Home Grooming Kit

Clippers, slicker brush, nail clippers with a guard, de-shedding comb and scissors, in a case that keeps them together.

The nail clippers have a quick guard on them, which is the part worth paying for. Cutting into the quick hurts, bleeds a lot, and teaches an animal to fight you every time the clippers come out afterwards.

The basic kit covers a short-coated dog or a cat. The pro kit adds a quieter clipper with adjustable blade lengths, which is what you need for a double coat — a Golden, a Husky, a Pomeranian — where a standard clipper stalls and pulls.

Brushing is the bit that actually matters. Ten minutes twice a week on a long coat prevents the mats that otherwise have to be shaved out.