Maintaining your dog’s fur on a regular basis can be expensive if you opt for a pet groomer. With a good clipper, you can do it yourself.
Some dogs with lots of hair are more prone to hair mats. The mats are also uncomfortable and can cause inflammation, skin irritation and pain.
Breeds such as Shih Tzu, Maltese, and Yorkshire are more prone to tangled knots when their hair is not maintained regularly. If you have any of these pets, get a good clipper to trim often and prevent mats.
It may be expedient to get a simple clipper for grooming in between cuts from a professional groomer. If you prefer to do it yourself, then get a powerful and durable tool.
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Our Top Pick
Our best dog clippers for thick hair is the Andis ProClip UltraEdge. This device has a super 2 speed rotary motor that lets you choose the speed. It also lacks air vents that can accumulate dirt and heat the device. It is also moderately priced and doesn’t heat up quickly.
Here are some other great options:
Top 5 Best Dog Clippers for Matted Hair Reviewed
1. Andis ProClip UltraEdge
The Andis ProClip may be an excellent choice for professional grooming or dogs that require regular grooming. It is ideal for different types of coats as well as breeds.
The device also works well for thick coats and matted coats. If your dog’s fur mats often, the ten-blade professional clipper can remove the mats with ease.
It has a super two-speed rotary motor implying that you can choose the speed you want. You can use it on low or high, and the blade is also detachable.
It is not a magnetic motor, so it runs quietly. This may be ideal for nervous dogs. It also stays cool despite not having vents or fan that can be clogged with dirt and fur.
The clipper comes in a kit with a shatterproof and durable house. It also comes with a 14’ cord for easy movement as well as a removable UltraEdge number ten blade.
If your large dog has a long, thick hair, you may have to get the compatible CeramicEdge and UltraEdge blades from Andis.
It has a wider grip as well. However, after some time, it may begin to feel heavy. You have an option of choosing one of six beautiful colors.
Pros
- Ideal for removing tough mats
- Two-speed rotary motors for convenience
- Runs quietly
- Doesn’t heat up quickly
Cons
- Comes with only one blade
2. Andis EasyClip Pro-Animal
This clipper is an inexpensive option for home grooming like a professional. It is built for dogs of different sizes, especially for poodles and terriers with a thick coat.
This model may be suitable for removing mats that are difficult to brush out. It could also work on removing tail mats as well.
It has a strong rotary motor with a removable ceramic blade. Unlike the magnetic motor clippers, the Andis EasyClip does not overheat and isn’t too noisy. It may come in handy if your pooch is a shy one and this will make grooming more difficult to finish.
In the kit, you’ll find a solid housing that is durable, four attachment combs, a 12 inch and heavy duty cord. These are all basic items for grooming, but if you need more versatility, the Andis CeramicEdge and UltraEdge blades are available for purchase. These should cover all other grooming needs.
Pros
- It is quite affordable
- Rarely ever overheats
- Runs silently
- Comes in a solid housing
Cons
- It is heavier than usual
3. Oster A5 Turbo
The Oster A5 works as a professional device as well as a home-grooming clipper. It offers a fast and quick way to groom a pet. It is ideal for dogs as well as cats with coarse and thick hair.
For dogs with heavily matted hair, this model may be ideal. It goes up to 4,000 SPM to tackle tough coat or mat.
It also has a wide blade with a heavy-duty 2-speed motor running at 3,000 SPM / 4,000 SPM. This means that you can switch the speed for delicate areas or precision grooming, and high speed for faster or full body trims. The low-speed setting is quieter and doesn’t heat up as well, allowing you to have a more pleasant experience.
In the kit, you will find a detachable number ten blade for shorter coats and a 12-inch cord. If you want a blade for cutting long hair, you can make use of the universal comb attachments. These accessories are sold separately.
Pros
- Comes with dual speed motor
- Sturdy design
- Ideal for different animals with coarse or matted hair
- Runs silently
Cons
- Heavy-duty motor heats up quickly
4. Wahl Lithium Ion Pro Series
The Wahl Lithium Ion clipper may be ideal for home grooming. It also works well as a professional tool for grooming. It can be used for full body grooming with collies, poodles, and shepherds.
It is a cordless option that removes matting when done gently. It gives you the option of grooming wherever you want. It also offers up to 2 hours run time and charges quickly in just 15 minutes.
This clipper’s motor is lithium powered, and it has self-sharpening precision blades that help tackle difficult coats. It also works well for fast touch-ups and can be a little noisy. Another good feature it has is cool operation. It doesn’t overheat quickly.
In the kit, you will find all the basic items needed to groom your pooch. Some include color guide combs to help you find the suitable coat length with ease.
You will also find a comb for loosening smaller mats as well as a pair of scissors for cutting larger mats to reduce the workload of the clippers.
Pros
- Excellent for trimming as well as mat removal
- Inexpensive
- Cordless operation
- Comes with comb attachments.
Cons
- It is relatively noisy
5. Wahl Professional Animal Bravura
This clipper is a 5 in 1 detachable blade device, and it is suitable for matted hair. It has a shatterproof casing that prevents damage when it falls.
