Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Nia Perkins
Veterinarian, DVM
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Nia Perkins
Veterinarian, DVM
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
If you’ve got a fluffy dog with a lot of hair, you know how expensive trips to a groomer can be. Buying your own scissors and learning to groom yourself is a much more affordable option. While it takes some time to get the hang of it, you’ll be able to trim your dog in no time!
Like any other skill, having the right tools can make a world of difference. There isn’t one perfect pair of scissors, but here are eight of our favorite options.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Master Grooming Tools Titanium Straight Pet Grooming Shears
Good mid-length shear for all-purpose grooming
Handles designed for comfort
Dialed tension
Check Price
Best Value
Kenchii Show Gear Curved Ball Tip Shears
Stainless steel construction
Adjustable assembly
Curved design
Check Price
Premium Choice
Precise Cut Dahlia Curved Dog Shears
High-quality steel blades
Ergonomic design
Hand-finished and tested
Check Price
Best for Puppies
ConairPro Dog Rounded-tip Shears
Rounded tips for safety
Lightweight
Low price
Check Price
Sharf Gold Touch Rainbow Curved Pet Grooming Shears
Curved-blade scissors
Removable rubber rings
Stainless steel
Check Price
The 8 Best Dog Grooming Shears
If you want a good all-around pair of grooming scissors, try the Master Grooming Tools Titanium Straight Pet Grooming Shears. We found these shears to be the best overall for all-purpose growing. Their 6.5-inch blade is a happy medium that will be comfortable on smaller or larger dogs. These shears feature high-quality construction, with titanium-coated steel blades that are hypoallergenic and durable. The shears feature removable finger rests and silencers to make clipping more comfortable for you and your dog, as well as adjustable tension for perfect control.
Check Price on Chewy
Of course, no pair of shears is going to be perfect at everything. The straight blade makes it easier to get a trim in tight areas, but it does make your dog’s body fur even. The blade is also large enough to make detail work difficult, especially on small dogs.
Pros
Good mid-length shear for all-purpose grooming
Handles designed for comfort
Dialed tension
Removable finger rests and silencers
Cons
Straight blade makes smooth curves harder
Large blade can make detail work difficult
We love the Kenchii Show Gear Curved Ball Tip Shears for their great price and great construction. These stainless-steel shears have a slightly curved blade that makes it easier to cut around the curves of your dog’s body and ball tips that increase safety for your dog, making it harder to accidentally cut. The flat-screw assembly makes it easy to adjust the tension. These shears also feature soft ring inserts and finger rest that can be added to make your scissors more comfortable for you.
Good mid-length shear for all-purpose grooming
Handles designed for comfort
Dialed tension
Removable finger rests and silencers
- Good mid-length shear for all-purpose grooming
- Handles designed for comfort
- Dialed tension
- Removable finger rests and silencers
Straight blade makes smooth curves harder
Large blade can make detail work difficult
- Straight blade makes smooth curves harder
- Large blade can make detail work difficult
Although we loved these shears and thought they were great for the price, there are a few drawbacks. Some reviewers online reported that even with the adjustable tension, these had a higher resistance than they preferred. These shears will also last longer than a cheap pair of scissors, but they won’t last if some of the other shears on this list.
Pros
Stainless steel construction
Adjustable assembly
Curved design
Soft ring inserts
Cons
Higher resistance
Medium lifespan
If you want a high-quality pair of scissors that will last through wear and tear, Precise Cut Dahlia Curved Dog Shears are a great premium choice. These scissors have a longer blade (7.5 or 8.5 inches) that has a gentle curve to make getting around your dog’s body easier and leaves you with a smooth finish. The longer blade does mean they are less ideal for tight finishes or smaller dogs. They are built with offset thumbs, and removable finger rests that increase comfort on your end. Their design is lightweight and well-balanced to minimize strain on you and make them a joy to use. Reviews of other Precise Cut products show that the brand has a reputation for being easy to sharpen as well.
Stainless steel construction
Adjustable assembly
Curved design
Soft ring inserts
- Stainless steel construction
- Adjustable assembly
- Curved design
- Soft ring inserts
Higher resistance
Medium lifespan
- Higher resistance
- Medium lifespan
Pros
High-quality steel blades
Ergonomic design
Hand-finished and tested
Removable finger inserts
Cons
Larger sizes only
Do you have a wiggly puppy with an unruly coat? The ConairPro Dog Rounded-tip Shears are a great choice for grooming puppies because of their small size and rounded tips. These shears come in three sizes, for small, medium, and large breeds. Their rounded tips make them less likely to cause cuts or injuries to your dog, even if he wiggles. As your puppy grows up, these can “graduate” into finishing shears for fine details like around the eyes and paw pads. Reviewers also say they’re lightweight and comfortable.
