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8 Best Dog Clippers for Shih Tzus in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks 

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

a shih tzu

Looking for hair clippers for Shih Tzu dogs can be quite a challenge. You need something small and manageable that won’t scare your pet. There are so many brands of cutters available that it’s difficult to separate the brands designed for large dogs from the ones for small dogs.

We believe we can help narrow down your choices by reviewing a few different brands for you now. Each brand will have pros and cons and will tell you what they are. You can follow along and see what features appeal to you.

We’ve also included a buyer’s guide where we go over how the clippers work and what to look out for when shopping. Keep reading for our detailed reviews of the best dog clippers for Shih Tzus, where we compare blades, accessories, and noise, to help you make an informed purchase.

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A Quick Look at the Winners of 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Wahl Deluxe U-Clip Dog Clippers Wahl Deluxe U-Clip Dog Clippers
  • 7200 strokes per minute
  • Lightweight
  • 16-piece kit
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Pet Union Dog Grooming Clippers Kit Pet Union Dog Grooming Clippers Kit
  • Cordless
  • Quiet
  • Plenty of accessories
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Wahl Arco Cordless Dog Clipper Wahl Arco Cordless Dog Clipper
  • Weighs less than eight ounces
  • Multiple accessories
  • Cordless
  • Bousnic Dog Grooming Clippers Bousnic Dog Grooming Clippers
  • Quiet
  • Cordless
  • Two speeds
  • Bojafa Dog Grooming Clippers Bojafa Dog Grooming Clippers
  • Plenty of accessories
  • Low vibration
  • Titanium blade
  • The 8 Best Dog Clippers For a Shih Tzu

    1. Wahl Deluxe U-Clip Dog Clippers – Best Overall

    Wahl Professional Animal 9484-300

    The Wahl Professional Animal 9484-300 Deluxe U-Clip Clipper is our choice for the overall best dog clipper for Shih Tzus. It comes loaded with accessories, including seven different combs, scissors, a styling comb, a blade guard, and a carrying case. There are 16 pieces in total. It weighs about 1 pound, and its high-powered motor can make 7,200 strokes per minute. It has a long 8-foot power cord and comes with an instruction DVD that gives a detailed explanation about using the tool.

    We liked using this groomer, and the instructions were clear and helpful. The main downside is that they are too small for thicker coats. All in all, we think this is the best dog clipper for Shih Tzus available this year.

    Pros
    • 7,200 strokes per minute
    • Lightweight
    • 16-piece kit
    • 8-foot cord
    • Instructional DVD
    Cons
    • Not suitable for thick coats

    2. Pet Union Dog Grooming Clippers Kit – Best Value

    Pet Union

    The Pet Union Professional Dog Grooming Kit is our choice for the best value. We believe that its low cost, cordless operation, and a number of accessories make these the best dog clippers for Shih Tzu for the money. The accessories include four combs, two scissors, and a cleaning brush. It also includes a pair of nail clippers and a nail file. It operates very quietly, and it has an ergonomic design that’s easy to hold.

    The cordless nature of the clippers is convenient because you don’t have to worry about outlets, extension cords, or your pet chewing the cable. It does leave the clippers somewhat underpowered, though, so it can take a long time to groom your pet, and it might take several passes. With all that said, as far as value goes we think this is the best dog clipper for Shih Tzus this year.

    Pros
    • Low cost
    • Ergonomic design
    • Cordless
    • Quiet
    • Plenty of accessories
    Cons
    • Underpowered

    3. Wahl Arco Cordless Dog Clipper – Premium Choice

    Wahl Professional Animal 8786-1001

    The Wahl Professional Animal 8786-1001 Cordless Clipper is our premium pick. Our premium picks are high quality but expensive and for serious dog groomers. This brand is very lightweight and weighs less than 8 ounces. It’s a cordless trimmer that can run up to 80 minutes with the two included batteries. There are plenty of accessories, including four different guide combs and a cleaning brush.

    We thought it trimmed well and does a great job on smaller dogs like the Shih Tzu. We also like the included charger and were able to get right to work when we opened the box. The blades wear out though, and while you can get replacements, it will add to the long-term cost.

    Pros
    • Weighs less than 8 ounces
    • Multiple accessories
    • Cordless
    • Two batteries included
    • Charging station
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Blades wear out quickly

    4. Bousnic Dog Grooming Clippers

    Bousnic

    The Bousnic Dog Grooming Clippers are a quiet set of cordless clippers designed for short hair. This set features two speeds and comes with several accessories, including four guide combs and a pair of scissors. It comes with a USB cable for charging the battery, which can run up to 3 hours when fully charged.

    While we used this brand, we found them to work well on short hair around the neck and face but would quickly hang up on thicker hair around the body. The hang-ups slowed us down quite a bit, and we needed to take several passes over an area to get an even cut.

    Pros
    • Quiet
    • Cordless
    • Two speeds
    • Accessories
    Cons
    • Requires several passes
    • Not suitable for thicker hair

    5. Bojafa Dog Grooming Clippers

    Bojafa

    The Bojafa Dog Grooming Clippers come with plenty of accessories to help you get started right away. These clippers come with four different brushes, two different scissors, and a nail clipper and nail file. It also features a titanium blade that shouldn’t dull or corrode for ears. It’s cordless, so you’re not tethered to any wires, and it doesn’t produce much vibration.

    We liked these trimmers, but they won’t cut hair that’s very thick or long. There are no instructions, so these might not be a suitable first set and the battery did not last very long in our model. Some of the accessories were also kind of flimsy; the scissors, for instance, are more like toys.

