Best clippers for long haired dogs

Best Clippers for Long Haired Dogs: Coat Type and Safe Use

ByKen

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Updated 19 October 2026 | Author: Editorial team, bestdogsstuff.com

The best clippers for long haired dogs are chosen after the coat is identified, not before. Shoppers looking for clippers for long haired dogs usually want a tool that keeps a long coat tidy at home, especially around the feet, without damaging the coat. The pages we opened from AKC, the ASPCA and Cornell’s Riney Canine Health Center agree on two points: coat type decides whether to clip at all, and the tool choice belongs with a groomer or veterinarian. None of them names a clipper model, so this guide explains how to choose and marks what the sources do not settle.

Quick answer

  • Identify the coat first. AKC says that “Many dogs should not be shaved at all, depending on their coat type.”
  • Do not shave a double coat down to the skin. AKC says that “Shaving a double coat can also do long-term damage.”
  • Ask a groomer or veterinarian which tool suits the coat. AKC advises talking with one before buying grooming supplies.
  • Brush first and trim second. The ASPCA says long-haired dogs need more than a brush: they also need combing and trimming around the feet.

Why coat type comes before the clipper

A double coat is built to insulate. AKC describes it this way: “Double-coated dogs have a soft, inner coat of hair close to their skin that serves as an insulating layer, helping keep them warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather.” AKC’s veterinary chief adds that “Your dog’s coat actually acts as an insulator,” which is why a shave to reduce shedding or cool a dog can backfire. Shaving removes that insulating layer, and AKC says it makes the dog susceptible to heat stroke.

Single-coated dogs are different. AKC says that “Certain types of single-coated dogs may benefit from having a professional groomer clip their coats occasionally to prevent matting and to keep them cooler.” Even for those dogs, the coat should not be shaved to the skin. The clipping question therefore has two answers depending on the dog, and the coat type tells you which one applies.

The sources also give a reason beyond heat. AKC says that “When it’s shaved down to the skin, the undercoat hair will grow back faster, and sometimes will crowd out the slower-growing guard hairs.” AKC says this “can change the texture and color of a dog’s coat and make it appear patchy and unattractive.”

What the sources say about long-coat trimming at home

The ASPCA says a long-haired dog needs more than a standard brush. It describes a long, luxurious coat as needing daily attention, and it recommends combing through the fur and trimming the hair around the feet in addition to brushing. The ASPCA page also says that “Regular grooming with a brush or comb will help keep” the hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading natural oils and preventing tangles.

AKC’s grooming page is more specific about the feet. It says that “Hair growing between the toes can mat easily and may need a careful trim from a professional.” That line matters for a clipper choice: the sources put the between-toe trim with a professional, not with a home tool. When brushing, AKC also says to “Check regularly for burrs, plant material, mats, cuts, scrapes, or other abnormalities,” and it notes that “Mats commonly develop behind the ears and under the legs.”

AKC names breeds that need frequent coat upkeep. It says that “Some breeds, including the Afghan Hound, Poodle, and Komondor, require frequent coat maintenance.” For those breeds, AKC points to professional groomers, and says that “Professional groomers, dog handlers, and some veterinary technicians are trained to provide breed-specific grooming services.”

Coat situations and what the sources say

The table below pulls the main coat situations from the pages we opened and states the guidance each one gets. It is a summary of the sources, not a clipper-by-clipper comparison.

Coat situation What the sources say Who to ask
Double coat, long Do not shave down to the skin; shaving can do long-term damage Groomer or veterinarian
Single long coat Clipping may help prevent matting and keep the dog cool; leave at least one inch of hair Groomer, for occasional clips
Hair between the toes May mat easily and may need a careful trim from a professional Professional groomer
Breeds that need frequent maintenance Require frequent coat maintenance Professional groomer or breed-specific groomer

The one-inch rule comes from AKC’s shaving page. It says “It’s best to leave at least one inch of hair to protect them from sunburn, skin cancer, and bug bites” for the single-coated dogs it describes. The rule is for those dogs, and the pages we opened do not extend it to double coats.

Here is the arithmetic that follows from the one-inch rule, for a single-coated dog with an example coat length. A coat that is 3 inches long can be cut down to 1 inch, which removes 3 inches minus 1 inch, or 2 inches. A coat that is 6 inches long removes 6 minus 1, or 5 inches, in one pass. The numbers are illustrations of the rule, not measurements of any breed.

Tools the sources name, and when to ask for help

AKC’s grooming page lists tools that suit some coat types. It names clippers alongside stripping knives, rakes and dog-specific hairdryers. The same page advises talking with a veterinarian or groomer about the best tools for your dog’s coat type before buying supplies. That is the closest the sources come to a clipper recommendation, and it puts the choice with a professional who can see the coat.

For brushing tools rather than clippers, see our Labrador grooming brush guide. For nail tools, which are a different job, see our guide to toe nail clippers for large dogs.

AKC’s brush-type page explains what a slicker brush and an undercoat rake do. It says that slicker brushes can be used on “medium-coated, long-coated, wire-coated, and curly-coated dogs to remove mats (and prevent mats from forming).” Undercoat rakes are described as designed “to penetrate through to the undercoat to remove loose fur.”