High-quality steel blades
Ergonomic design
Hand-finished and tested
Removable finger inserts
- High-quality steel blades
- Ergonomic design
- Hand-finished and tested
- Removable finger inserts
Larger sizes only
- Larger sizes only
Although we love these shears, be warned that they are made for finishing work, which means that they can’t take as much hair in one snip—especially the five-inch option. That means a longer haircut for you and your pup. You might be tempted to size up to avoid it, but the smaller scissors also help you to cut with precision. These scissors are also quite cheap. They are unlikely to hold up to years of wear like more expensive scissors would.
Pros
Perfect size for small dogs or fine details
Rounded tips for safety
Lightweight
Low price
Cons
Less durable
Small blade means slow trimming
Sharf Gold Touch Rainbow Pet Grooming Shears are a great option that will last well over time—plus, they come in a shimmering finish that’s sure to make you smile. These shears have a gentle curve that can help with going over the curves of your dog’s body. Curved scissors take some getting used to, but in the end, they will help you cut faster and more evenly.
Perfect size for small dogs or fine details
Rounded tips for safety
Lightweight
Low price
- Perfect size for small dogs or fine details
- Rounded tips for safety
- Lightweight
- Low price
Less durable
Small blade means slow trimming
- Less durable
- Small blade means slow trimming
The handles feature removable rubber rings that help with finger fatigue over time. These are a slightly more expensive option, so if your dog doesn’t need frequent grooming, they might not be worth the money.
Pros
Curved-blade scissors for shaping around your dog’s body
Removable rubber rings and ergonomic handles
Stainless steel that will last over time
Cons
More expensive option
- Kenchii Show Gear Curved Dog & Cat Shears Check Latest Price
Length 4.5”, 5.5”, 6.5”, 7”, and 8”
Blade Type Curved
Kenchii has a reputation for excellence, and even their basic scissors hold up to that, according to the reviews. These scissors come at an affordable price to get you more bang for your buck and five sizes, letting you choose what you need. The curved blade helps you cut along the curves of your dog’s body and makes cutting faster and more even. These scissors also come with removable ring inserts and finger rests. Although the curved option can be tricky to get used to and is less useful for fine detail work, these scissors are still a great investment.
Curved-blade scissors for shaping around your dog’s body
Removable rubber rings and ergonomic handles
Stainless steel that will last over time
- Curved-blade scissors for shaping around your dog’s body
- Removable rubber rings and ergonomic handles
- Stainless steel that will last over time
More expensive option
- More expensive option
Pros
Affordable price
Lots of sizes available
Removable ring inserts and finger rests
Cons
Curved option only
Medium lifespan
- Loyalty Pets Starter Straight Shears Check Latest Price
Length 7” and 8”
Blade Type Straight
If you have a medium or large dog and want a good all-in-one pair of shears to make grooming easy, the Loyalty Pets Starter Straight Shears are a great choice. These shears are a little on the longer end, with a choice between a blade that is seven or eight inches, making them less ideal for small dogs. Despite that, these shears are lightweight and durable with precision weight balancing that makes them easy to use. An adjustable screw helps you control the tension, and reviewers noted that they need less sharpening than other blades. These don’t come with as many bells and whistles as some of the other scissors, like silencing pads or removable inserts, but they are still a great basic straight shear.
Affordable price
Lots of sizes available
Removable ring inserts and finger rests
- Affordable price
- Lots of sizes available
- Removable ring inserts and finger rests
Curved option only
Medium lifespan
- Curved option only
- Medium lifespan
Pros
Adjustable screw tension and precision weighting
Lightweight and durable
Japanese steel construction
Long-lasting sharpness
Cons
Longer options only
No silencing pads or removable inserts
- Laazar Pro Shear Straight & Safety Round Tips Dog Grooming Scissors Check Latest Price
Length 4.5” and 5.5”
Blade Type Straight, round tip
Sometimes you just need a quick trim to keep your dog looking neat and nice. Laazar Pro Shear Straight & Safety Round Tips are a good choice for the job. These small shears come in 4.5 or 5.5-inch options, which makes them a little small for a full haircut but perfect for detail work. They are also a more affordable option, making them a great choice if you just need a little face trim between professional grooms or if you already have long scissors and just need detail work. The rounded tips make them safer around excitable dogs, and the adjustable screw gives you better control. Although this is a great option, it is less durable than the more expensive scissors on this list, and reviewers say the screw is prone to wearing out over time.
