Guide · Buying and safety
At-home dog grooming kit checklist
The few tools every dog needs, plus the brushes, combs and powered tools that suit double, curly, long, smooth and wire coats, and what to skip.
Short answer
Every dog needs a nail clipper or grinder, styptic powder, a brush that suits its coat, a pet toothbrush and toothpaste, and a non-slip place to bathe. Everything else depends on the coat: an undercoat rake for double coats, a slicker and metal comb for curly and long coats, a rubber mitt or bristle brush for smooth coats. Buy powered tools only when the coat needs them and your dog tolerates the noise.
The core kit for every dog
- A nail clipper or grinder. AKC's breed pages note that all breeds require regular nail trimming, and VCA says most dogs need a trim about once a month.[1][2] Choose between the two in nail grinder vs nail clipper.
- Styptic powder. VCA says to apply a small amount to a nail that bleeds after a trim; flour or cornstarch can stand in.[2]
- One brush that suits the coat. AAHA says to use the right brush or comb for the coat type and to brush down to the skin.[3] The coat sections below say which.
- A pet toothbrush and pet toothpaste. AAHA calls daily brushing the best way to help reduce plaque, and says never to use human toothpaste.[4]
- A non-slip surface for baths, and towels. Professional standards call for a non-slip tub bottom and water that is neither too hot nor too cold.[5]
Ear cleaner is optional. Cornell says to clean healthy ears only when you can see dirt or debris, and never with cotton swabs.[6]
Add tools by coat family
Not sure which family your dog belongs to? Look it up in the breed grooming finder.
Double coat
Examples: Golden Retriever, German Shepherd Dog, Siberian Husky. Add a slicker brush and, for shedding season, an undercoat rake or deshedding tool; AKC calls slickers excellent for double coats and suggests switching to a rake or shedding tool while the undercoat sheds.[7] Add a metal comb too: AKC recommends a pin brush and metal comb for raking out a Husky's undercoat.[8]
Skip clippers for the body. AKC says shaving a double coat does not eliminate shedding and damages the topcoat.[9] More on double-coat breeds.
Curly coat
Examples: Poodle and doodles. Add a slicker with long pins and a metal comb: AKC says a Poodle in full coat must be brushed and combed to the skin, or it mats near the roots.[10] Long pins are what makers aim at dense coats; Chris Christensen, for one, pitches its 27 mm-pin slicker at Poodles and Doodles.[11] If you keep a short trim at home, add a clipper with guard combs; otherwise plan on a groomer every four to six weeks, as AKC says many Poodle owners do.[10]
Skip bladed deshedding tools. FURminator says its tool should not be used on non-shedding breeds.[12] More on curly-coat breeds.
Long coat
Examples: Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese. Add a pin brush or slicker and a metal comb. AKC advises daily brushing and combing to the skin when these coats are kept long.[13][14] A small paw trimmer helps between grooms.
Never cut mats out with scissors: VCA says to use clippers on mats and to get professional help for severe tangles.[15] More on long-coat breeds.
Smooth coat
Examples: French Bulldog, Beagle, Pug. A medium-bristle brush, rubber mitt or hound glove is enough; AKC suggests weekly brushing with one of these.[16][17] Rakes, slickers and clippers are not part of AKC's advice for these coats. More on smooth-coat breeds.
Wire coat
Example: Miniature Schnauzer. Add a brush and a metal comb for the frequent brushing and combing AKC recommends.[18] Clipping keeps a pet coat neat, but AKC says it eventually softens a wire coat and changes its color and texture, while hand-stripping preserves it.[19] More on wire-coat breeds.
Powered tools: when they earn their place
- Grooming vacuum. For heavy shedders groomed indoors, if your dog tolerates the noise. Suction and noise figures are the maker's claims. See grooming vacuums.
- High-velocity dryer. For thick or long coats you bathe at home. AKC says to use a dryer designed for dogs, where airflow rather than heat does the drying, never a human hair dryer.[20] See dog dryers.
- Clippers. For curly coats and other coats you trim at home. Budget for blade oil, spare blades and guard combs. See clippers and blades.
For any plug-in tool, choose a variant labeled 110-120 V with a US plug; standard US outlets are 120 V.[21] In Canada, Health Canada says to look for a CSA, cUL or cETL mark on the product itself.[22]
What to skip entirely
- Home dental scalers. AAHA says scaling must be done by trained veterinary staff on an anesthetized pet, and that scaling without anesthesia is cosmetic.[23]
- Scissors for mats. VCA says to use clippers, never scissors, on mats.[24]
- Cotton swabs for ears. Cornell says they push debris deeper.[6]
- A human hair dryer. AKC says to use one designed for dogs.[20]
Questions
What grooming tools does every dog need?
A nail clipper or grinder with styptic powder, one brush that suits the coat, a pet toothbrush and pet toothpaste, and a non-slip place to bathe. AKC notes that all breeds require regular nail trimming, and AAHA says never to use human toothpaste.[1][4]
Do I need clippers for a double-coated dog?
Not for the body. AKC advises against shaving double coats: it does not stop shedding and it damages the topcoat. A slicker, an undercoat rake and a comb do the routine work.[9][7]
Is a low-shedding dog easier to groom?
Often not. AAHA says dogs with continuously growing hair, such as Poodles and Shih Tzus, need regular grooming, and AKC says a full Poodle coat must be brushed and combed to the skin or it mats near the roots.[3][10]
Should I buy a dog dryer or a grooming vacuum first?
They do different jobs. AKC explains that a high-velocity dryer blows water out of a wet coat; a grooming vacuum collects loose hair as you brush or clip. Buy the one your coat and routine need, if either. See dog dryer vs grooming vacuum.[20]
My dog is a mixed breed. How do I choose tools?
Go by the coat you can see, not the breed label. A soft, dense undercoat under longer, coarser outer hair calls for double-coat tools; tight curls that keep growing call for a slicker, a comb and regular clipping. The breed grooming finder groups breeds by coat family.[25]