All Pet's Life is reader-supported. When buying products through links on the site, we may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you).

5 best dog clippers for matted hair [2022]

Perhaps you own a thick-coated dog, and with the many dog clippers brands on the market, you may wonder which are the best dog clipper for thick coats. Daily, all these brands try to outsmart each other as the best dog clippers for matted hair. So, which one should you pick?

Well, the best dog clippers for matted hair should be able to cut and get rid of all mats from your dog with ease in the shortest time while not pinching your dog’s skin.

best dog clippers for matted hair

Lightweight clippers are suitable for general grooming sessions. Regular clippers may not be the best option compared to heavy-duty clippers for matted hair on your dog.

Why are heavy-duty dog clippers the best? These heavy-duty clippers for matted hair have a powerful motor that gives this grooming tool high RPM (rotation per minute)

Should one use a wireless or corded heavy-duty dog clipper for matted hair? Even though you like the convenience that wireless dog grooming clippers have, they may not be the best dog clippers to do this job. The reason being, these wireless clippers tend to overheat. Lastly, they tend to have a slower RPM than the corded dog clippers for matted hair.

Nevertheless, even after getting the best dog clippers for matted hair, ensure you know the basics of using such tools. The reason being, these dog grooming clippers for matted hair tend to be sharp, and any mishap can lead to injuries on your dog.

Here’s the list of the best dog clippers for matted hair

We have studied various best dog clippers for matted hair to make your choice easier. If you want to think it through, taking a look at the reviews, and read more about the pros and cons go further down. We collected the links to all the reviewed products here so you can go directly to the clippers you need from here:

  1. Andis ProClip AGC2
  2. Oster A5 Pet Clippers
  3. Wahl Clipper Pet-Pro Dog Grooming Kit
  4. Bousnic Dog Clippers
  5. Sminiker Cordless Dogs Grooming Clippers

best dog clippers for matted hair groomed

Things to consider while choosing a clipper for matted hairs

Clippers are excellent for trimming the fur of your pet. They are easy to use and are speedy enough to save you time.

The choice of the best dog clippers for matted hair is important especially if you have matted hairs to deal with. Heavy duty clippers are more suitable for the job.

Make sure to choose the one with different speed options so you can slow it down to the more sensitive parts or if the area has thick mats.

Choosing noiseless clippers will not make your pet anxious in a grooming session, and you can easily concentrate on your job.

Heavy-duty clippers

For thick and matted fur you will need heavy-duty clippers. These are usually high-quality clippers and work well on mats.

Corded or cordless clippers

Cordless clippers may seem tempting, but those with the batteries generally have less power and may not be suitable for thick matted hairs.

You can choose a corded one, or there are also rechargeable clippers that are easier to work with as you don’t have to deal with a cord. If you are choosing the best dog clippers for matted hair with a battery, make sure it has a high-quality battery for durability. Our suggestion for the best dog clippers for matted hair is corded.

Speed option

Make sure to choose the one with different speed options so you can slow it down to the more sensitive parts or if the area has thick mats.

You might be tempted to choose a high speed, but on areas where matted hairs are close to the skin, you might need to slow it down a bit. So the best dog clippers for matted hair are with speed options to make your job easier.

Noiseless clippers

For shaving your dog with matted hairs, you may need long grooming sessions for carefully separating the skin from mats, and it might feel little uncomfortable for your dog.

So the last thing you want to add is to use a clipper with a loud noise that will upset your dog more and make him anxious. An anxious and uncomfortable dog will make your job difficult.

Choose the clipper with right blades

You need the best blades for a thick coat with mats. A number 10 blade will be perfect for this task, but you might need to change it according to the type of your dog’s fur. So removable blades in excellent condition are best for the mat hairs.

Extra blades

Clipping off mats is a time-taking task. The blades can get overheated. With extra blades, you can change the existing one with a new one and

Let’s see what mat hairs actually are and how it can affect your dog.

