10 Best Golden Retriever Dog Hair Clippers + Our Grooming Tips and Tricks

Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in America. They rank number three on the American Kennel Club’s list of most popular dogs, and it’s easy to see why. These loveable, sturdy, and intelligent dogs have beautiful coats that their owners love to show off, and they make great family pets too.

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The kind of popularity goldens see coupled with their intense shedding makes it obvious why owners need to look for their dogs’ best hair clippers. Although you don’t need to cut their hair often if you brush them weekly or daily during high shedding times, it can help to lighten your load as a home groomer to do so.
In this article, we will discuss the following in detail:

  • Types of clippers and blades to use on your Golden Retriever’s fur
  • Our picks for the seven best hair clippers for Goldens in 2023
  • Tips for grooming your Golden
  • Frequently asked questions about the process

When you finish reading, we’re sure you’ll have the best sense of which clippers to choose for your Golden Retriever and how to get started grooming your dog without professional help.

Different Types of Clippers and Blades

Clippers

There are lots of different types of clippers on the market, but not all of them are created equal. Some things that make clippers better than others are as follows:

  • Blade quality
  • Precision
  • Speed
  • Heat prevention
  • Longevity

Pet Trimmers for Golden Retrievers

Pet trimmers and pet clippers are different things, even though even industry professionals often use them interchangeably. Pet trimmers are smaller options that we recommend for smaller and more precise work, where clippers will work best for the whole dog. Trimmers are fine if you plan to do only precision cuts on your Golden like trimming stray hairs or cleaning up paws.

You should never use human hair clippers or trimmers on your dog because the manufacturers of human products don’t build them for dog hair density or the way dog hair grows. Human hair and dog hair are vastly different things, so it’s best to stick with dog-specific products.

Corded Clippers for Golden Retrievers

Corded clippers are more powerful than cordless options, especially for dogs like the Golden Retriever with thicker hair and more of it. If you used a cordless option on your Golden, you would likely end up having to charge it before you finish grooming, and that’s no fun to deal with when you’ve got your space all set up.

Cordless Clippers for Golden Retrievers

Cordless clippers are an excellent option if you want to groom your dog outside or only do touch-ups because they are usually less powerful than their corded counterparts. Cordless options are sometimes more precise than corded clippers, but not always. It’s best to look at the size and blade quality before making a decision.

Blades

The right blade can make or break your experience with your clippers, especially if you choose a blade that is too short or too long for your dog’s fur. For a Golden Retriever, professionals recommend going with a size 5F and 7F for various parts of the dog’s body to keep the hair to a Golden’s breed standard.

It’s essential to note that almost all blades for the most popular brands are interchangeable. Oster, Wahl, and Andis blades are 100% alike, but you should always double-check with off brands or brands that focus on larger animals like horses. The standard blade size is typically a #10, but other size options are readily available.

You’ll want to ensure that your blade is specific to what you need to do to your dog. For instance, there are edging blades that can help you make precision cuts where the ears meet the head or where the rear legs meet the body, but those won’t be an excellent option for the middle of a dog’s belly or back. For Golden’s, however, they are ideal.

Blades get hot no matter what you do, so if you aren’t using a blade guard, which we highly recommend you do as a non-professional, you will need to keep blade coolant on hand. To test if your blade is too hot for your dog, press the blade to the inside of your forearm. This area of your arm is more sensitive to temperature than other regions and most comparable to your dog’s skin.

Tips for Determining the Best Possible Clipper and Blade for Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers, like all dog breeds, have an undeniable look about them. Part of that look for Goldens is their thick, smooth fur. Although their fur can be wavy or straight, all Golden’s have a waterproof topcoat and dense undercoat that can make trimming them at home a struggle.

You’ll want to ensure that you have clippers that can handle thicker fur, and preferably can move at varying speeds. You’ll want faster speeds for dense areas like your Golden Retriever’s neck and chest, but you can use slower and more deliberate speeds for their paws and faces if necessary.

