The use of electric or battery-powered clippers fitted with interchangeable blades to cut the dog's coat to a uniform length. Different blade sizes remove different amounts of hair — lower numbers (like #3 or #4) leave more length, while higher numbers (like #10 or #15) cut closer to the skin.
Clipping is the most common method for maintaining pet coats and is significantly faster than scissoring alone. However, clipping a wiry or double-coated breed that should be hand-stripped will gradually soften the coat texture and alter the color over time, as guard hairs are cut rather than pulled from the root.
Always clip in the direction of hair growth for a natural, smooth finish. Clipping against the grain produces a shorter, closer cut — useful for sanitary areas but can cause clipper irritation if used on sensitive skin.