Top 5 Best Dog Clippers for Thick Matted Hair

1. Andis ProClip AGC2

andis 22340 proclip 2 speed detachable blade clipper professional animal grooming agc2 blackAndis’ ProClip is a professional grooming clip that is excellent for fur with mats, knots, and tangles. The clip has a two-speed setting that makes it perfect for a complete dog grooming session. It works quietly on your pet’s body without making him anxious or uncomfortable.

Its cool running design eliminates any fans and vents that can become clogged with the hair. It has a locking switch to ensure the clipper will not automatically shut off.

The clipper comes with detachable blades. It is compatible with all sorts of blades like ceramic, ultra-edge, or Show-edge blades. The clipper comes with an UltraEdge size 10 blade that is perfect for grooming mat hairs.

You can choose the size or type of blade according to suitable for different dog breeds or the coat of your dog. For example, Andis ProClip AGC2 is also featured in our best clippers for Goldendoodles lineup. This model It’s a perfect clipper with long-lasting durability.

amazon button yellow

 

2. Oster A5 Pet Clippers

oster a5 two speed animal grooming clipper with detachable cryogen x 10 bladeOster’s A5 is a professional clipper for a fast and easy grooming session. It features a heavy-duty universal motor that won’t be bogged down with time. It offers a two-speed function for tackling any kind of coat or mat.

Oster A5‘s blades are machined and cryogenically treated to enhance the hardening process for extended durability and long-lasting performance.

The clipper comes with a detachable #10 blade that is capable of dealing with any kind of fur or mat. Still, you can change it with a different number of blades depending on the breed of your pet.

It’s a great solution for regular grooming sessions at home with a professional touch.

amazon button yellow

 

3. Wahl Clipper Pet-Pro Dog Grooming Kit

wahl clipper pet pro dog grooming kit quiet heavy duty electric corded dog clipper for dogs cats with thick heavy coats model 9281 210This Wahl’s clippers come with a complete package to help you groom your pet comfortably at home. Its high-quality stainless steel blades stay sharp longer and have superior blade geometry to protect your pet from pulls and cuts.

Its ergonomic design gives a perfect grip. The complete kit includes a comb, scissors, and comb guides to help you give a perfect hairstyle to your pet.

It’s a great option especially if you are looking for a complete kit to groom your furry friend.

amazon button yellow

 

4. Bousnic Dog Clippers

This one is another complete kit to cater your all needs. Bousnic’s clippers are quiet running dog clippers that cut the fur without pulling the skin.

bousnic dog clippers 2 speed cordless pet hair grooming clippers kit professional rechargeable for small medium large dogs cats and other pets 1

With two speed options, you can work confidently on the coat of your furry baby. Cordless clippers can be charged through a USB cable.

It comes with everything you might need in a grooming session. With four comb guides, you can give a professional haircut to your dog’s long hairs.

Its powerful motor is excellent for any type of mat. You got a scissor, comb, a bathing brush, and a USB cable for charging your device. It’s an affordable option and works great providing the true value of your money.

amazon button yellow

 

5. Sminiker Cordless Dogs Grooming Clippers

Sminiker’s clippers are heavy duty gear for a powerful cut and remove even difficult mat without harming the skin of your pet.

sminiker professional rechargeable cordless dogs grooming clippers professional pet hair clippers with comb guides for dogs cats horses and other house animals pet grooming kit

It has titanium acute-angle blade combining with a ceramic movable blade for smooth and efficient cutting of your dog’s fur.

It comes with all kind of accessories for the grooming session of your dog. The kit includes two kinds of scissors for maintaining the hairstyle of your dog.

Its heavy duty motor works noiselessly and produces very low vibration so your dog won’t feel any anxiety or become restless.

Its cordless design is easy to use and charge. Four hours of charging will be sufficient for 70 minutes long grooming session.

amazon button yellow

 

How Do You Groom a Badly Matted Dog?

A badly matted dog is always uncomfortable and often looks shaggy. So, after getting the best dog clippers for matted hair, you don’t just grab your dog, place him on a table, and immediately start working on the tough mats. No, you will have to make a plan.

