. You’ll be left frustrated with a pooch that’s not properly groomed at all.
Combs aren’t that great for sanitary areas either. I know you might be scared about poking around there, but sanitary and intimate areas are best kept quite short. Dog guards will keep in your way in this case.
How to take care of your clipper combs
Like any tool, the better you take care of your clipper combs the better they will treat you. Here are a few ideas to make sure you get the most out of them.
Keep them clean
You really don’t want to put these away with hair on them still. It is unsanitary and the hair will actually corrode the teeth if they are metal and the hinge where the combs clip onto the blade.
Hair is quite acidic and will eventually do a number on your clips.
There also might be some bacteria creeping around on there so it is best to get rid of that hair so you don’t transfer a rash to your dog.
I like to use a can of compressed air to blow the hair off it quickly and easily. I do this before I have cleaned up my station so I don’t have to clean up twice.
Oil the hinge
After being used for a while, the hinge will start to get very tight. This is good so it doesn’t slip off, but it makes it hard to change them. Give them a drop or two of clipper oil to keep the hinge working properly.
Here’s a great video that elaborates further on snap on combs and how/when to use them:
When to use blades instead of comb attachments for dog clippers
Final Thoughts
It is not easy to groom your dogs hair if you have not had the proper training. In fact, most people don’t even have the proper tools, nevermind the know how. Any tools you can use to make it easier to give your pooch a good looking fur cut is something indispensable. The only downside to these clipper combs for dog clippers is that they may not leave the fur as long as you’d like to keep it. In which case you will have to learn to freehand cut. For short haired dogs, I wouldn’t attempt a cut without using guards unless I had a lot of experience. Do you have any questions about clipper guards? Want to know which ones will fit your model of clipper? Simply drop us a comment in the box below and we will get back to you as soon as we can!
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The brand of clipper I have is Ceewes, it has plastic guard combs marked 3mm, mm, 9mm, and 12mm. I have no idea which to use, and there are no grooming instructions with the item. I have a Maltipoo with soft, fine hair that has recently changed from straight/wavy to wavy/curly and I want it short so he looks more poodle-ish and less Maltese-ish. Which guard should I use?
I have the same question but I don’t want to go too short. Do you have an answer yet Grandi?
I have a maltipoo now. She is very different than all of my schnauzers. She is quite small so I have a D-6 Andis vet trimmer. I did manage to find a #30 blade. I need guards to fit the small head of the D-6. So far no luck.
Thank you!
Can anyone explain when to use 3mm, 6mm, 9mm comb attachment and what length of fur can I achieve in using each of those ?
Thank you for the demonstration! I really appreciated learning how to put the comb attachment on. I was beginning to think the Oster attachments were too small for my Oster clippers! Very appreciative!
Hi, I what to use comb attachments for my Yorkies heads and face to thin then out a bit but don’t know which length to attach to my No10 blade. I have andis 2 speed clippers, I cut my yorkies bodies with a No7f blade as I like them short. I do trim my yorkies head and face with scissors but one of my yorkies has really think fur.
Kind regards
I have a very small yorkshire terrier puppy that needs a bit of tidying up.
As she’s terrified of a full-size trimmer for grooming, the vet recommended the mini “Shear Magic battery trimmer”.
Do you have or know of some small comb attachements I can buy for it?
Can you tell me what I am doing wrong? When I use combs on my 30 blade, I find that hair gets caught in the comb and blade, what is wrong? Thanks for your help.
You need to brush your dog with a slicker brush before you give the dog a bath. Then after you give the dog a bath and the hair is still wet brush them again and then again after they are dried and that should take out most if not all of the matted hair. Blades and combs won’t go through hair that’s matted but the slicker brush should take care of it.
New DIYer. I have a Schnoodle puppy. His hair is about 1.5 inches long, the length I like. What size comb would appropriate to maintain this length (body) I will be using an Andis clipper with a #10 blade. Thank you, Jerry
Hi Jerry, thanks for the question. With a #10 blade if you want to leave the fur at 1.5 inches then try the Wahl clipper guards and use the green one. That is specific for the #10 blade and that length. Unfortunately the Andis ones that are meant for the #10 won’t leave you with that length. The longest you can get with those is an inch.
What is the comparable Andis guard that would leave the hair at 1” with the 10 blade? The Andis ones that came with my purple clipper are numbered but I don’t know which one to use. Thank you!
Hi, we have double coated Newfoundland, they have been professionally groomed short. I have purchased an andis ultra edge agc super 2 speed brushless clippers.
Would you recommend the oster combs or the andis combs? Also what size comb would you use to keep the hair short but not shaved, still want them looking like a Newfoundland and not a large poodle. They both have straight thick fur .
Thanking you
Kerry
I have a 7fc blade but want my Aussiedoodle’s hair a little longer and not as short as I would get from the blade. What size comb should I use? The longer the combs size, the longer the hair?
Hi there! I’m just a visitor to this page but I’ve noticed no questions are being answered, so I’ll try to help a few people out! ☺️ You asked “The longer the combs size, the longer the hair?” Yes you are exactly right. I will list each comb size (or clipper guard, whatever you prefer to call it) and each measurement of length of hair it will leave behind.
#1 1/8”
#2 1/4”
#3 3/8”
#4 1/2”
#5 5/8”
#6 3/4”
#7 7/8
#8 1”
Hi there! I’m just a visitor to this page but I’ve noticed no questions are being answered, so I’ll try to help a few people out! ☺️ You asked “The longer the combs size, the longer the hair?” Yes you are exactly right. I will list each comb size (or clipper guard, whatever you prefer to call it) and each measurement of length of hair it will leave behind.
