Choosing Dog Clipper Blades
CHOOSING BLADES FOR EACH BREED
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The Table below gives blde widths and sizes for different applications

Here is a list of blade sizes suggested for each breed.

The table lists blades required NOT how to groom a specific dog.

More specific information may be available from the breed society.

Consider temperature & the animals comfort first with appearance second.

All Breeds & Mixed Breeds

Sanitary Prep
#10
Very Heavy Coats
#7
Pads
#15
Legs
scissor
Slightly Matted
#5 & #5F
Feet (except poodle)
scissor
Very Matted
#9
 
 

Airedale Terrier

Body, sides & tail
#7F or #5F
Ears
#10 or #15
Head, throat
#9 or #7 & #7F
Underbody
scissor

Bearded Collie

Puppy Trim - Body
#3 & #3F
 

Bedlington Terrier

Body
#5 & #5F
Head, ears, tail
#10 or #15

Bichon Frise

Plush Look - Body
#3 & #3F
Pet Trim, Short - Body
#4 & #4F or #5 & #5F

Bouvier Des Flandres

Body, sides
#3
Cheeks & Throat
#4
Legs, underbody, face
scissor
 
 

Briard

Puppy Trim - body
#4
Face, legs, underbody
scissor
Head, face, legs, underbody  body
scissor
#4 or #3
Ears
#10 or #15

Cats

Very Matted
#9
Some Matting
#7F

Cocker Spaniel

Body, sides, back, tail
#7 & #7F or #5 & #5F
Underbody, feet, legs
scissor
Face, ears, throat, head
#10 or #15
 
 

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Body, sides, back
#4
Legs, underbody
scissor
Head, tail, feet
scissor
Top of ears
#10 or #15

English Cocker Spaniel

Body, back, sides
#7 & #7F
Head, neck, ears, face
#15
Front of forelegs
#7 & #7F
Underbody, legs
scissor

English Setter

Body, sides, back
#7 & #7F or #5 & #5F
Top of Ears
#10 or #15
Head
#9
Underbody, tail, legs
scissor

English Springer Spaniel

Body, sides, back, tail
#7 & #7F or  #5 & #5F
Underbody & legs
scissor
Head, neck, ear tops, throat
#10
 
 

Irish Setter

Body, sides, back, tail
#7 & #7F or   #5 & #5F
Underbody, tail, legs
scissor
Head, ears, throat
#10
 
 

Irish Terrier

Body, sides, back, tail
#5
Head, ears, throat
#10

Kerry Blue Terrier

Body, sides, back, tail #4 & #4F or
#3 & #3F
Neck, ears
Head
#10 or #15
#8-1/2
King Charles Spaniel
Stomach - (groin to navel)
#10
Pads #15
 Rectal area
#10

Lakeland Terrier

Body, sides, back, tail
#4 or #5
Neck, ears
#10
Head
#8-1/2
 
 

Lhasa Apso & Maltese

Puppy Trim
#3& #3F
Head, face, tail, underbody
scissor
Shorter Pet Trim
#5 & #5F or  #4 & #4F
 
 

Old English Sheepdog

Shorter Pet Trim
#4 & #4F or #3 & #3F
 Head, face
 scissor

Pekingese

Short Pet Trim - Body
#5 & #5F or   #4 & #4F
Stomach #10
Pads 7/8
Poodle - Puppy Clip
Stomach - groin to navel #10
Face, feet & under eyes #15
Tail #15
Body scissor or 4F

Poodle - Kennel Trim

Face, feet, base of tail
#10 or #15
Body
#7 & #7F or #5 & #5F or #4 & 4F
Top knot, tail piece
scissor
Legs
Scissor
Stomach
#10
 

Poodle - Lamb Trim

Face, feet, base of tail
#10 or #15
Body & legs
 #5For #4F
 Legs
Scissor
Top knot, tail piece
Scissor
Stomach
#10

Poodle - Summer "Bikini" Trim

Face, feet, base of tail
#10 or #15
Body & legs
#7F & 5F
Pompoms, Top knot & Tail porn
Scissor
Stomach
#10

Poodle - Dutch Trim

 Face, feet and tail
 #10 or #15
Body pattern 
 #10 & #15
 Top knot, tail piece & body
Scissor
Stomach
#10 

Portuguese Water Dog

Body
#3 & #3F
Head, tail
scissor
Shorter Pet Trim
#4 & #4F
 
 

Schnauzer

Body, back, sides
#7 & #7F
Head, ears, cheeks
#10
Legs, underbody
scissor
 
 

Scottish Terrier & Sealyham Terrier

Body, back, sides of face
#5 or #4
Top of head
#8-1/2
Ears, throat
#10
Tail
#3 & #3F

Shih Tzu

Puppy Trim
#3& #3F
Head, tail & ears
scissor
Shorter Pet Trim
#4 & #4F
 
 

Silky Terrier

Puppy Trim
#3& #3F
Head, underbody
scissor
Shorter Pet Trim
#4 & #4F
Ears
#10

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Body, tail
#3& #3F
Legs, underbody
scissor
Shorter Pet Trim
(body, throat)
#4 & #4F
Head, ears
scissor

Spanish Water Dog

Body, legs, neck and face
#5 or #3
 Inside rear legs and tummy to second nipple
#10 
 Pads
#10 

Welsh Terrier

Body, back, sides, tail
#5
Head, ears, throat
#10

West Highland White Terrier

Body, back & sides
#4 or #3
Ear tips
#10 or #15
Head, tail, underbody
scissor
 
 

Yorkshire Terrier

Puppy Trim
#3-3/4 & #3-3/4FC
Face, head
scissor
Shorter Pet Trim
#4 & #4FC
Ears
#10