Dog Clipper Blade Guide

Our Salty Dog All In One Clipper Kit comes with one standard #10 blade which is the most commonly used blade. However, you may wish to purchase additional blades which are professionally recommended for your specific breed. With thick double coated breeds and poodle/poodle x breeds an extra blade can be highly beneficial. The standard plastic combs can not push through the coats of these breeds and therefore to achieve longer lengths than the standard #10 blade additional blades are required.

To make it confusing the lower the blade number the longer the length of cut. The length cut a blade will give is written on the blade such as a #7 has 3.2mm inscribed. This number refers to the length of hair left cutting against the natural lay of the coat or off-standing coat such as a poodle. When cutting with the lay the length will be approximately twice the stated length. So for example the #7 blade will cut 3.2mm against the lay and approx 6.4 if cutting with the lay of the hair.

There are 2 types of blades, rough cut (skip tooth blades) and finishing  blades. The finishing blades are labelled with an "F" such as the #7F blade.   Ideally groomers will have both blades for the length they desire, a rough cut blade for the initial groom as it will cut more easily though the hair, followed by a finishing blade for a smoother more even finish. Obviously this is not always realistic especially when people are 1st starting out home grooming. Many of our customers purchase one additional blade and down the track may purchase another as they hone their home grooming skills.

Blades will go dull over time. The beauty of our clipper is that the blades can be sharpened. An online sharpening service such as clipperworlds is inexpensive and will get your blades back in tip top condition increasing the time before needing to buy replacement blades.

Grooming is very technical and you will not achieve the same results as a pro groomer overnight. With time however it will become easier and you will improve a little with each groom. Checkout the blade chart below to see which blades are professionally recommended for your breed.

