7 Best DeShedding Tools for Dogs (by Coat Type)

Is your shedding dog making you pull your own hair out in frustration?! We got you, friend. Check out our top picks for best deshedding tools for dogs below.

7 Best De-Shedding Tools for Dogs - Short, Medium and Long Coated Dogs

Image source: Helena Lopes via Pexels

Why and when to use a deshedding tool on your dog

First-off, it’s important to note that deshedding is different from brushing your dog. We brush our dogs to remove dirt, dander, tangles and mats, whereas we de-shed to remove loose, dead undercoat and excess fuzz. Some dogs shed seasonally, while others shed all year round.

When your dog is shedding, it is typically recommended to use a deshedding tool 1-2 times a week as needed (in addition to daily brushing) in order to maintain a healthy coat.

Other benefits of using a deshedding tool include:

  • It prevents the accumulation of dead skin and hair
  • It minimizes the amount of pet dander around your home
  • It minimizes tangles, matting and knots caused by excess hair
  • It improves/stimulates circulation and air-flow around the skin
  • It helps to keep your dog cool in summer
  • It minimizes the amount of dog hair on your floors, clothes and furniture!!

Which deshedding tool is best?

Not all deshedding tools are the same and what works well for some dogs might not work as well (if at all) for others.

Similarly, for some dogs, a single deshedding tool might be all that is needed, while others may need a combination of tools to keep their coats in tip-top condition. It all comes down to coat type, length and texture…  as well as your grooming preferences and dog’s tolerance for grooming!

For the purposes of this post, we’ve separated our favorite deshedding tools by coat length and type below.

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Best DeShedding Tools for Short/Smooth Coated Dogs

The following tools are ideally suited to shedding dogs whose coats stay short/smooth naturally (i.e. they do not need to be trimmed or clipped). Breed examples include Labradors, Pugs, Pitties, Rottweilers and Greyhounds.

Image via FURminator

Key features:

  • Fine tooth stainless steel deshedding edge
  • Ergonomic handle with fur ejector button
  • Removes loose fur and undercoat without damaging coat
  • Does not cut the fur
  • Gentle on skin
  • 3 sizes available

Works best on:

  • Short, smooth coated dogs that shed

Key features:

  • Fine tooth rubber nubs attract loose fur while brushing
  • Fits comfortably in the palm
  • Massages whilst you brush
  • Gentle on the skin
  • Can be used dry or in the bath while shampooing

Works best on:

  • Short, smooth coated dogs that shed
  • Great for dogs that don’t tolerate a lot of brushing as it is so gentle

Image via Kong

Key features:

  • Large rubber bristles attract loose fur while brushing
  • Fits comfortably in the palm
  • Massages whilst you brush
  • Stimulates capillaries and natural oil production
  • Can be used dry or in the bath while shampooing
  • Gentle on the skin
  • Available in 2 sizes and 2 colors

Works best on:

  • Short to medium coated dogs that shed
  • Great for dogs that don’t tolerate a lot of brushing

Image via Coastal Pets

Key features:

  • Sharp stainless steel deshedding blade
  • Double-sided blade (coarse side and fine side)
  • Thins top coat while removing loose fur and undercoat
  • Handle can be opened to cover larger surface area quickly

Works best on:

  • Short coarse coated and thick double-coated dogs that shed
  • Dogs that require thinning as well as deshedding
  • Best suited for medium to large breeds

Not recommended for dogs with thin hair.

Does your dog hate being brushed?

For short to medium coated pups that shed and hate brushes, try a pair of pet grooming gloves instead.

Image via Delomo

Key features:

  • Mimics the touch of your hand for a soft and relaxing massage while grooming
  • Removes loose hair quickly, gently, and effectively
  • Five finger design allows you to groom in hard-to-reach places like the face, tail and inside of legs
  • Can be used dry or in the bath whilst shampooing
  • Doesn’t feel like a traditional brush to your dog

Works best on:

  • Short to medium smooth-coated shedding dogs that don’t tolerate brushing/ grooming well

Best DeShedding Tools for Medium-Long Coated Dogs

The following tools are ideally suited to dogs with combination coats (like Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds), as well as heavy and double-coated breeds (like German Shepherds, Huskies, Corgis, Great Pyrenees, Newfoundland, Rough Coated Collies).

Tools such as the undercoat rake, FURminator and slicker brush are also suitable for shedding dogs with silky coats like Spaniels and Setters, and also wire-coated breeds.

Image via PawsPamper/Amazon.

Key features:

  • De-matting and deshedding capability
  • Dual-use, double-sided round rake blades thin the fur, remove mats and remove loose undercoat simultaneously
  • Quality construction with stainless steel teeth
  • 4 rake/blade options available to suit your needs
  • Gentle on skin

Works best on:

  • Combination and silky coats that shed
  • Heavy/double-coated breeds
  • Wire coated breeds that shed

Not recommended for dogs with thin hair.

Use sparingly on feathering/ears/tail of silky coated breeds as rake blades can thin/cut coat length considerably, best used for body work and de-matting on these types of dogs.

Image via FURminator/Amazon.

Key features:

  • Fine tooth stainless steel deshedding edge
  • Ergonomic handle with fur ejector button
  • Removes loose fur and undercoat without damaging top coat
  • Reduces matting when used regularly
  • Does not cut the fur
  • Gentle on skin

Works best on:

  • Medium to long haired dogs that shed
  • Combination, silky and wire coated shedding breeds
  • Heavy and double-coated breeds
  • Great for dogs that tolerate brushing/grooming

Important – You must remove mats/tangles BEFORE using this tool on medium-long coated dogs as the fine-tooth de-shedding edge can get caught on these and cause pain.

Image via Hertzko/Amazon.

Key features:

  • Fine wire bristles penetrate deep into the coat to remove loose hair, tangles, knots, dander and trapped dirt
  • Does not cut or damage the coat
  • Easy-to-clean, ‘eject fur’ button
  • Comfort grip, anti-slip handle
  • Gentle on skin

Works best on:

  • Thick and double-coated breeds
  • Combination and silky coated shedding breeds

Image via Coastal Pets/Amazon.

Key features:

  • Sharp stainless steel deshedding blade
  • Double-sided blade (coarse and fine)
  • Thins top coat while removing loose fur
  • Handle can be opened to cover larger surface area quickly

Works best on:

  • Short coarse coated dogs that shed
  • Thick double-coated dogs
  • Dogs that require thinning as well as deshedding
  • Best suited for medium to large breeds

Not recommended for dogs with thin hair.

A note about 'non-shedding' breeds...

The use of deshedding tools (with the exception of a slicker brush) on long (continuously growing) or drop coated breeds like Maltese, Shih Tzus, and Yorkshire Terriers as well as breeds with curly/wavy/fleece coats like Poodles is not generally recommended or even necessary as the fur that is shed is so minimal that regular brushing/combing is usually more than sufficient to remove it.

 

7 Best DeShedding Tools for Dogs (by Coat Type) - White Fluffy Double-Coated Dog, Samoyed Puppy Dog, grooming tools for dogs that shed.
7 Best DeShedding Tools for Dogs (by Coat Type) - featuring brands such as FURminator, Zoom Groom, Safari and Hertzko, slicker brush, undercoat rake, rubber brush, shedding blade, grooming tools for dogs that shed. Chocolate Labrador.

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