Best Clippers for Goldendoodles – Andis AG2 Clippers Review (2022 Update)

This is a personal review of the Andis Super 2-Speed AG Clipper with #10 Blade.

Having gone to a local groomer for years, I decided to invest in some professional-grade clippers to try my hand at at-home grooming Chloe, my F1 Doodle. The timing of when I purchased the clippers wasn’t random; yes – Chloe was in desperate need of a shaving because of my allergies, but our little family had been freshly relocated to a new state where a “promising” new job was proving to be anything but promising. And thinking back on the groomer’s fee of $105 just 2 months prior, I couldn’t carry myself to bring her back there only to be charged nearly half my first paycheck for a choppy cut. Besides, I had always been interested in learning how to groom my dogs, so I thought, “What better time than now?”

When you’re being charged over $100 for a single Doodle cut, it should go without saying that purchases like the Andis AG2 Clippers are supposed to serve as long-term investments. That’s why I didn’t hesitate to purchase the clippers, a can of clipper blade cooling spray, and an additional Andis #5FC CeramicEdge clipper blade in one sitting.

It cost me about $200 in total for the three items, but I didn’t hesitate because I knew I would save SO much money in the long run (around $400 for professional cuts every year). And when you have a Goldendoodle and are partial to having her sport a shorter “do,” it’s definitely a no-brainer.

Anyway, enough backstory.

Andis AG2 Clippers Review

I did my duly research on each item, and the Andis AG2 Clippers had been reviewed hundreds of times with a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

So many positive reviews is what ultimately led me to purchasing these clippers in particular. They also weren’t the cheapest nor the most expensive ones on the market, which also helped sway my decision.

Some of the most common pros of the clippers that people mentioned were that they are sturdy and quiet.

The most common con of the clippers that people mentioned is that they get hot easily.

Here’s my personal review.

2022 Update – Pro: The Clippers Are Still Going Strong After 7 Years of Use!

(This is the only section in this post that wasn’t written in 2015.)

We’ve now been using these clippers for 7 years. For the most part, everything else in this article still rings true.

In 7 years, we’ve used them 4-5 times per year and about 2 years ago started to notice some slowing down in the clipping. We changed out the blade drive for the first time (it originally came with an extra blade drive part) and that seemed to do the trick!

After 7 years of infrequent use, there are hardly any signs of aging. Some little scuff marks on the housing here and there, but nothing noteworthy. (I’m happy to claim the credit on this since I am someone who tends to take very good care of my belongings.)

So even though the Andis AG2 clipper has been discontinued, I think this first-hand experience of durability is a true testament to the overall quality of Andis products.

Pro: The Andis AG2 Clippers are Sturdy and Strong

I couldn’t agree more that these clippers are very sturdy. When I first picked them up and started using them, I knew instantly that they were going to get the job done. I had purchased some cheap $30 Oster clippers a couple years back, which pretty much did nothing on Chloe since she has that thick, wavy (trademark) Doodle hair. These Andis clippers are definitely much better, and they aren’t lying when they say they can “cut through fur like a hot knife through butter.”

On a neutral note, with sturdiness comes weight. Compared to those cheap Oster clippers, the Andis AG2 Clippers surprised me with their weight – weighing approximately 1.5 to 2 pounds.

Pro: The Clippers are Quiet

I’ll be honest here – I’m not really sure if these clippers are considered quiet, but given that it is one of the most common things past reviewers have mentioned, I’ll just have to take their word for it!

Pro: There are Two Clipping Speeds

As a newbie DIY groomer, I overlooked the advertised 2-speed functionality of the Andis AG2 Clippers before I bought them, but I’m definitely glad that I happened to choose these clippers for this reason. I now know that the low speed (speed 1) is really great if you want a controlled cut – such as on the face or around the feet. The high speed (speed 2) is excellent for a quick “mass shedding” (as I like to call it) of the hair on the neck, back, chest, and upper legs.

Pro: The Clippers Can Accommodate a Variety of Blades and Clipper Combs

Admittedly, at first I didn’t know that there were different blades and combs you could attach to clippers. Of course, the Andis AG2 Clippers aren’t the only clippers that allow for interchangeability, but it’s definitely helpful that you can do so on such a powerful piece of Goldendoodle grooming equipment. As mentioned earlier, I purchased an additional blade with this overall care package, which happened to be the Andis #5FC CeramicEdge blade (which cuts hair to ¼”). Another blade with great reviews is the Andis #4FC CeramicEdge blade (cuts hair to 3/8”).

Pro: The Andis AG2 Clippers Don’t Get Clogged Up

When I attempted to use those old Oster clippers years back, I noticed that after only a few strokes of Chloe’s hair, the damn clippers would clog up; hair would be between the blade tips and under the blade itself (caked in between the machine and the blade attachment). The clogging would ultimately decrease the performance of the clippers, which required me to clean them out every minute.

This is virtually not an issue with the Andis AG2 Clippers. Yes, a little bit of hair can get in between things, but by no means does it compromise the performance of the machine (and you don’t have to clean them during the grooming process!).

Pro: Comes with a Long Cord (14 Feet)

Again, this is something I overlooked when I purchased these clippers, but I’m so glad I got lucky enough to get some with such a long power cord. It really comes in handy when your [skittish] Goldendoodle thinks it’s a good idea to move around while being groomed or when you need to access the backside of the dog at a moment’s notice.

Con: the Clipper (Blades) get Hot

This was a common complaint amongst most reviewers, and it’s definitely true. If you start out with a blade at room-temperature, in my experience, the blade becomes “too” hot within about 3-4 minutes of non-stop use. Obviously, the dog will find discomfort in having some hot object touching him, so what I would recommend is purchasing a blade cooling spray and/or another blade. The cooling spray will help cool the blade, as well as act as a disinfectant and lubricant. With another blade, you can simply exchange blades when one becomes too hot and continue to groom without waiting.

Con: Have to Go Over the Hair More than Once

This isn’t a clipper-specific complaint since it really has almost everything to do with how good you are with clippers to begin with, but as a seasoned at-home groomer, I’ve always found myself having to go over certain parts of the body more than once. It just helps to even the hair out in length so it blends and looks better in the end.

Quick Specs of the Andis Super 2-Speed AG Clipper w/#10 Blade

• Shatter-proof housing contoured to fit comfortably in your hand
• Includes one UltraEdge #10 Blade
• Detachable blades for ease of changing and cleaning.
• 4×4 blade drive for 25% more blade torque
• Works with all UltraEdge and CeramicEdge blades (sold separately) – the largest selection in the industry
• Also works with Oster A5 blades
• 14-foot power cord
• Designed and manufactured for years of reliable use
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Two models of the AG2:
  • 2700/3400 spm blade speed
  • 3400/4400 spm blade speed (this is the one I am reviewing)