A good dog grooming kit doesn't need to be big or expensive. Most dogs can be kept comfortable and tidy at home with a brush that suits their coat, a metal comb, a pair of nail clippers and a dog shampoo. If your dog has a coat that keeps growing, such as a poodle cross, a cocker spaniel or a shih tzu, you can add clippers, comb guides and a pair of safety scissors and do the trims yourself between groomer visits.
This guide goes through each piece of kit and which dogs need it, with a checklist near the end and some pointers if you're buying a kit as a Christmas present.
Table of contents
Start with your dog's coat
The right kit depends almost entirely on the coat. The Royal Kennel Club says short-coated breeds such as Staffordshire bull terriers only need light grooming two or three times a week, while medium and long-coated breeds such as border collies and golden retrievers may need brushing as often as once a day to stop knots and mats forming.
It helps to put your dog into one of these rough groups before you buy anything:
Short, smooth coats (Staffies, whippets, boxers) need a soft bristle brush or rubber brush and not much else. Heavy shedders with short coats, like Labradors, also benefit from an undercoat rake.
Double coats (German shepherds, huskies, golden retrievers, border collies) have a dense undercoat that sheds heavily in spring and autumn. An undercoat rake and a slicker brush do most of the work. These coats generally shouldn't be clipped short, which we cover in our guide to clipping double-coated dogs.
Long, silky or curly coats (shih tzus, cockapoos, labradoodles, poodles) tangle easily and keep growing, so they need daily or near-daily brushing, a good comb, and regular trims with clippers and scissors.
Wire coats (border terriers, schnauzers, wire-haired pointers) can be hand stripped with a stripping knife to keep the coat neat. Our guide to hand stripping explains how it works.
If you're not sure which group your dog fits, a groomer or your breeder can tell you, and our dogs by breed collection groups kit by breed.
The basic dog grooming kit every owner needs
A brush that suits the coat
A slicker brush, which has fine angled wire pins, is the most useful brush for most medium, long, curly and wire coats. It lifts out loose hair and works through small tangles. Use it with a light hand, because pressing hard can scratch the skin. Short-coated dogs are better suited to a bristle brush or a rubber brush, which removes loose hair and dirt without dragging.
Masterclip's double-sided slicker and bristle brush has long rubber-coated pins on one side and firm bristles on the other, which covers a lot of dogs with one tool. You'll find it with the rest of our brushes in dog grooming accessories.
A metal comb
A comb shows whether your brushing has worked. After brushing a section, run a metal comb through it down to the skin. If it snags, there's still a tangle. A combination comb, with wider teeth at one end and finer teeth at the other, handles most coats. Pay attention to the places mats like to hide: behind the ears, under the legs and around the collar.
The PDSA advises owners not to try to tackle mats at home. If a mat is tight against the skin, it's safer to have a groomer or your vet remove it than to cut at it with scissors.
Nail clippers
Many dogs wear their nails down on walks, but plenty don't, especially smaller dogs, older dogs and dogs that mostly walk on grass. The Royal Kennel Club says a sure sign nails need trimming is that they touch the ground when your dog is standing. Check the dew claws too, as they don't touch the ground and can grow round into the skin.
Use proper dog nail clippers. The PDSA warns that scissors and human nail clippers can squash a dog's nail and make it split. Cut a few millimetres away from the quick, which is the pink part inside the nail that contains blood vessels and nerves. It's easy to see in pale nails and much harder in dark ones, so take off a little at a time. If a nail does bleed, the PDSA suggests dipping it in cornflour or holding cotton wool on it until it stops. Masterclip's nail clippers come in small and large sizes and have a safety stop to help you avoid taking too much.
Dog shampoo and a good towel
Most dogs don't need bathing often. The Royal Kennel Club recommends bathing only when it's needed, for example after rolling in something or a very muddy walk, because bathing too much can cause skin problems. When you do bath your dog, use a shampoo made for dogs. Human shampoo isn't designed for the pH of dogs' skin and can irritate it.
A microfibre towel takes a lot of water out of the coat quickly, which cuts down drying time and is handy after wet walks as well. If you plan to clip your dog, make sure they're completely dry and brushed out first, because clippers don't run cleanly through damp or tangled hair. Our guide to bathing your dog goes through it step by step, and you can browse our dog shampoos.
