Can You Use Horse Clippers On Dogs?

It came time to groom the dog recently.

On the day I was set to do it, I realized as I was about to start that our dog clippers had broken last time we groomed him.

I’d meant to go out and get a replacement but totally forgot.

It occurred to me that I did have horse clippers out at the stable, and I wondered whether they would work just the same.

It seemed logical to think they would, so I decided to do some quick research and find out.

So, can you use horse clippers on dogs?

Yes, you absolutely can. Horse clippers are a lot bigger and more powerful than dog clippers, so exercise natural caution. But it is totally safe, and if anything will get the job done more quickly. It may not get the job done as smoothly, so it can depend on if you want a good job or a quick job.

There’s nothing unsafe about using horse clippers on dogs, as long as you are appropriately cautious.

As I said, though, it might not do a particularly clean job, so think about what you want before you go ahead with it.

It’s certainly better than going ungroomed!

Let’s look further into this question.

Is there a difference between horse clippers and dog clippers?

The only functional difference is the power of the motor.

Horse clippers, obviously, are much bigger and more powerful since they’re designed for a much bigger animal.

Dog clippers don’t usually differ that much from human clippers, and usually are powered by motors between 5 and 15 watts.

They’re not very powerful but they are more than adequate for the job.

Horse clippers are much bigger and will start at least 120 watts in an ordinary horse clipper.

So, if you were trying it the other way around, to clip a horse with a dog clipper—forget it! It would take days.

This is really the only major difference.

They will take on different shapes to adapt to the different grooves and contours of dogs and horses, but the function is basically identical.

One, as you might expect, is just a lot more powerful to accommodate the horse’s extra bulk.

So, what size of clippers should you use on a dog?

It can be really confusing to know for those of us who’ve never cut our own hair, or anything’s for that matter.

What size clippers do you use on a dog?

The simple answer is that it really depends on a lot of factors.

The most obvious is what breed of dog you have.

Variation in the amount of hair that dogs have is about as diverse as it could possibly be, and this will have a big effect on your choice of clipper size.

You’ve also got to think about weather conditions.

This is the main reason people tend to shave their dogs at certain times of the year.

Winter coats can take a long time shedding sometimes, and your dog could be overheating in the warm weather under its thick coat.

Equally, if the season is very cold, you shouldn’t shave your dog too much if it seems comfortable, or it could get too cold.

The way hair clippers work is that each blade is assigned a number.

In humans, the lower the number of the blade, the shorter the cut.

In dog clippers and horse clippers, it’s usually the other way around: higher numbers are a shorter cut.

So, do your research and decide what length of coat your dog needs, and find the appropriate size blade.

What dog breeds should not be shaved?

There are many double-coated breeds of dog that should never be shaved.

This applies to many breeds that originated in the frozen north, like malamutes and huskies.

These dogs are acclimatised to very cold environments, and they actually have two coats.

If you shave them, the coats will never grow back properly.

Just let them shed naturally when it comes to summertime.

There are many other breeds that are also double-coated and should not be shaved.

Golden retrievers, German shepherds and Newfoundlands.

No matter the time of year, your double-coated dog should never be shaved.

Single coated dogs have one coat that continuously grows.

Double coated have two that serve different functions, and when cut, do not grow back in as they should.

So don’t shave any of these breeds.

Horse clippers will get the job done, no doubt.

It might not be the prettiest job in the world, but then I’m sure your dog won’t mind! It will just be happy to have its long coat trimmed for warmer weather.

Whether to use horse clippers or buy a separate clipper for your dog really depends on your needs, and what kind of dog you have.

If you’ve got a greyhound, you probably won’t be able to cut much of its hair with a horse clipper