Start longer than you think
25 mm (0.98 in) tidies, 16 mm (0.63 in) trims, 10 mm (0.39 in) clips. You can always take more off; the coat takes months to come back.
Flat, overlapping passes
Keep the comb flat against the body and overlap each pass by about a third. Lifting the comb at the end of a stroke is what leaves a ridge.
Feel the blade every few minutes
A blade that is uncomfortable on the back of your hand is uncomfortable on skin. Oil it, or swap to a second blade and let the first cool.
Never clip a mat
A mat sits against skin you cannot see. It has to be cut out by someone who can see it — a groomer or a vet — and attempting it with clippers is how skin gets caught.
This does not replace your machine’s manual. Sensor thresholds, cycle delays and temperature limits differ between models, and the manufacturer’s instructions for yours take precedence over anything written here.
The questions owners ask
With the coat or against it?
With it, for a first clip. Clipping against the lie takes the coat far shorter than the comb suggests, which is how people end up with a dog much barer than they intended.
How do I avoid steps?
Overlap every pass by a third, keep the comb flat to the body, and use metal combs on a dense coat — plastic ones flex under load and lift, which is what leaves the line.
Last reviewed 2026-08-17