It is also a cordless device, meaning that you will not need to plug it into a power source to use it. The blade is also quite sharp and lets you cut any kind of coat.
It is relatively expensive but comes with good quality. The clipper kit contains detachable blades that allow you to interchange the blades for different styling or cooling.
It also has combs and can work with extra accessories as long as they are compatible.
Pros
- Unique 5 in 1 detachable blade
- Doesn’t vibrate so it can be used on the face
- Battery powered
Cons
- Rather expensive
What To Consider Before Buying Dog Clippers For Matted Hair
Your Needs
You should think about what you need it for before buying. Professional groomers have different needs than single pet owners.
Consider the device weight, fur thickness, and usage time. All these factors will determine whether you should pay for a light duty model or a heavy-duty clipper.
Extra Blades
A lot of models come with extra interchangeable blades while others come with a single one. Blades are far more durable than plastic guards so consider this as well. When blades heat up, you can change them and use another while it cools.
Washing, drying and combing the fur before grooming can prevent blade heating. Also, consider the ease of changing the blades because some models are more technical than others.
Maintenance
You need to consider the maintenance required to keep it running. Always clean the blade before use and apply the cooling spray to prevent minor burns.
Blades often heat up because dirt, oil, and hair create friction. Some brands come with cooling sprays while others work with silicone cooling lubricant from automotive stores.
No matter what device you opt for, you need to maintain the clippers by keeping the blades sharp and oiled. It prevents excessive heat, snagging and wear and tear. Thus making it more durable.
If the blades are dull when you buy it, or it is too noisy or does not hold a charge, it is probably defective and should be changed. Always check the warranty before buying so you can return the item or get it fixed.
Corded or Cordless
You also need to consider if you want a corded or cordless clipper using a rechargeable battery. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. The models with cords maintain more power since they are directly connected to power.
The cordless models require battery power, and this may not last for too long. If you intend to groom for long periods, then a corded clipper may be ideal so you won’t have to stop halfway.
Also, cordless clippers give you flexibility when grooming larger or several animals. You can reach every angle with ease.
Corded clippers can only offer this flexibility when the cords are long enough. The cords may also wear out when used often, but if you care for it properly, this won’t be an issue.
Batteries
What kind of batteries do you need? You should consider the type of rechargeable battery that powers the clipper. Is it NiMH, NiCd, lithium-ion-powered?
What charging precautions should you know about? Rechargeable batteries for pet clippers come in three types: lithium ion, Nickel Cadmium, and Nickel Metal Hydride.
The NiCd batteries have eight hundred cycles, and this is a long life. However, it is still shorter than the NiMH. Also, it loses runtime when you do not allow them to die before recharging.
The memory effect, as it is called, is reversible when you know that it should be charged after running the battery down.
The NiMH batteries, on the other hand, run longer when you charge it fully, and it doesn’t have the memory effect. However, the battery has a relatively shorter life at 400-600 cycles.
Lithium-ion batteries do not have the memory effect and have the longest run when charged. The only con here is the shorter life of 400 cycles.
If your clipper has a NiMH or NiCd battery, you should let the clipper run until the battery dies. Do this once a month. Doing this will help a device suffering from the memory effect.
Size
Do you want a small clipper? Smaller and lighter devices are easier to us and hold while grooming. It comes in handy if you are grooming the pet for a long time.
Your hands can start to get tired. The professional models weigh more, but good ones are built to be lighter as well as powerful.
Ergonomics
The grip is also important. It can be uncomfortable to trim hair with the device slipping off your finger. It may hurt you or even the pet. If the clipper case is too light, it may break easily.
Maintaining Your Clippers - What You Should Know
Before every use, you should clean the clipper properly and oil it. This helps prolong the life of the device.
Start By Cleaning
Unplug the device first and wipe off hair or dirt on the surface before using a bristle brush to clean up the blades. Detachable blades can be removed, washed in cleaning solution before using the brush. After this, let it dry before oiling and spraying with a disinfectant.
Remember that you should not submerge the clipper in water. The blade should not be soaked in water as well because it is metal and is likely to rust. You can wipe with a damp or dry cloth and let it dry.
Oil Your Clipper
After cleaning the blade, put on the clipper and turn it to the other side. Place some drops of oil in the middle of the lower and upper blades. The extra oil will drip down when you’re done. While using the device, oil it often.
Sharpen The Blades
If the clipper does not cut properly, or doesn’t cut thick hair or pulls on fur, you need to get it sharpened. Check your warranty to see if it covers sharpening because you need to do it professionally.
Check the instruction manual for tips on sharpening if any.
Read more detail: How to maintain dog clipper
Do You Need A Case, Extra Blades Or Guides?
Many top models come with different kinds of accessories. Others come with a single blade and the clipper. If the accessories are important to you, consider purchasing them separately or buying a model that comes with them.
You may need a case if you move around with the clippers for use outside your home. If you choose to visit a professional groomer occasionally, you may also need a case to protect the clippers and carry any extra accessories.
Conclusion
Matted hair can be annoying to handle, and it makes your pet uncomfortable. If you don’t want professional intervention, then you can groom the pet with a solid clipper.