Handling, habituation and safety during a session

The Cornell page describes gradual exposure to grooming tools, including clippers. Its suggestion is “allowing your dog to investigate brushes, clippers, or the bathtub at their own pace.” The method it describes is gradual: “Each exposure should be paired with small, frequent rewards.” It adds that “Keep sessions short, predictable and always end on a positive note.” The page also says, “Stopping early while things are still going well is a success.”

Signs of stress matter during any session. Cornell lists “lip licking, yawning when not tired, freezing, pulling away, or showing the whites of their eyes” as early signs of stress, and it warns that “Pushing past a dog’s comfort level can make the next session more difficult or even cause setbacks.” A session that ends before the dog is distressed is the one to repeat.

AKC’s grooming page adds a checklist for any session. It says to “Monitor the skin for cuts, sores, lacerations, or wounds during grooming sessions,” and to “Contact your veterinarian if you discover injuries or unusual skin conditions.” If you find cuts, sores or unusual skin conditions, the sources say to contact your veterinarian.

Mats and why brushing comes first

AKC says to brush “all the way down to the skin using gentle strokes” and to check regularly for mats. For a tangle, its shedding page says to “Remove tangles with a steel comb or a mat-splitting tool before brushing further.” The ASPCA adds that “Dogs who are not groomed regularly and have matted, dirty coats can be prone to developing hot spots,” and that “Thick-coated, longhaired breeds are most commonly affected.”

The practical order follows from those sources: brush down to the skin, check for mats and debris, then decide whether the coat needs trimming and who should do it.

How often a long coat needs attention

Frequency is the part of the routine most people underestimate. AKC says that “Most dogs only need a few brushing sessions a week, though long-coated breeds often do best with daily brushing.” The ASPCA puts the long, luxurious coat in the daily category, saying it “need daily attention.” Daily brushing is 7 x 1 = 7 sessions a week, which is the count to plan around for a long coat that the ASPCA describes as needing daily attention.

A coat that is brushed only when it looks bad is the situation the ASPCA links to matted coats and hot spots, so the brushing schedule matters as much as the clipper.

Common mistakes

  • Shaving a double coat to the skin. AKC’s warning that “Shaving a double coat can also do long-term damage” applies even when the goal is a cooler dog.
  • Clipping over mats. The sources say to remove tangles with a steel comb or a mat-splitting tool before brushing further, so a clip over a mat is the wrong order.
  • Skipping the feet. AKC says “Hair growing between the toes can mat easily and may need a careful trim from a professional,” so a home clip that ignores the feet can leave the problem in place.
  • Letting a coat go until it mats. The ASPCA says that dogs who are “not groomed regularly” with “matted, dirty coats can be prone to developing hot spots.”
  • Starting clippers too fast. Cornell’s point is that “Pushing past a dog’s comfort level can make the next session more difficult or even cause setbacks.”

How we chose

This guide covers the question a reader actually asks: which clipper suits a long coat, and when a clipper is the wrong answer. We looked for pages that give specific, checkable claims about coat type, clipping, mats and grooming tools. We opened AKC pages, an ASPCA page and a Cornell University veterinary page, and we dropped any claim we could not match to the saved page text. We gave priority to university and AKC material and did not use Wikipedia.

We did not rank clipper models or brands, and this post has no product cards, so nothing here comes from a listing. The coat table and the one-inch arithmetic come only from the pages we opened.

What we could not verify

  • Which clipper model, blade length or motor suits a given long coat. The pages we opened do not name models or blade sizes.
  • Blade heat, noise level and cordless run time. None of the pages we opened covers them.
  • Cleaning and blade-oiling intervals. Not covered.
  • A blade-length table by breed. The pages give the one-inch rule for single coats, not breed-level lengths.
  • Whether a home clip changes matting frequency over months. The sources describe mats and their causes, not how a clip changes them.
  • Any product’s stated blade, power or warranty. This guide does not check listings and does not repeat listing claims.

FAQ

Can I clip a long-haired dog at home?

The sources describe brushing and combing as the home routine. AKC puts the between-toe trim with a professional, and the ASPCA recommends trimming the hair around the feet on top of brushing. For a double coat, the pages we opened say not to shave down to the skin, so a home clip should stay within the coat.

Should I shave a double-coated dog in summer?

The pages we opened say no. AKC says that “Many dogs should not be shaved at all, depending on their coat type,” and that a double coat insulates against heat as well as cold. Shaving it can make the dog more susceptible to heat stroke, according to AKC’s veterinary chief.

How much hair can I safely take off a single long coat in one trim?

AKC’s guidance is to leave at least one inch of hair on single-coated dogs. A 3-inch coat can lose 2 inches in one trim, and a 6-inch coat can lose 5 inches. These are illustrations of the rule for single-coated dogs only.

Which breeds need frequent coat maintenance?

AKC names the Afghan Hound, Poodle and Komondor as breeds that require frequent coat maintenance. For those breeds, the sources point toward a professional groomer for the coat work.

How do I get a puppy used to clippers?

Cornell’s advice is gradual: let the dog investigate the clippers at its own pace, pair each exposure with small rewards, keep sessions short and stop while the dog is still comfortable. Stopping early counts as success, and pushing past the dog’s comfort level can set training back.

Bottom line

Identify the coat before you use or buy any clipper. Keep a double coat out of a skin-level clip, use the one-inch rule only for single-coated dogs the sources describe, and ask a groomer or veterinarian to pick the tool for the coat.

Sources

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