At this point, patience will be an important virtue, and if the mats look tougher than you can handle, seek the services of a professional dog groomer. However, if you are comfortable with it, you can bring other complimentary grooming tools to help remove the mats on your dog.

Start working from areas with little matting and make your way where they are a lot. Additionally, you can make your work lighter by using a detangling rake to loosen the mats. You may even use your fingers at some point, although it may take some time, hence why we first stated patience is vital.

Also, avoid using scissors as you may cut your dog’s skin. Next, pick your clipper, start slowly, and don’t force through the mats, rather clip underneath the tangles. While doing so, make the skin tight by pulling it with your fingers. Start cutting the mats one by one rather than cutting a bunch of them all at once.

Meanwhile, be gentle on sensitive areas like the ears, armpits, and genital areas as it’s easy to rapture the skin around these areas.

After you are through, bathe your dog and thoroughly dry him using a dry towel or a blow dryer.

Can You Use Clippers on Matted Dogs?

Sometimes mats hide underneath your dog’s inner coat. The mats become hard to undo with your fingers or other complementary tools like detangling rakes or metal combs. So, your only option left is to use a dog clipper.

The regular clipper best fitted for general grooming will not be the right tool to do the job in such a scenario. And as earlier discussed, the best dog clippers for matted hair should be heavy-duty, not regular, lightweight grooming clippers.

Unlike heavy-duty dog clippers, regular clippers can cause injury to your dog’s skin. They may even lead to excess irritation as they often have irregular-shaped blades. The motor speeds are not that convincing. Lastly, regular clippers tend to go blunt fast.

With that said, it is okay to use clippers for matted dogs. However, the best clippers for matted dog hair tend to be pricy but ultimately get the job done, thus offering value for your money.

Will Clippers Cut Through Mats?

With your dog’s tough mats, you may be wondering whether the dog matted hair removal tool you choose will still cut through stubborn mats.

And as you know, if you buy poorly made dog clippers that are falsely advertised as the best dog clippers for matted hair—you will have problems. The reason being, the ‘dog grooming clippers for matted hair’ will tear your dog’s skin, they will barely cut through the mats, and lastly, they will tend to overheat a lot while on your hand. Out rightly, you will not need to use such dog clippers for matted hair. Use such dog clippers on your dog once, and he will never let you or your favorite groomer cut his hair.

best dog clippers for matted hair, grooming matted dog

I know you don’t want such to happen, as you want your dog to look good and make him yearn for every grooming session.

The best alternative is looking for the best dog clippers for matted hair that will effortlessly cut through such mats. The best bet for achieving great results is choosing a dog clipper with a strong motor capable of providing high strokes or rotations per minute.

Such dog clippers for thick coats have a powerful rotary motor, ensuring you have faster trims, especially when dealing with tough mats.

How to shave your dog with matted hairs

Go slowly and follow these steps.

Line Up your Tools

Line up all things beside you on the table that you might need while shaving. You should have the following things.

  • A brush
  • Detangler or cornstarch
  • A deshedder if your dog has a heavy coat.
  • Scissors
  • A clipper
  • Shampoo

Make your dog comfortable

Make your dog comfortable on the grooming table before you. Relax him with pats and reassurances.

Brush the area

Apply a detangler or cornstarch to the matted hairs. Rub it gently, so it sits down on the hair. First, try to remove the mat with a brush. Choose a small section of hair and work existing mats as far from the skin as possible. For heavy shedders, you should use a deshedder brush.

Use a clipper with a short blade

Use a sturdy clipper with a short blade. You can use a #10 blade for matted hairs. Hold the clipper parallel or flat against the skin.

Start with the neck and work your way to the back slowly. Work on small sections and go slowly and gently. Beware, going fast can pull the skin where the matted hairs are stuck to the skin.

Work your way down the legs, tail, and to the back of your dog.

You can remove the small knots with the help of a scissor too. Don’t ignore paws. Lift each leg and carefully shave the area using a clipper. Check the clippers frequently for overheating.

