Is it safe to cut dog hair with human clippers?
Generally speaking, Woodnutt says it’s best if you use dog clippers to groom your pooch. “Having said that you can use human hair clippers on a dog if you only need them very occasionally for a light job – for instance, to painlessly remove stubborn burrs in your dog’s tail, ears, or ‘trousers’. If you’re going to be regularly grooming your dog at home, it’s sensible to invest in dog hair clippers – they’ll last longer, be easier to use, be less noisy, and be less painful for your dog.”
When using human clippers, you should be as gentle as possible, and stop should the dog be showing any signs of distress. If possible, use the clippers on the lowest possible setting and take plenty of breaks.
Human clippers may make the job more difficult than is necessary, so it’s not only good for your pet that you invest in a dedicated pair, but it’s likely to cause less stress for you too.
Differences Between Dog Clippers and Human Clippers
Before you decide whether to use your occasional hair clippers to trim your dog, consider the following differences. Knowing these differences will help you assess whether human clippers fit your dog’s use.
In human clippers, there are thinner and sharper blades and thinner gaps. This feature is due to human hair being lighter than a dog’s.
Meanwhile, dog clippers come with wide gaps between every tooth – this gap ensures a smoother cutting without getting any fur stuck in the blade. Blades with wide gaps are also called skip-tooth blades. To keep the blades clean and sharp, regularly oil them.
A dog clipper can last longer than a human clipper with less aggressive motors. This feature is helpful since dog grooming takes longer than humans cutting their hair. Aside from this, since the dog clipper’s engine is gentle, it decreases the chances of skin damage and injuries.
Furthermore, a human clipper’s motor is not compatible for prolonged use. Since it is more powerful, it is also more prone to overheating.
Dog clippers have a wide variety of speed options, with the fastest setting reaching 5000 strokes per minute. It is necessary to cut long, thick strands of pet hair rapidly. You may slow down when working on the more delicate parts of the body. Human cutters often do not provide such speed since even the messiest human hair does not require a pace of 5000 to 6000 strokes per minute.
Clippers for human hair provide a short-length cut that is extremely near the scalp. This feature will not cause problems for humans, but it can pose dangers when used in dogs. Bukowski and Aiello (2011) said that dogs have sensitive and delicate skins and can be easily bruised and cut.
Dog clippers are usually lower than 60db. This feature is applied to ensure that dogs will not feel scared or uncomfortable during grooming. Human clippers, having a more powerful motor, tend to be louder and vibrate more.
Moreover, a quieter clipper is crucial since, in the study by Salonen et al. (2020), a large percentage of the dogs they surveyed portrayed signs of noise sensitivity or fear of loud noises.
Another key difference between dog clippers and human clippers is the grooming combs that often come in kits when you purchase a clipper. Each set of combs is based on the needs of the user. A standard dog grooming kit has a variety of comb sizes ranging from 1/16 to 2 inches. Compared to human clipper kits, the comb sizes often don’t give cuts longer than 1 inch.
Human clippers often come with a cord – which is not a major problem for humans. However, in the case of dog grooming, corded clippers might make the job more difficult because some dogs do not sit well during grooming sessions at home or even at the vet’s.
On the other hand, most dog clippers are cordless, allowing the groomers to do their jobs freely despite the dog’s casual movements. Plus, if a dog clipper has a cord, it is longer than corded human clippers.
Are Dog Clippers Similar to Human Clippers?
Hair clippers are used to cut or trim various lengths of hair. Regarding physical appearances, dog clippers and human clippers look identical – but differ in mechanical designs and specific functions.
Human clippers are designed to be compatible with human hair, which is thinner than a dog’s thick coat. Thus, it might not be that effective when you use it to cut a dog’s fur, especially if your dog has double coats.
Moreover, dog clippers have specific features that make trimming hassle-free and more comfortable for both dogs and groomers. For example, since most dogs are sensitive to loud noises and not fond of grooming, dog clippers are quieter, lighter, and more gentle.
Lastly, using the appropriate tool in grooming your dog is safer. Since the blades of a human clipper are more powerful, your dog’s hair might not be able to handle it properly. Now, to broaden your understanding of both clippers’ key differences, we prepared a guide for you.
Can you cut dog hair with human Clippers?
When you’re desperate to get your dog’s hair trimmed, it can be pretty tempting to consider doing it yourself to save money.
At first glance, your dog groomers’ clippers may look pretty close to what you already have at home. The question is, are they the same?
Well, not exactly. Besides similar names and appearances, dog grooming clippers are pretty different from those used for human hair. Like humans, dogs need specific clippers to suit their hair/fur type to avoid snagging the fur or nicking the scalp.
So while human clippers can undoubtedly get the job done, the risk may outweigh the benefits for your furry friend.