    Pros
    • Plenty of accessories
    • Low vibration
    • Titanium blade
    • Cordless
    Cons
    • Dull scissors
    • No instructions
    • The battery doesn’t last long

    6. Peroom Dog Clippers for Shih Tzu & Other Dogs

    Peroom

    The Peroom SC-TMQ-US Dog Clippers feature an ergonomic design that’s comfortable to hold while you work. It also uses a ceramic movable blade that won’t rust, dull, or corrode over time and provides a safer cut for your pet. It’s a cordless trimmer that’s recharged via the included USB cable and features two speeds and a quiet mode.

    We liked these trimmers for working around the face and paws of our pet but they are far too small for any large areas or full-body trimming. There are also no accessories included with this brand.

    Pros
    • Ergonomic design
    • Ceramic movable blade
    • Two speed
    • Cordless
    Cons
    • Tiny blade
    • No accessories

    7. oneisall Dog Grooming Hair-Clippers

    oneisall

    The oneisall Professional Cordless Pet Grooming Hair Clippers feature an extended 5-hour runtime. A specially designed high-capacity battery makes the long runtime possible, and an on-board LED displays how much power remains in the charge. It also features detachable blades for easy cleaning and comes with all of the accessories you need to get started. It comes with six guide combs, a regular comb, a pair of scissors, and more.

    This clipper doesn’t cut very well and requires several passes to get a smooth cut. After working for a while with these trimmers, you notice that they are quite heavy due to the powerful battery.

    Pros
    • 5-hour runtime
    • LED remaining battery power indication
    • Accessories
    • Detachable blades
    Cons
    • Doesn’t cut very well
    • Heavy

    8. PetOscars Dog Grooming Clipper Kit

    PetOscars

    The PetOscars Dog Grooming Kit is the final brand of clippers for Shih Tzu that we have on our list. These clippers come with plenty of accessories, including four guide combs, nail clippers, a nail file, a comb, a cleaning brush, and blade oil.

    The downside to this model that we experienced was that the guides kept falling off while we were using them and this caused quite a bit of frustration for us and our pet. It also has a tough time cutting, and the blades clog easily and you have to keep stopping to clear them out. Expect to wait a long time for recharging, and you won’t get very long when it does.

    Pros
    • Plenty of accessories
    Cons
    • Guides won’t stay on
    • Blade clogs easily
    • Slow to charge

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    Buyer’s Guide – Purchasing the Best Dog Clippers for Shih Tzus

    Now let’s look at some things important to consider while shopping for clippers for a Shih Tzu.

    Type of Hair

    Some clippers will have a difficult time with matted and coarse hair. The hair on a Shih Tsu can be long but it’s not that coarse, so you can probably get away with a lighter-duty set of clippers as long as there are no bigger problems like matting or knots. Of course, matted or knotted hair can occur at any time, so make sure you have the tools to deal with it.

    Power

    There are two main ways that the trimmers are powered, and they are corded, and battery-powered.

    Corded

    Corded trimmers are often lighter weight than battery-powered trimmers and they deliver constant power for as long as you need it. The downside to corded trimmers is that you are tethered to the wall and may need to use one or more extension cables to reach your work area. There is also the danger that you and your pet can become entangled in the cord and that your pet may chew on the cord while you are trimming them.

    Battery Powered

    Battery-powered clippers are often heavier than corded clippers but you have the freedom of movement with no tripping hazards. These devices need to charge, and if the battery is not changeable, your model will only last while the battery holds a charge. Battery-powered devices are notoriously underpowered but the technology in this area is improving rapidly and there are many capable battery-powered clippers available.

    Weight

    shih tzu
    Image Credit: Nikolay Tchaouchev, Unsplash

    The weight of your trimmers is of vital importance. Many times, it takes several passes over your dog to gain a smooth even cut. You often need to hold the trimmers at strange angles for long periods and you don’t want to grow tired or cramp up before you finish. However, sometimes lightweight means that the clippers have an inferior motor to trim the hair.

    Noise

    The noise level of these devices will not bother you but it will disturb your pet. They will also learn this sound quickly and hide when they hear it. We recommend trying to find clippers that take measures to quiet down the trimmers for a better experience.

    Accessories

    Another critical component to think about when purchasing a set of clippers is the accessories that come with it. Multiple guide combs that allow you to cut your pet’s hair are essential to get a professional result from your clippers. It’s challenging to find third-party guide combs and it will take time.

    Other accessories are also crucial, like a pair of scissors and a comb. If your clippers come with nail clippers and a file, you’re really in luck and can perform complete grooming.

    Instructions

    Instructions are often overlooked but vitally important. Unless you are buying replacement clippers and know how to trim your pet’s hair, we strongly recommend making sure your clippers come with complete instructions.

    Replacement Blades

    Few trimmers offer replacement blades but those that do can extend the life of your clippers and make them easier to clean.

     

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    Conclusion:

    We hope that you have enjoyed reading over our dog clippers for Shih Tzu reviews, and we hope that they have helped you get closer to deciding which ones you want.

    The Wahl Professional Animal 9484-300 Deluxe U-Clip Clipper is our choice for the best dog clippers for Shih Tzus overall, as it features a powerful motor and plenty of accessories. The 8-foot chord means you’ll never need to charge or run out of power. The Pet Union Professional Dog Grooming Kit is our choice for the best value and it also has a lot of accessories and is cordless and lightweight.

    If neither of these interests you, we hope that our buyer’s guide will help you sort through the remaining brands so you can find the perfect set of clippers for your Shih Tzu.

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    Featured Image Credit: 2037215, Pixabay

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