Because Golden’s have long, thick fur, you’ll want to ensure that you have a long enough blade. Standard #10 blades are okay, but you won’t want anything shorter than that, and longer blade options like a #7 would be ideal for most of your dog’s coat. Important note: shorter, in the case of clipper blades, is a higher numbered blade like a #15 or a #30.

Your primary concern with your Golden is trimming the hair on their feet and trimming stray hairs because doing more will definitely interfere with the overall look and breed standard of a Golden Retriever. You will want to get a clipper set that has precision abilities to ensure that you can get the most natural look with the least amount of trouble while you trim.

Our 2023 Picks: Best Hair Clippers for Golden Retrievers

Overall Best Dog Clippers for Golden Retrievers

Oster Golden A5 Two-Speed Animal Grooming Clippers

The Oster Golden A5 Two-Speed Animal Grooming Clippers are ideal for Golden Retrievers because they are as powerful as they are quiet and can tackle the toughest and thickest of fur. These clippers are ultra-durable. They have a detachable blade system for versatility and feature higher strokes per minute than other similar clippers.

The Oster Golden A5 also comes in a variety of fun designs to ensure you have a good time while you’re trimming up your Golden. These clippers come with a standard #10 CryogenX detachable blade, but you can easily purchase other options that will work better for your dog.

Pros

  • Dual speed technology
  • Takes on dense hair well
  • Detachable blade system
  • Fun colors and designs available

Cons

  • Blade gets hot quickly because of high speeds
  • Some customers find Oster blades to be less reliable than other brands

6 More Top-Rated Grooming Clippers for Golden Retrievers

Andis Excel Five-Speed Detachable Blade Pet Clipper

There is so much variety with the Andis Excel Five-Speed Detachable Pet Clipper. You can go slow to keep your blades cool while working around your dog’s sensitive areas or for precision cuts, or you can crank up the speed for a lovely and smooth coat finish as well. These clippers allow you to choose what you need for speed and blades with their detachable blade system.

The CeramicEdge blade on these clippers stays more relaxed than most other steel blades naturally, but you’ll still want to double-check the temperature against your skin occasionally. The anti-slip grip will amp up the safety of do-it-yourself grooming as well. Plus, these clippers come in two fun colors for your enjoyment.

Pros

  • Five speeds for precision cuts up to seamless coats
  • CeramicEdge blade for cooler blade temperatures
  • Detachable blade system
  • Quieter than other Andis models

Cons

  • Pricey
  • The ceramic blade can have a tough time on super thick spots

Wahl Professional Animal Bravura Lithium Clipper

Not only does the Wahl Professional Animal Bravura Lithium Clipper come in a wide variety of colors to fit your personality, but it also offers 90 minutes of use on a single charge. Plus, it’s cordless, so the pesky cord doesn’t get in your way as you trim your pet. These clippers feature 5-in-1 blade technology that allows you versatility without having to swap out blades manually.

These clippers run quietly, but that doesn’t mean they cut down on power or increase your maintenance. Wahl is a well-known brand for trimmers and clippers for all creatures, great and small, and they do a great job of giving you everything you need in this clipper package, including guide combs, brushes, and a soft case.

Pros

  • Lots of inclusions like storage case, charge and stand station, blade oil, and more
  • Loads of color options
  • 5-in-1 blade technology
  • 90 minutes of run time

Cons

  • Blades can pop off mid-use
  • Guards are brutal to remove

Wahl Arco Cordless Pet Clipper Kit

The Wahl Arco Cordless Pet Clipper Kit is ideal for doing precision trimming all over your dog’s body, but not for cutting its whole coat since Golden Retrievers are so large. The charge time on this cordless trimmer and the power it provides would likely both prove too weak to cut the hair on your whole dog.

Since most Golden’s don’t require full-body trimming, we still think the Arco is an excellent cordless option. It has 5-in-1 blade technology to help you cut at various lengths and thicknesses all over your Golden Retriever with ease, which is ideal when you’re just cleaning up stray hairs here and there.

