Every dog breed has its own unique hair type – coats range from thin and short to long and thick. When grooming your pooch, you want to find the best clippers for your dog’s specific hair type. If your dog has a thick coat, you’ll want to find the best of the best to provide a smooth clipping through rough hair.
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How to get ready to groom your dog’s thick coat
If this is your first time grooming, start with some research. Watch some instructional videos of grooming dogs, or ask your local groomer about the best techniques. They will give you additional advice to keep in mind when cutting your dog’s hair.
Before you go to groom, make sure your clipper is fully charged. Oil the blade so that it will provide a smoother cut and keep it from overheating. A cooling gel works great to avoid overheating.
The first step to prepare for grooming your dog is to start with a bath. Wash your dog’s hair and then thoroughly dry and comb it. Check for any cuts or bumps to avoid during shaving as it might irritate those areas of the skin.
Next, you’ll want to find a way to restrain the dog on an elevated surface. It’s best to get someone to help you so that you’re not distracted by holding down your dog while trying to clip its hair.
Tips for grooming dogs with heavy mats
If your dog’s hair is very matted, don’t start trimming until you’ve cut or combed through all of the mats. Brush out any mats or use a pair of sharp scissors to cut through them. If you don’t, the clipper will break or get stuck in your dog’s fur. You can also purchase a specialized mat comb to brush through these pesky pieces of fur.
For very large mats, use a pair of sharp scissors to cut and loosen them prior to using the clipper. Make sure all mats are small and loosened.
Shaving your dog’s hair
When you’re ready to cut, take the clippers and start moving slowly down the back of the neck and down the body. Follow the natural hairline to ensure the smoothest cut possible. Proceed with the backs and fronts of the legs, and then have someone lift your dog on its hind legs so you can cut the stomach fur. After that, carefully remove all the long hairs on its paws and face, but avoid the whiskers.
Avoiding blade heating while grooming
Clipper blades often heat up when cutting through thick fur, so remember to cut slowly. Cutting slowly will provide the smoothest cut and keep the blade from overheating. Take breaks in between cuts to let the blade cool down.
What to look for in a clipper for trimming heavy coats
There are several features to consider when choosing the right clipper. Cordless clippers make it easier to shave the harder-to-reach spots, but corded clippers are better for heavily matted dogs because they are much more powerful. You also want to consider the weight of the clipper. A more lightweight clipper is easier to work with and won’t strain your hands as much as a heavy one. But be careful – lighter clippers vibrate more and could frighten your dog. If your dog is easily nervous, purchase a quieter clipper.
You also want to make sure the clipper has a high rotary speed-per-minute (RPM). High-speed clippers work best on thick-haired dogs, getting the job done quickly. A clipper with multiple speeds makes it easier to shave different parts of the hair. Lastly, consider the blade type. Metal blades heat quickly, so they’re not the best for thick coats. A ceramic blade works better because it takes more time to heat.
TOP Recommended Clipper: Andis ProClip AGC2 is great for thick fur
The first things I notice about the Andis ProClip AGC2 clippers for dogs are the heavy casing and the long cord. These clippers are made to survive being dropped with no damage to them at all. The casing is around barrel shape which is nice if you prefer an instrument with a wide grip. It comes with an UltraEdge Size 10 Blade and a 14-foot cord that gives you plenty of lengths to maneuver around even a large dog. Plus with a cord, you don’t have to worry about a battery running out.
You will still want to take some breaks though because these clippers do heat up. Using the cooling spray helps, or you might just want to switch out the blades periodically. The Andis ProClip has detachable blades and will fit all blade sizes. You can use UltraEdge, CeramicEdge, ShowEdge and Oster A-5 blades with these clippers. Ceramic blades tend to stay cooler than metal.
With its high and low speeds, the Andis ProClip AGC2 is a heavy-duty set of clippers that work very well on curly hair, even when it’s matted. The size 10 blade that it comes with is good for poodles, mixed poodle breeds, and other dogs with curly fur.
The description says these clippers work for all breeds and all coats, but if you have a medium-size or large dog with a lot of very thick fur, you can use these clippers, but you will need more heavy-duty blades that you’ll have to purchase separately. But even though you might need to invest in heavier blades, you can be sure that the Andis ProClip AGC2 will get the job done.
But for all their power, these clippers work great for nervous dogs because they are surprisingly quiet compared to other brands and models. You’ll be able to groom around your skittish dog’s ears and face with no problem.
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