You can get a good pair of clippers (oster A-5's w/ a 10 blade) for around a hundred bucks.

A good slicker brush will cost you less than ten bucks.

Blades are around Twenty bucks and I'd recommend a 5 and a 7 for body.

Decent scissors you can get for twenty bucks. You dont need to spend a fortune on scissors especially since you are only grooming one dog.

Even when I owned my own grooming shop, I did not own anything ridiculously extravagant. I was trained to groom by someone who shows Bichons, so I do know how to scissor...well...and I dont need a hundred dollar pair of scissors to do it.

I agree that using scissors on your dog, without knowledge, especially if matted, is DANGER and a good way to have to go to the vet for stitches.

I think you did a pretty decent "home job" on your Shih.

CN

ETA, oh my, didnt know you did that all w/ scissors....eek! Glad you didnt cut him!