Pros

  • 5-in-1 blade technology
  • Ideal for precision cuts and edging
  • Includes rechargeable battery packs, guide combs, a blade cleaner, and more

Cons

  • Not super powerful
  • Doesn’t typically hold a charge for a full hour or more as claimed

Andis UltraEdge Super 2-Speed

With the Andis UltraEdge Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper, you’ll get an excellent, smooth cut without much noise at all. This clipper runs ultra-quietly to please any animal, even the most easily upset. The blade doesn’t heat up quickly like many other clippers on the market, but it works at top speeds of 3400 or 4400spm.

This clipper has detachable blades so that you can purchase alternative options from the #10 it comes with and choose a size that fits the needs of your Golden instead. You won’t need to regularly do maintenance on this machine either, which is a bonus since that is a requirement of several other professional models.

Pros

  • Low maintenance
  • High speeds for a smooth finish
  • Detachable blades for versatility

Cons

  • Blade guards don’t guarantee the cut length they advertise
  • Might not be powerful enough for the thickest parts of your dog’s coat

Wahl Motion Lithium Ion Pet Clipper

Another Wahl product on our list isn’t surprising given the brand’s excellent reputation. This clipper is a simple clipper option for those of you who are looking for precision cuts on the feet or face of your dog or who want to focus on finishing work. The Motion clipper is not ideal for doing the whole coat or thicker areas of your Golden because of its single speed setting availability.

Wahl is great at providing all the add-ons that you’ll need like a charging stand, a scissor grip handle, various guard sizes, and a carrying case with their products. The addition of these add-ons adds ease of use to their products over other similar brands.

Pros

  • Works wonders on feet, faces, and finish work
  • 90-minute run time with an only a 45-minute charge
  • Lots of add ons like a scissor grip handle and charging stand

Cons

  • Not powerful enough for a whole coat
  • Only one-speed setting

Oster Power Max 2-Speed Pet Clipper

The second Oster brand clipper makes our list certainly lives up to the same standards as our number one pick. The Oster Power Max 2-Speed pet clipper is an excellent option for all types of coats and will work wonders on every area of your Golden Retriever. The two speeds allow you to do precision trimming and smoothing work with the same tool.

The design of this clipper is lightweight and ergonomic to help ease the burden of grooming your dog. It features a detachable blade system that works with all Wahl and Andis blades as well. The included #10 blades are antibacterial-coated, so it won’t cause problems on your dog’s skin as you use it.

Pros

  • Detachable blade system
  • Antibacterial-coated blade included
  • Two speeds
  • Works on all types of fur

Cons

  • Doesn’t come with guards
  • Can be a bit noisy for some more squeamish pets

Oster Pro Trimmer with Tug-Free T-Blade Pet Clipper

The Oster Pro Trimmer with Tug-Free T-Blade Pet Clipper is an excellent option if you’re on a budget and just want to trim the paws and face of your Golden regularly. This clipper isn’t the type you’d use for an all-over body trim, but it will work fine to do smaller precision cuts on occasion.

The blade on this trimmer is tug free to help ensure that you won’t pull your dog’s hair as you trim. The motor is also extra quiet.

Pros:

  • Compact and portable
  • Inexpensive
  • Ring-finger loop for added control

Cons:

  • Not ideal for thick fur
  • Too small and fragile for anything but precision trims

Wahl Pocket Pro Cordless Dog & Cat Trimmer

If you’re looking for a smaller trimmer option versus a standard clipper, then the Wahl Pocket Pro Cordless Dog & Cat Trimmer is a great option. It’s not ideal to cut the full body of your Golden, but it’s perfect for precision cutting on feet, faces, and tails, which is all you should need on a Golden Retriever.

Pros:

  • Small and easy to take along
  • Comes with blade guards
  • Ergonomic design

Cons:

  • Less than powerful
  • Motor can burn out on larger scale projects

Andis Versa Pet Clipper Kit

Although this clipper kit is primarily aimed at small to medium-sized breeds, we think it’s a great option for precision cutting a Golden Retriever as well. It comes with all you need to start grooming at home, including a DVD with step-by-step instructions on how to groom your pet. It also includes scissors and blade guards.

