If you want to regularly pamper your precious pooch, selecting the best dog grooming kit is sure to be kinder to your bank balance. With a one-time investment, you can cater for all of your canine’s needs, keeping their hair and nails in trim and ensuring their coat isn’t going to matt and tangle. In doing so, you’ll get to bond more closely with your dog and ensure they’re always looking and feeling their best.
One thing’s for sure, knowing when and how to groom a dog is important.
“If you don’t groom your dog often enough, dead skin cells, loose hair and dirt can build up within the hair coat, preventing airflow and causing irritation from yeast and bacterial overgrowth,” explains vet Dr Hannah Godfrey. “Mats of hair can also form, which can be painful for your dog.”
To that end, we’re going to look at the very best kits to help you get the job done with ease, taking into account the needs of different breeds and the fact that some dogs aren’t always receptive to being groomed. We’ve also sought expert advice to ensure that the bundles we’ve considered are of the utmost quality and contain all the tools that you will need – although you may also want to consider supplementary items such as the best dog conditioners for the perfect pampering.
Best dog grooming kits
The best dog grooming kits we recommend in 2024
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Best overall dog grooming kit
With a whopping 10 tools, this kit from Ceenwes has everything you need to groom your hound at home. You get a pet clipper, cleaning brush, nail clippers, a nail file, hair clippers, a comb, and a variety of attachments so you can take care of your furkid from top to tail.
The clipper is the star of the show with its precision motor, low vibration, and ultra-quiet design, allowing your pet to feel at ease while delivering a professional quality cut. Featuring a titanium acute angle blade and ceramic movable blade with five levels of length ranging from 0.8-2mm, this lightweight clipper fits perfectly in the hand and runs for up to 70 minutes before it needs recharging.
The four attachment combs will also help thin out thick coats and the skin-friendly contour design ensures hair never snags. All in all, it’s a fantastic all-in-one grooming kit with well-made and durable tools.
Reasons to buy: It comes with an impressive array of included accessories, plus it’s easy to clean and quiet.
Reasons to avoid: You may find that a 70-minute run time is rather limited if you’re using it on a long-haired dog.
Best kit for grooming puppies
It’s a good idea to get your new canine friend used to grooming from an early age. This kit provides you with a brush, comb and flea comb for that very purpose and it’s a great way to introduce your puppy to the sensation of being brushed.
Although it doesn’t include any clippers for cutting very long hair, the kit is nevertheless designed to be gentle on your dog. The soft bristles of the brush should feel pleasant and it’ll effectively remove dandruff and promote healthy skin oils. The handles on both the brush and the comb are also made from strong and sturdy materials so they feel pleasant in the hand while the flexible head of the brush will match the curves of your dog with ease.
The main downside is that you may want to invest in something larger when your puppy becomes an adult if you have a particularly large dog breed.
Reasons to buy: It’s an easy-to-use kit that is gentle on a dog’s coat, making it particularly suitable for puppies.
Reasons to avoid: You will need to invest in additional products if you need to trim or cut your dog’s fur.
Best for long-haired dogs
This kit is entirely based around a brush so you’re not getting nail clippers or hair cutters with this one. But you’re still getting a good number of tools that allow you to de-matt a dog, remove loose hair and detangle fur – you simply change the attachment heads depending on the function you need.
Well-suited for longer haired dogs, the kit also includes a two-in-one comb with changeable heads that can be used for deshedding. The blades are made from stainless steel as well, which prevents problems with dirt and rust. Cleaning both the brush and the comb is easy and, because the brush is thick and features a non-slip surface, you can spend long periods of time grooming a dog with thick hair. Additionally, there’s an eyelet in the brush handle for easy storing when not in use, making for a tidy, all-round handy kit.
Reasons to buy: If you have a long-haired dog you like to use it frequently enough to make it good value for money.
Reasons to avoid: Although it has lots of tools, if you want to actually cut or clip your dog’s hair, you’ll have to invest in a separate product.
Best vacuum dog cleaning kit
One of the problems with grooming is that hairs can go absolutely everywhere so you may need to give the area (and the wider surrounds) a thorough clean. With this grooming kit, however, you literally suck away all of the hairs and debris as you’re actually keeping your pooch in good shape thanks to a powerful yet quiet vacuum, which should ensure your furniture and carpet remain clean.
You get five different tools in total: a grooming brush, electric clippers, a de-shedding tool and a couple of specialised tools, all of which will work wonders on a dog regardless of their hair type. Five clipper guards means you’ll be able to adjust the height of the hair as you cut and, since the brushes are designed to be gentle, you won’t be putting your dog under stress. Safe and easy to use, it’s a great kit capable of capturing 99% of hair and dander. Finish off by emptying the dust box and it’s job done.
Reasons to buy: It’s great for anyone who becomes anxious about leaving hairs all around the room when grooming.
Reasons to avoid: You’re still going to need some of the best nail clippers to finish the job and it’s quite an expensive buy.
