BLADE BY BREED USAGE GUIDE
Which Blade Do I Use?
This page contains a listing of blade size recommendations for various animal breeds. The cut indicates the uniform length of hair which will be left when you use the designated blade. Higher blade numbers indicate shorter hair length ie: A #4 blade leaves 3/8 inch of hair, and a #40 leaves only 1/100 of an inch. For lengths longer than 5/8", use a blade guard or clipper blade comb.

Perfectly sharp blades can refuse to cut!

Three main things can cause this:

  • Improper adjustment of the blade-set
  • Incorrect blade spring tension
  • Dirty blades.

It is therefore important to keep your blades in good order.
 
AFGHAN HOUND
Very matted strip down on body   #7F  
On saddle only   #7F  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

AIREDALE TERRIER
Body   #7 or  #5  
Head, neck   #9 or  #7F  
Ears   #10  
Tail   #5 or  #4  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

BEARDED COLLIE
"Puppy" trim @ 2"   #30 & 1 1/4" UC  
Matted strip down   #7F or  #5F  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

BEDLINGTON TERRIER
Body   #5F  
Head,Ears and Tail   #10 or  #7F  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

BICHON
"Show" trim, 1" coat  #30 & 1 1/4" UC 
Pet trim, short   #4F  
Matted strip down   #7F or  #5F  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

BOUVIER DES FLANDRES
Body   #30 & 1 1/4" UC 
Legs and undercarriage   scissors  
Matted strip down   #7F or  #5F or #4F  
Head   #4F  
Face   scissors  
Ears   #15 or  #10  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

BRIARD
"Puppy" trim @ 2"   #30 & 1 1/4" UC 
Face, legs & undercarriage   scissors  
Matted strip down   #7 or  #5 or  #4  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

CAIRN TERRIER
Natural look, coat left @ 2"   #30 & 3/4" UC 
Pet trim, shorter on back   #4  
Head and tail   scissors 
Matted strip down   #5  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

CHOW CHOW
Body   #7  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

COCKER SPANIEL
Body, sides and back only  #7F or  #5F or  #4F  
Sides of neck   #9 or  #7F  
Face, ears and throat   #10 or  #15  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

COLLIE
Body   #7F  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

DANDIE DINMONT
Body, sides and back only  #5 or #4  
Head and tail   scissors  
Legs and undercarriage   scissors  
Ears   #10 or  #15  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL
Body, back and sides only  #7F  
Front of Forearms   #7F  
Head, neck and ears   #15  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

ENGLISH SETTER
Body, side and back only #5F  
Head,neck and ears   #10 or  #9  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL
Body, side and back only #7F  
Head,neck and ears   #10 or  #9  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

GOLDEN RETRIEVER
Body   #5F or  #7F  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

GREAT PYRENEES
Matted strip down   #5 or  #7  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

IRISH SETTER
Body, sides and back only  #5F or  #7F  
Head, neck and ears   #10  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

IRISH TERRIER
Body, sides and back only  #5  
Head, neck and ears   #10  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

KERRY BLUE TERRIER
Body, sides, back & tail   #30 & 1" UC 
Shorter pet trim, back & sides  #4  
Head, neck & ears   #10 or #9  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

KEESHOND
Body   #5F or #7F  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

LAKELAND TERRIER
Body, side and back only   #5
Tail   #4
Head,neck and ears   #10 or #9  
Stomach   #10
Pads #15

LHASA APSO
"Puppy" length trim   #30 & 1" UC 
Shorter pet trim   #4F  
Matted strip down   #7F or  #5F  
Top of head   #4F or  #5F  
Face & tail   scissors  
Stomach   #10  

MALTESE
"Puppy" length trim   #30 & 1" UC 
Shorter pet trim   #4F  
Matted strip down   #7F or  #5F  
Top of head   #5F  
Face & tail   scissors  
Stomach   #10  

NEWFOUNDLAND
Matted strip down   #5 or  #7  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG
"Puppy" length trim   #30 & 1 1/4" UC 
Shorter pet trim   #4F  
Head and face   scissors  
Matted strip down   #5F or  #7F  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

PEKINGESE
Short pet trim   #5F or  #4F  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #8.5  

POODLE - Kennel Trim
Face, feet and base of tail   #15 or  #10  
Body and legs   #7F or  #5F or  #4F  
Top knot & tail piece   scissors  
Stomach   #10  

POODLE - Lamb Trim
Face, feet and base of tail   #15 or  #10  
Body   #5F or #4F  
Legs   scissors  
Top knot & tail piece   scissors  
Stomach   #10  

POODLE - Summer Trim (Bikini)
Face, feet and base of tail   #15 or  #10  
Body and legs   #5F or  #7F  
Pompoms, top knot & tail pom  scissors  
Stomach   #10  

POODLE - Dutch Trim
Face, feet and tail   #15 or  #10  
Body pattern   #15 or  #10  
Body   #30 & 1" UC 
Pompoms, top knot & tail pom  scissors  
Stomach   #10  

PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
Body   #30 & 1" UC 
Shorter pet trim   #4F  
Matted strip down   #5F or  #7F  
Head and tail   scissors  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

SAMOYED
Matted strip down   #5F or  #7F  
Tail   scissors  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

SCHNAUZER
Body, back and sides only  #9 or  #7F  
Legs and furnishings   scissors  
Head and ears   #10  
Matted strip down   #5F or  #7F  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

SCOTTISH TERRIER
Body, back and sides  #5 or  #4  
Head, neck and ears   #10  
Tail   scissors or  #4F  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

SEALYHAM
Body, back and sides only  #5  
Head, neck and ears   #10  
Tail   #5  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

SHETLAND SHEEPDOG
Matted strip down   #5F or #7F  
Tail   scissors  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

SHIH TZU
"Puppy" length trim   #30 & 1" UC 
Short pet trim   #4F  
Matted strip down   #5F or  #7F  
Head and tail   scissors  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15  

SILKY TERRIER
"Puppy" length trim   #30 & 3/4" UC 
Short pet trim   #4F  
Matted strip down   #5F or  #7F  
Head   scissors  
Ears   #30  
Stomach   #10  
Pads   #15