Pros:

  • Full system including how-to DVD
  • Safeguard combs
  • Comfortable design

Cons:

  • Loud compared to other machines
  • Gets hot very quickly

7 Tips to Using Clippers on a Golden Retriever

There is no magic formula we can give you to get the perfect cut on your golden every time, but we do have some tips to help make the process a little easier on everyone involved.

  1. How to get started: You should always wash, dry, and brush your dog before starting the clipping process to ensure there are no knots, ticks, or other unpleasantries present.
  2. Quiet is critical: Many dogs are frightened when they hear loud noises, so using loud clippers on them is not ideal. Try out a variety of options before you buy so that you can get clippers that won’t put your dog into panic mode.
  3. Keep your clippers sharp: Golden Retrievers have long hair, and that means that clippers can easily pull it and hurt your pup if you don’t keep your blades sharp at all times. Check after every grooming session to see if blades need sharpening.
  4. Cut in the direction of hair growth: You’ve probably noticed that your dog’s hair grows in multiple directions, depending on where it is on the body. Take your time when grooming to ensure that you are cutting with the hair growth direction to avoid injuring your dog or having an odd or unnatural look.
  5. Trim and clip your dog like a professional: It might behoove you to head to a professional groomer once before starting your at-home grooming to get the best tips and tricks for your specific dog. You’ll want to ask which blades they use for your dog, where they start and stop their cutting, and how to avoid getting too close to your dog’s skin.
  6. Start at an early age: The sooner you start grooming at home, the more likely your dog will get used to it and let it happen easily as he or she grows older. Keep your routine the same so that your dog knows what’s coming, but ensure it’s a nice bonding process for you both and not a scary or aggressive experience for your dog.
  7. Use treats to your advantage: Honestly, Golden’s love treats the same, if not more, as other dogs, so using their love of goodies to your advantage is a smart move. Some people fill KONGs or other toys for their dogs to enjoy while grooming them, and others just provide prizes after grooming. Figure out what’s right for you and your dog.

FAQs

Can I use human beauty products on my Golden Retriever?

No! Please don’t use human products on your dog because there are many substances in standard beauty products toxic to animals of all kinds. You should always use dog-specific beauty products like shampoos and conditioners, and always ask your veterinarian or a professional groomer before you buy.

If hair or other foreign objects end up in my dog’s eyes while I groom, how do I remove them safely?

The answer is that you don’t remove them at all. You should immediately notify your vet if foreign objects get into your dog’s eyes or lodged elsewhere on their bodies. A vet is the only one qualified to either remove the objects or walk you through how to do so on your own. Please don’t panic, but do ensure you get your dog the proper care it needs.

Can I use regular home-use scissors to cut my dog’s hair, or do I need to pay for expensive grooming scissors?

The reason we recommend grooming scissors is for your dog’s safety. Scissors are sharp, and dogs of all breeds are not keen on sitting still for the grooming process. Golden Retrievers are particularly prone to distractions and trying to escape grooming, which means they are particularly vulnerable to being accidentally stabbed when they try to jolt away while you cut with scissors.

So, although you can use household scissors on your dog, you may want to opt for a safer alternative.

Conclusion

Finding the right hair clippers for your Golden Retriever can feel daunting. Still, if you do your research on proper grooming techniques and ask for professional insight, then you are on the right track to a successful at-home grooming experience.

Remember, Golden Retrievers don’t need too much clipping. They need their paws trimmed and their stray hairs taken care of, but other than that they can largely go without full-body trimming.

Our overall favorite hair clippers for Golden Retrievers are the Oster Golden A5 Two-Speed Animal Grooming Clippers. Still, any of the options we’ve listed in this article will do the trick for you, so make sure you buy within your budget and ability. We know you’re bound to love at least one of the options on our list.

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