My Annie had issues with loud noises. So knowing that, whenever I used the dryer or clippers on her, I would put a cotton ball in her ears to help muffle the noise. Gracie seems freaked by the vibration, so I don't think cotton balls will help with that.
So far I've only trimmed her ear tips. But I started by have the clippers off letting her sniff them and rubbing them on her. Then turning them on and letting her sniff and then rubbing them on her using the backside of the clippers, not the blade side, so that she would get use to the feel. Then finally doing a little clip then back off, more rubbing then clip a little more. And of course a lot of treats and praise all throughout to try and keep it positive.
Hope that helps give you some ideas to try. Oh and with Gracie, since she is only 5 mo old, I do that kind of grooming after a long walk so that her energy level was lower. There was no need to walk Annie first, if her energy level got any lower she wouldn't have been able to stand during the clipping.