#0 1/16”
#1 1/8”
#2 1/4”
#3 3/8”
#4 1/2”
#5 5/8”
#6 3/4”
#7 7/8
#8 1”
#9 1 1/4”
As far as the blade you should use, it’s really a matter of personal opinion. Personally, I like an Aussie’s coat a bit longer, I’d probably experiment with a #6 attachment of 3/4”, and if I wanted it longer I’d use a #8 the next time around. Good luck, I hope this helps!
Thank you very much Jenny. We have a golden retriever and just want to remove wispy long hairs.
I have a ceewes clipper the combs are 12mm to 3mm which would i use on my teddy bear and what are the numbers up to 2.0 mean and how do i use those numbers in conjunction with the different sized combs?
Hello,
I have a 1 year old goldendoodle who has a fluffy coat. I like to keep him at about 1 inch long. Would I use a #10 blade with a 1 inch guard? I have Andis 2 speed clippers that I have only used for a sanitary trim. It did come with a few guards. I would like to start trimming him on my own, but don’t want him shorter than 1″.
Thank you for any help,
Hi there! You asked: “ Would I use a #10 blade with a 1 inch guard?” Conceptually, you are correct. You may want to use a #9 guard at 1 1/4” in a small area first, and if that’s too long I would suggest using a #8 guard at 1”. Good luck!
Thank you Jenny. I was beginning to despair. You seem to use clippers and combs. My problem is
I really am not sure which blade can. Be used with which comb. If you can answer this I would be very grateful
Hi,
I have a very woolly Scottie. Just purchased the Andis Easy Clip multi-style clipper. Have never clipped him before , as have had him professionally groomed. Which comb do I use to trim his back & neck ? Using scissors around ears/toes.
Thanks !
Scottie Mom
Hi there. I have 10 years experience as a cosmetologist/barber, but have always left grooming my dogs to the professional groomers. For some time now I have been seriously considering doing it myself, but certainly have my concerns. I am now convinced I need to start grooming my dog personally, as I have recently added a Black Russian Terrier puppy (7 months old and already 70lbs.) to my family. Although I love her hair when it is all grown out, she tends to get hot in our climate so to the groomer we went. I was shocked to see that our very experienced groomer -who used to cut my schnauzer’s hair until he passed away- completely shaved my girls body to about 1/16”. Ideally the result I prefer is a medium length on the entire body/legs, about 3 to 4 inches long. I could clipper over comb her entire body, but it literally would take me over 6 hours as she is so large and has so much hair. (HERE’S THE QUESTION! Sorry for the background story!) *My ultimate question is, is it possible to use pet clippers with a guard or comb attachment as you call it to run through the entire body and legs and achieve the 3-4” length? I cannot find an answer to my question anywhere, I am so happy to stumble upon your website! I really hope you can help me. Thank you!
Jen
Laube Mammoth clipper combs are available in lengths up to 6 inches. You can buy individual combs as well as a set.
I’m getting a cavapoo and planning ahead for home grooming. I’ll be buying some Andis clippers which come with the 10 blade. For a general tidy up over the body, what size guard/comb should I require?
I am a beginner groomer but still much too hesitant about giving my own dog, Rocky a Westie, a sanitary trim under his belly near his privates. Can I somehow do this without a #10 blade? Perhaps a snap-on comb?
I also want to keep his skirt as short as possible?!
Thank you.
Yes, sanitary clips are done with 10 (bare) blade. If you are nervous about using this blade, simply use a #7. Remember never to run the clippers directly over the anus! Not as short, but will suffice.
The main body of a Westie is done with a #5. Keep the clipper blade flat against the fur, working diagonally downwards toward the skirt. As you reach the top of the skirt, use a flick out motion. The base of the skirt you trim with scissors to desired length, and any lines at the top are blended in. I don’t however recommend you blend using thinning shears. So would recommend simply clipping the skirt out.
What replacement combs will fit my Ceenwes CWS-010 clipper? The 3mm comb has lost a tooth, and I can’t find a Ceenwes brand comb to replace it. Will Wahl’s or Andis work?
Good morning and thank you.
Recently I purchased a Wahl Pro Series clippers, part number 92576. They are rechargeable, lithium ion. It came in a set with combs and other stuff. After a few cuts on my dogs It became apparent the combs I got were wanting in ability. One comb burst while it was in my storage box!
I am wishing to purchase a set of combs, about 10 or so in number. Made probably of steel. I search the internet but never seem to locate what I am looking for. Will you please suggest a good set for my clippers. THANKS
My two dogs have thick double coats.
I own a Sunbeam Model 078522 (made by OSTER possibly?) Turbo Dog cordless clipper. It came with 4 cheap plastic comb guides. Pretty quickly, the clips on these plastic combs began to break and I cannot find any information on replacements. I purchased a nice looking set of Andis ones online but they are too big for the clipper. Do you have any information on combs for this clipper? How do I know what to order? The blade which attaches to the clipper with 2 screws on the bottom is about 1.75″ wide side to side and about 1.5″ deep front to back. Thanks for any help!
Hi I have used an Onorc trimmer with great success. But I need a replacement comb for the favorite that I use all the time. It is their #2. 1/4” or 6mm.
Can Wahl’s or Andee’s work on an Onorc?
I need a 2″ attachment for a long haired dog. I found one on Amazon, an Oster, but it doesnt say what Oster trimmer to buy for it. Can you help me? Or does Wahl or any other brand sell 2″ attachments for long haired dogs?
Please advise a guide comb set between walhl , andis, shernbao.
I groom a soft coated wheaten terrier. I plan to upgrade from my old plastic set.