Best for nervous dogs
For those looking for a complete grooming kit at a great price, Pet Union’s amazing offering is a steal. Aside from getting low vibration and low noise clippers that should make grooming effortless and low-stress, you’re also getting a couple of scissors, four guide combs, a styling comb and nail clippers – more than enough to make sure your dog ends up looking salon-perfect.
All of the items are well-made and well-considered. The combs are contoured to be skin-friendly, for example, and the clipper’s blades – adjustable using the guards – are made from titanium and shouldn’t pull on your dog’s hair. In fact, many users of this product have said the whole kit is worth the money for the clippers alone so you really are getting a bargain here given the fact that you’re also getting other items. It’s even possible to buy the clippers in different colors if that’s important for you.
Reasons to buy: A great value kit that includes everything you need to groom your dog, including good quality clippers.
Reasons to avoid: The kit is versatile but it is better suited for dogs with shorter hair.
Best for thick coats
This four-in-one kit is great for dogs with thick coats and it’s also suitable for use on pooches who are suffering from matted hair. As well as a set of pet clippers with heads for trimming hair, body and paws, you get a nail grinder head, scissors and a steel comb so you can really get to work on pampering your pooch.
Friction noise is reduced by the clipper’s ceramic blade design and short motor shafts so you’re much less likely to spook your pet. You also get up to four hours on a single charge which means you should be able to tackle most dogs with an unruly coat or those with long hair without fear that you’re going to have to do it over a couple of sessions. The clippers are easy to clean as well and only need to be run under a tap to keep them in good condition. The vivid green coloring is a nice touch.
Reasons to buy: A grooming kit which will help you to tackle matted coats or long-haired dogs – it can be used on cats as well!
Reasons to avoid: If you have a short-haired dog, then you should look elsewhere.
How we chose the best dog grooming kit
Since it’s unlikely that you’ll find a grooming kit tailored to your specific dog breed, we focussed our attention on broader bundles offering many different tools. In particular, we looked for kits that come with lots of attachments to give you a better chance of meeting your pet’s needs. We also assessed the quality of the items and how robust they would feel to use – the idea is that you’d make use of these kits for many years to come.
What comes in a dog grooming kit?
The type of tools will vary from kit to kit but there are generally some staples to look out for.
“A dog grooming kit should contain a wide-toothed comb, a slicker brush for removing fur that’s been shed, and a flea comb,” says Dr Hannah Godfrey. “However, the type of coat that your dog has will influence which brush or comb works best. If you’re confident at clipping your dog’s nails you might also want nail clippers.”
Do I need to consider the length of my dog’s hair?
Yes. If you have a long-haired dog or double-coated breed, you’ll need a kit capable of tackling that kind of coat.
“You’re more likely to need a bigger range of combs and brushes, including a wider-toothed comb for gently removing tangles,” says expert vet Dr Hannah Godfrey.
Conversely, if you’re grooming a dog with short hair, then you’ll need to groom less often and use fewer types of dog brushes.
“You might only need a thin-toothed comb and a slicker brush to remove their undercoat,” Dr Godfrey adds.
How often should I groom my dog?
How often you should groom a dog depends on the breed, lifestyle and dog coat type.
“Long-haired breeds and those that shed a lot of fur will need brushing daily or every other day, while short-haired low-shedding breeds may only need grooming once a week or after going on a muddy walk,” says Hannah Godfrey.
Are there any items I should avoid?
Not necessarily but do bear in mind there can be problems with some kit. A set of electric clippers is a good idea for a dog that needs a lot of grooming, for instance, but pay attention to how loud the clippers are.
Most dogs are a little bit wary of very noisy clippers, so don’t be tempted to think you can get away with standard human-grade clippers on dogs.
Should I still groom a nervous dog?
It depends on how confident you are and the extent to which you’re looking to groom.
“Take into account that they may be sensitive in certain areas,” says Dr Godfrey. “Many dogs don’t like their paws being touched, for example.”
The important thing is to avoid lunging at your pet.
“If your dog isn’t used to regular grooming, start slowly and gently and aim for multiple short grooming sessions rather than one longer session,” Dr Godfrey adds.
And be aware of potential problems. “If they react to being groomed in a certain place, it might also be a sign that they’re in pain or have a health problem, like an ear infection, anal gland abscess, or skin condition.”
Do I still need to visit a professional groomer?
Even if you have a grooming kit, you might still need to visit the groomer.
“While it’s safe, and important, to brush your dog’s coat at home, using scissors or clippers can be dangerous if you’re not experienced,” Dr Godrey says. “Therefore, you should only do what you feel comfortable doing and use a professional groomer for issues such as knots and matted fur. If you come across something that doesn’t look quite right while grooming your dog, or if they are reacting to being touched, it’s a good idea to get them checked by the vet.”
Still not sure where to start? We got some dog grooming tips from a vet.
Dr Hannah Godfrey is a small animal vet who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011 and began work straight away at a busy mixed practice. Initially, she treated all species, but focussed on small animals from 2014. She has a passion for soft tissue surgery, ultrasound, and canine and feline dentistry, having completed additional training in these areas.