  • ALL BREEDS AND MIXED BREEDS
    Sanitary prep
    10
    Inside ears and tummy
    10
    Pads
    15
    Slightly matted
    5 or 5F
    Very matted
    7 or 7F
    Very heavy coats
    7
    Legs
    3 or combs or Scissors
    Feet, beards, mustaches, furnishings
    Scissors
    Teddy bear cut (3/4" all over)
    4
  • AFGHAN HOUND
    Very matted strip down on body
    7F
    On saddle only
    7F
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • AIREDALE TERRIER
    Body
    7 or 5
    Head, neck
    9 or 7F
    Ears, cheeks and throat
    10
    Tail
    5 or 4
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • BEARDED COLLIE
    Matted strip down
    7F or 5F
    Puppy trim at 2"
    30 with 1 1/4" Comb
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • BEDLINGTON TERRIER
    Body
    5F, 4 or 3
    Head,Ears and Tail
    10 or 7F
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • BICHON FRISE
    Pet trim, short
    F, 4 or 3
    Matted strip down
    7F or 5F
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • BOUVIER DES FLANDRES
    Matted coat
    7F
    Body
    7F
    Legs and undercarriage
    10
    Head
    15
    Face
    7F
    Ears
    10
    Stomach
    15
    Pads
    15
  • BRIARD TERRIER
    Short trim
    4
    Matted strip down
    7F or 5
    Face, legs & undercarriage
    Scissors
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • CAIRN TERRIER
    Natural look 2"
    30 and 3/4" Comb
    Pet trim, shorter on back
    4
    Head, legs and tail
    Scissors
    Matted strip down
    5 or 7F
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • CHOW CHOW
    Matted coat
    7F
    Body
    7
    Natural coat
    Scissors
    Short trim
    10
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • COCKER SPANIEL
    Body, sides and back only
    7F or 5F or 4F
    Sides of neck
    9 or 7F
    Face, ears and throat
    10 or 15
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • COLLIE
    Body
    7F
    More length on body
    4 or 3
    Natural coat
    Scissors
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • DANDIE DINMONT
    Body, sides and back only
    5 or 4
    Head and tail
    Scissors
    Legs and undercarriage
    Scissors
    Ears
    10 or 15
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL
    Body, back and sides only
    7F, 5F or 4F
    Front of Forearms
    7F
    Head, neck and ears
    15
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • ENGLISH SETTER
    Body, side and back only
    7F, 5F or 4F
    Tail, Legs and underbody
    Scissors
    Head, neck and ears
    10
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL
    Body, side and back only
    7F, 5F or 4F
    Head, neck and ears
    10 or 9
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • GERMAN SHEPHERD
    Body
    5F or 7F
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • GOLDEN RETRIEVER
    Matted coat
    7F
    Body
    5F or 7F
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
    Legs, tail and underbody
    Scissors
  • GREAT PYRENEES
    Matted strip down
    7F
    Puppy trim
    30 with 1" Comb
    Long body trim
    3 or 4
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • HUSKY
    Body
    5F or 7F
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • IRISH SETTER
    Body, sides and back
    5F, 7F or 4F
    Head, neck and ears
    10
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
    Tail, legs and underbodys
    Scissors
  • IRISH TERRIER
    Body, sides and back
    5, 5F or 7F
    Head, neck and ears
    10
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
    Tail, legs and underbody
    Scissors
  • KEESHOND
    Body - matted
    5F or 7F
    Natural coat
    Scissors
    Short trim
    4
    Head, neck and ears
    10 or 9
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
    Body, sides and tail
    30 with 1" Comb
  • KERRY BLUE TERRIER
    Body, sides, back & tail
    4, 4F or 3F
    Head, neck & ears
    10 or 9
    Legs
    30 with 1" Comb
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • LAKELAND TERRIER
    Body, side and back only
    5
    Tail
    4
    Head, neck and ears
    10
    Legs, chest, beard and eye brows
    30 with 3/4" or 1" Comb
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • LHASA APSO
    Shorter pet trim
    4F
    Matted strip down
    7F or 5F
    Puppy trim
    30 with 1" Comb
    Top of head
    4F or 5F
    Face & tail
    Scissors
    Stomach
    10
  • MALTESE
    Shorter pet trim
    4F or 4
    Matted strip down
    7F or 5F
    Puppy trim
    30 with 1" Comb
    Top of head
    5F
    Face & tail
    Scissors
    Stomach
    10
  • NEWFOUNDLAND
    Matted strip down
    5, 7 or 7F
    Natural coat
    Scissors
    Short cut
    4 or 3
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG
    Shorter pet trim
    4F
    Matted strip down
    5F or 7F
    Puppy trim
    330 with 11/4" Comb
    Head and face
    Scissors
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • PEKINGESE
    Matted coat
    7F
    Short pet trim
    5F or 4F
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • POODLE - Kennel Trim
    Face, feet and base of tail
    15 or 10
    Body and legs
    7F or 5F or 4F
    Top knot & tail piece
    Scissors
    Stomach
    10
  • POODLE - Lamb Trim
    Face, feet and base of tail
    15 or 10
    Body
    5F or 4F
    Legs
    Scissors
    Top knot & tail piece
    Scissors
    Stomach
    10
  • POODLE - Summer Trim (Bikini)
    Face, feet and base of tail
    15 or 10
    Body and legs
    5F or 7F
    Pompoms, top knot & tail pom
    Scissors
    Stomach
    10
  • POODLE - Dutch Trim
    Face, feet and tail
    15 or 10
    Body pattern
    15 or 10
    Body
    30 & 1" Comb
    Pompoms, top knot & tail pom
    Scissors
    Stomach
    10
  • PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
    Short coat
    4F or 4
    Matted strip down
    5F or 7F
    Head and tail
    Scissors
    Body and legs
    30 with 1" Comb
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • SAMOYED
    Matted strip down
    5F or 7F
    Tail
    Scissors
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • SCHNAUZER
    Matted strip down
    5F or 7F
    Body and tail
    7, 5 or 4F
    Legs and furnishings
    Scissors
    Head and ears
    10
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • SCOTTISH TERRIER
    Body, back and sides
    5 or 4
    Head, neck and ears
    10
    Tail
    Scissors or 4F
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • SEALYHAM
    Body, back and sides only
    5
    Head, neck and ears
    10
    Tail
    5
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • SHETLAND SHEEPDOG
    Matted strip down
    5F or 7F
    Long trim
    4 or 3
    Natural coat and tail
    Scissors
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • SHIH TZU
    Short pet trim
    4F
    Matted strip down
    15F or 7F
    Head, ears and tail
    Scissors
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • SILKY TERRIER
    Short pet trim
    4F
    Matted strip down
    5F or 7F
    Head, underbody and tail
    Scissors
    Ears
    10
    Stomach
    10
    Pads
    15
  • SOFT COATED WHEATEN TERRIER
    Body and tail
    3 or 30 with 1" Comb
    Head and ears
    Scissors
    Shorter trim
    4F
    Legs
    30 with 3/4" or 1" Comb
  • WELSH TERRIER
    Body and tail
    7F or 5F
    Head, cheeks, throat and ears
    10
    Legs, Chest, Beard and eyebrows
    30 with 3/4" or 1" Comb
  • WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER
    Body, back and sides
    5F, 4F, 3F
    Tail and underbody
    Scissors
    Head and legs
    30 with 1" Comb
    Ear tips
    10 or 15
  • YORKSHIRE TERRIER
    Matted coat
    7F
    Puppy trim
    30 with 1" Comb
    Short trim
    4F or 3F
    Face
    Scissors
    Ear tips
    10
  • MIXED BREEDS - CURLY COAT
    Body and legs
    4F or 3F
    Face (Poodle style)
    10 or Scissors
    Face (teddy bear style)
    3F or 30 with 3/4" or 1" Comb
    Tail
    Scissors
  • MIXED BREEDS - WIRY COAT
    Body and tail
    7F, 5F, 4F, 3F
    Legs, chest, beard and eyebrows
    3F
    Ears
    10
    Face and eyebrows
    Scissors
  • MIXED BREEDS - SMOOTH COAT
    Matted coat
    7F
    Puppy trim
    30 with 1" Comb
    Short trim
    4F
    Head, face and tail
    Scissors