Adjustable screw tension and precision weighting
Lightweight and durable
Japanese steel construction
Long-lasting sharpness
- Adjustable screw tension and precision weighting
- Lightweight and durable
- Japanese steel construction
- Long-lasting sharpness
Longer options only
No silencing pads or removable inserts
- Longer options only
- No silencing pads or removable inserts
Pros
Great for detail work
Rounded tips for safety
Adjustable screw
More affordable option
Cons
Less durable construction
Not ideal for whole-body trims
Picking the Perfect Dog Grooming Scissors
How Many Pairs to Buy?
Dog groomers often use a set of four or six grooming tools, so you might be tempted to buy a kit. However, if you are only going to groom your own dog, you probably don’t need that many. One medium-length shear can be used for cutting your dog’s shaggy coat and trimming down details around the eyes, nose, and paws, but it’s easier with two pairs, a shorter pair for fine details and a longer pair for getting your dog’s back, shoulders, and belly trimmed quickly. Thinning shears or blending scissors can help even out rough patches and blend your dog’s hair, but they are less important.
Great for detail work
Rounded tips for safety
Adjustable screw
More affordable option
- Great for detail work
- Rounded tips for safety
- Adjustable screw
- More affordable option
Less durable construction
Not ideal for whole-body trims
- Less durable construction
- Not ideal for whole-body trims
The Perfect Shear Length
When picking out your shears, the first choice you’ll have to make is length. Longer shears can cut more hair at once and make it easier to keep hair length even, but they struggle to cut tight angles. Shorter shears are perfect for detailing, but if you try to cut your dog’s coat with them, you’ll likely run out of patience quickly. Larger dogs should have larger blades, while smaller dogs should have smaller blades. In general, detail shears are between four and six inches, while longer blades are between six and eight inches. Blades from five to seven inches usually can work for both, although they won’t be ideal for either.
A great dry shampoo will make keeping your pet clean and happy a breeze. We love Hepper’s Cucumber & Aloe Dry Shampoo because it will freshen up your pet’s skin and coat while reducing irritation. This no-rinse, pH-balanced formula is easy to use and has a soothing cucumber and aloe scent.
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Straight vs. Curved Blades
Another choice you must make is whether to buy straight-bladed scissors or curved blades. The curved blades look odd at a glance. That’s because we’re used to seeing flat scissors for cutting flat surfaces like paper. Curved blades are great for going around the curves of your dog’s head, legs, and body. They do take some practice to get used to, though! Some groomers strongly prefer one or the other, while others use both. In general, curved blades are more useful for smaller dogs than they are for large ones.
Rounded Tips?
Some grooming scissors have rounded tips. This is a great feature if you are worried about cutting your dog, but it does have its drawbacks. One problem with rounded tips is that they slow you down. They also can make parting hair with your scissors more difficult.
Additional Features
Shears also come with a variety of additional features. One of the most useful is a tension screw. Scissors held together by an adjustable screw can be tightened or loosened to your comfort. They also can be taken apart for sharpening.
You can also look out for rubber rings that go inside the grips and finger rests that go on the back of the shears. These both make cutting more comfortable on your hands. They might be permanent or removable.
A silencer dulls the snip-snip sound of the metal on metal. It’s useful for skittish dogs, as it makes the grooming quieter and less frightening, but most dogs don’t need it.
Last Thoughts
As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into grooming! We loved the Master Grooming Tools Titanium Straight Shears for their versatility and high quality. They have all the features you need to make grooming fast and comfortable. A lower-priced alternative is the Kenchii Show Gear Curve Ball-tip Shears. The Precise Cut Dahlia Curved Shears are pricey but high-quality. For grooming puppies, we love the ConairPro Dog Rounded-tip Shears. No matter the one you choose, any of the shears on this list would make a great tool for trimming at home.
Featured Image Credit: guruXOX, Shutterstock
