My favorite tool is the Wahl Peanut. It is a very small trimmer with the power of a full size clipper. It is perfect for trimming the ears, face, paws, and the sanitary area. That is all you really need to do most of the time. Then you can take them in for a professional grooming every few months.
If you are doing it all yourself, I recommend going to a site called petedge.com. It is a wholesale company. As long as you buy over $60 you don't have to pay the surcharge and you can save a lot on supplies.
You will need a good set of clippers, the trimmer, rounded end scissors, and a sharp pair of pointed end scissors as well, a forcep, a good metal comb, a pin brush, a boar's head brush, nail clippers, a hair dryer, and a grooming table with noose is a good idea too (Petedge has a small tabletop one for something like $35). You will also need a good quality shampoo and conditioner, a detangler, and there are all manner of other products you can buy for the coat and to smell good (optional). Towels and washcloths dedicated to your pet is a good idea. I also make sure to have plenty of qtips for the ears handy. I like to get the pads to wipe their eyes too. I use baby wipes a lot for ears, chins and private parts in between bathing. They also have waterless shampoos for in between groomings. A good grooming spray is important for brushing, as dry brushing can cause the hair to break and get fly-away static.
I know that sounds like a lot, but you don't have to get it all at once. You can make do with the main items and gradually add what you need, especially if you are just doing the trims between professional grooming. That is still all I do. I do not even have a good pair of full size clippers. The Wahl Peanut does all I need to do at home. |