After completely shaving the hairs you can bathe your dog. Use a soothing shampoo and look for sores or infections. You might need to take your dog to a vet if there are any signs of sores or infections.

Some Tips to Groom your dog with matted hairs

  • Start brushing your dog from a very early age, so he gets accustomed to the brushing.
  • Make the grooming session fun with treats.
  • Mats begin at the base so even if your dog look mat-free put the fingers inside the nap to feel any knots.
  • Don’t use human conditioners on your dog’s hair. It may cause allergy.
  • Don’t think any shampoo or conditioner will work like a magic potion to remove the mat out of your pet’s fur. It still needs brushing carefully to remove them.
  • If mats are very thick and attached to the skin, don’t try to cut them on your own. Skin can get caught up in them, and you can injure your pet.
  • Seek professional help when it seems too much for you to handle.
  • If your dog has old mats that have not been treated in a while, take him to a veterinarian for a proper checkup.
  • Use the best dog clippers for thick hair.

shitzu being groomed with a dog clipper

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Bad to Cut Matted Dog Hair?

Sometimes if your dog is being troubled by the mats, then the only option left is for you to trim the mats down. Brushing your dog with a matted coat will not be the right grooming procedure, as your dog will feel more pain.

If your dog had a chance to speak out its heart about how painful the mats are, you’d come to realize how cutting the mats is essential.

Besides making your dog look unattractive, the mats bring discomfort now and then. Lastly, the mats tend to pull your dog’s skin a lot, which is often a painful ordeal.

For example, has someone ever tried pulling your hair? Was it an enjoyable experience? I bet not. Now imagine such happening to your dog continuously.

Thus, such a dog will need immediate care to live a happy life, and one of the best alternatives is cutting mats down. When doing so, ensure you have chosen the best dog clippers for matted hair.

So why is it not wrong to cut matted dog hair?

1. You enable plenty of airflow all over your dog’s coat since dog mats block airflow through your dog’s coat which is not good.

2. You make your dog look better. As earlier discussed, dogs with matted hair don’t look nice. However, you can make your dog look better by cutting his matted hair. When doing so, ensure you use the best dog clippers for matted hair. Don’t use regular clippers, which will make your dog fear the consequent haircutting sessions.

3. Make your dog comfortable. Dogs with lots of mats will be uncomfortable as the mats tend to pull the skin a lot. However, using dog clippers for thick matted hair will help improve your dog’s quality of life.

What are matted hairs?

Matted hair is a painful condition in dogs with thick or long hair. It can be started with little knots, and tangles and then the mat can tangle hairs to the skin causing sores. Hidden under the matted hairs, these sores can get worse and may get infected. The area can be extremely itchy and painful for your dog.

How matted hairs cause some serious problems?

Matted hairs can be a serious problem in a number of ways.

  • Mats can be extremely painful. Especially while brushing they can cause healthy hair to pull on the skin.
  • Severe mats can cut the blood supply to your dog’s skin.
  • Mats can trap moisture and cause infection.
  • Mats near the anus can trap feces which can lead to infection.
  • They can give an unpleasant odor to your pet.

What causes matted hairs?

The reasons can vary from as simple as lack of grooming to a more complicated skin problem. Here are a few common reasons.

grooming matted dog

The long coat and more fur

All dogs can get knots and tangles, but dogs with heavy coats or fur are more at risk of severe matting.

Heavy shedding

Dogs that are heavy shedders are more prone to matted hairs. Poodle, Bichon Frise, Cocker Spaniel are heavy shedders especially dogs like Poodles or Goldendoodles are considered non-shedding dogs; they need help by brushing the hairs regularly with a slicker brush. Shedding can cause dead hairs to tangle, and if not brushed they can cause mat hairs.

Friction

Mats occur in the area of friction like under the collar, behind ears, armpits, or the area where the legs rub together or come into contact with grass.

Sitting or playing outside

Dogs that sits more and are left-hipped or right-hipped are more prone to tangles and knots. They can catch dirt, grass, or dust in their fur; hairs may tangle together to form mats. Same more active dogs that like to play out and have fun in pools and parks can get straws or dirt in their fur.