A dog toothbrush and toothpaste
Adding clippers and scissors for home trims
Dog clippers
For trimming the body, choose clippers made for dog grooming rather than a small trimmer, which is meant for touch-ups. Masterclip's Pedigree, PRO and MAX dog clippers take A5 blades, the most common clipper blade fitting, so you can swap blades quickly and choose from a wide range of cutting lengths. A number 10 blade is the usual starting blade. It cuts close, so it's used for neat areas such as the feet, face and the hygiene area under the tail rather than for the whole body.
You'll then need to decide between mains and cordless. Mains clippers never run out of charge, while cordless clippers are easier to handle around a wriggly dog and don't trail a lead. Our guide to choosing the best dog clippers covers the differences in detail, or see our full range of dog clippers.
Comb guides
Scissors
Scissors tidy the bits clippers can't reach neatly, such as around the eyes, ears and paw pads. For home grooming, start with a pair of bull nose safety scissors. The rounded tips make them much safer to use near the face. As you get more confident, thinning scissors help blend clipped and longer areas, and curved scissors make it easier to shape round feet and heads. Our guide to dog grooming scissors explains each type, and the full range is in dog grooming scissors.
Dog grooming kit checklist
| Kit | Who needs it |
|---|---|
| Brush suited to the coat (slicker, bristle or rubber) | Every dog |
| Metal comb | Every dog with a medium, long, curly or wire coat |
| Dog nail clippers | Every dog |
| Dog shampoo and a microfibre towel | Every dog |
| Dog toothbrush and toothpaste | Every dog |
| Dog clippers with a number 10 blade | Dogs with coats that keep growing |
| Comb guides | Anyone clipping the body at home |
| Bull nose safety scissors | Anyone trimming the face, ears and feet |
| Undercoat rake | Double-coated and heavy-shedding dogs |
| Stripping knife | Wire-coated dogs |
Home dog grooming kits and professional dog grooming kits
A home dog grooming kit covers what one dog needs between groomer visits. A professional dog grooming kit is built for clipping several dogs a day, so it usually includes clippers that can run for long periods, spare batteries or blades, and a bigger set of comb guides and scissors.
If you're starting from scratch with one dog, buying a ready-made set is often the simplest option. Masterclip's Mains Powered ESSENTIALS Home Grooming Starter Pack includes the Pedigree dog clipper fitted with a number 10 blade, four metal comb guides, a slicker brush, bull nose scissors, a combination comb and a bottle of clipper oil, all in a carry case. For more frequent clipping, or for a groomer starting out, the professional dog clippers collection includes cordless groomer packs.
Buying a dog grooming kit as a Christmas present
A grooming kit is a practical present for a new dog owner. Find out the breed or coat type first, as a kit for a cockapoo looks very different from one for a Labrador. If the person has never clipped a dog before, a starter set with safety scissors and comb guides is a gentler way in than a full professional setup. For more ideas, see our Christmas pet grooming gift guide.
For a new puppy, the Royal Kennel Club advises getting them used to handling and brushing early, little and often. Our puppy grooming guide can help.
Looking after your grooming kit
Frequently asked questions
What should be in a dog grooming kit?
At a minimum, a brush that suits your dog's coat, a metal comb, dog nail clippers, a dog shampoo and a dog toothbrush. Dogs with coats that keep growing also need clippers, comb guides and safety scissors.
What is the best dog grooming kit for beginners?
A starter set with clippers, comb guides, a slicker brush, a comb and bull nose safety scissors gives you everything for a basic home trim without buying each piece separately. Comb guides and safety scissors are the parts that make home grooming more forgiving while you learn.
Do I need clippers to groom my dog at home?
Not always. Short-coated and double-coated dogs usually only need brushing, nail trims and the occasional bath. Clippers are for dogs whose hair keeps growing, such as poodles, poodle crosses and shih tzus.
Can I use human clippers or scissors on my dog?
It's best not to. Human hair clippers aren't designed for dog coats, and dog clippers take blades made for the job. The PDSA warns against using human nail clippers or scissors on dogs' nails because they can split them. Bull nose safety scissors are much safer than household scissors near the face.