Skin problems

Dogs who have eczema or dull and flaky skin can get mats too. The dead cells of the skin are trapped with hair causing them to knot together and are difficult to brush out.

Lack of grooming

Dogs with long hair need constant grooming. They need to be brushed, combed, and bathed properly and if neglected can get mats.

Following tips can help you prevent mats.

Groom your dog regularly

There is no second saying to that. Proper grooming is necessary for the hygiene and health of your dog.

Brush the hairs

If you have a furry friend, you need to brush the hair like once a week, with longer hairs you might need to brush them every day or on alternate days.
When you brush the fur, make sure to work on all areas carefully. Especially the areas that are more prone to tangles or knots like the area that touches the ground while sitting, or behind ears, or armpits.

Bath Your Dog

Bathe him once a week. Be careful to brush the hairs properly, or the mat can get worse with bathing. Apply shampoo and conditioner and after bathing again carefully brush the hairs to remove any tangles that may have formed with rubbing.

Remove the small knots

Nip it in the bud. The moment you find a little knot remove it immediately. Don’t just pull it away but use your fingers to gently work the knot away.

Cut the knots

If knots are difficult to detangle, then you can simply cut them before they get messy and bigger.

Clip the fur

Being a pet parent, you should have all the necessary tools for grooming. Clip the fur of your dog regularly.

Keeping a short haircut is a more practical option if you don’t have time to take care of your furry friend. You can shave off the areas that are more prone to get mats completely.

Use a detangler cream or spray

Before your pooch enters a pool or jumps in the river applying detangler cream or spray can prevent the knot from forming and making brushing easier afterward.

Remove the straws or grass after a walk

Check your dog’s fur and remove any straws, grass clipping, or other things from the fur right after a walk.

Choose your tools wisely

You may need special combs, or brushes depending on the fur of your dog. There are special brushes to remove shredded hairs. So choose the right tools and don’t let the mats form in your dog’s coat. After the grooming, you can use dry shampoo.

Feed your healthy dog diet with fish oil supplements

A healthy diet can keep your dog’s skin and hair healthy. Fish oil supplements can save him from skin problems as a lack of fatty acids can lead to skin problems in dogs. You can ask your vet what dosage is recommended for your dog’s breed.

How to remove mats

  • Try to brush the area carefully.
  • Use corn starch to remove the mats. Powder some cornstarch, rub it gently, and simply brush the hairs carefully without pulling your pet’s skin.
  • Work on small sections. Start from the end and work your way up to the skin.
  • Don’t ignore paws. Lift each leg and carefully comb the area or if you are using a clipper trim it well.
  • You can use detangling creams, brushes, and combs to remove the mats.
  • Don’t run the bath unless you have removed all mats. Matted hair can work as a sponge and trap moisture inside.
  • If you see the brushing and detangling is not working simply clip off the hairs or take your dog to a professional.
  • There are some detangling shampoos available in the market to deal with the mat. You can try them as well.
  • For smaller mats use a scissor to trim the area. You can place a comb between the skin and the scissor to prevent any damage to the skin.

Mats are no fun, and the best way to deal with them is to keep looking into your pet’s fur for any sign of matting. Appropriate care can save you and your pet a lot of trouble. Groom your pet regularly and use quality clippers for trimming the fur on your dog’s body.

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Payton

    Hey thanks a lot for the good guide. I’ve followed your advice and got the Andis ProClip AGC2 and I have to see this is indeed an excellent one. My dog enjoys this time we spend together and is not scared of the low noise it makes.

  2. Josh Miller

    If you want something powerful that will not be stopped by anything at all, then go for the Oaster A5 one. Nothing can stop it. Oscar didn’t like it at first, but, with time and patience from my part, this has become more pleasant for him. He now comes to me whenever he sees it and I don’t have to go and find him around the house.

    It’s worth its weight in gold I tell you. You just try it and you’ll see for yourself.

Leave a Reply