Best Tool for Deshedding a Dog [Top 10 For Short & Long Hair in 2024]

You’re looking for the best dog deshedding tool and find yourself overwhelmed with all the options, right? I get it. There are a lot of tools out there, and many have different functions.

We’ve curated a list for both long and short-haired dogs so you can be sure to get the best tool for the right job. The Furminator Undercoat Tool came out on top for both long and short hair since it’s a convenient grooming tool that is available in versions designed for either long or short hair.

If you’re looking for the best tool for deshedding a dog, keep on reading.

Related post: Best Dog Grooming Brushes for Short and Long Hair

Best Tools for Deshedding a Long-Haired Dog

Best Tool for Deshedding a Dog Reviews 2024

FURminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool for Dogs won best overall because it ranks highly for comfortability, ease of use, and quality on top of its capabilities. The company boasts that their product reduces the shedding of loose hair up to ninety percent with regular use. The Furminator can handle almost any coat type. It’s a well-rounded tool that checks all of the essential boxes.

FURminator knows that one size does not fit all when it comes to dogs and their brushes. This tool comes in three different sizes and two different fur lengths to ensure an excellent fit for your animal. 

This brush is built with quality in mind and won’t let you down after multiple uses. It ranks highly on the ease of use front because it’s a self-cleaning brush. All you have to do is press a button to eject hair that accumulates in the stainless steel blade. Gone are the times of brushing loose hair into the floor.

FURminator builds its handles with a comfortable, no-slip rubber. It’s great to know you can avoid the dreaded wrist fatigue you typically get when grooming a long-haired pet. 

We’ve talked about the positives, so let’s talk about the negatives. This type of brush will not work well for dogs with sensitive skin or sores. The tiny, compact teeth will drag across these blemishes and cause discomfort.

Brushing a dirty coat with this tool can cause the teeth to become clogged, resulting in minimized results and hair-pulling.  That means you may have to do some prep work on your dog’s coat before using this device. 

Regardless of hair length, blade-on-a-handle tools are not suitable for dogs without undercoats.

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The Lanmu Groom Tool Attachment ranks highly in the ease of use category. This slicker brush attaches to your Dyson vacuum and sucks away the dead hair as you brush. 

This grooming tool is extremely easy to use. You simply hold the button down to extend the bristles, and then begin brushing. When the device accumulates enough hair, release the button. The brush will self-clean, and the vacuum will suck the loose hair into the vacuum port.

This option is great for pet parents who dread cleaning the floor after grooming their pet. 

Unfortunately, this kit is only compatible with a select few of the Dyson brand vacuums. The compatible Dyson models are:

• V6
• V7
• V8
• V10
• V11

Slicker brushes are also not compatible with single coat breeds or dogs with thin coats, as the metal bristles can cause pain or brush burn.

The Chirpy Pets Dog and Cat Brush for Shedding is a budget-friendly blade-on-a-handle tool. The handle features an easy-grip ergonomic construction so you can brush your pet without having to worry about wrist strain.

The four-inch blade is made out of sturdy stainless steel and comes with a blade cover. This addition is great news because if the teeth become damaged, it can affect the device’s efficiency and make your dog uncomfortable during grooming sessions. The included blade cover will make sure that your tool stays in tip-top shape.

This tool hits solid must-haves when looking for a deshedding comb of this type, but everything has drawbacks. This brush looks similar to other blade-on-a-handle devices, but a noticeable difference is that it doesn’t offer a self-cleaning option. 

Due to the tool type, you shouldn’t use this comb on single coated breeds. 

The Hertzko Soft Pet Brush is a durable pin brush with gentle bristles. Due to the bristles” gentle nature, it’s’s perfect for dogs who do not have a protective undercoat. The soft bristles prevent brush burn and irritation.

The handle is made with a comfort-grip and anti-slip material. It also features a thumb rest to prevent wrist fatigue.

Some users remarked that the brush was somewhat large, so this tool may not be the best for small dogs. Users also complain that this brush doesn’t do very well for dogs with thick undercoats as the bristles aren’t long enough to reach it. 

The Pat Your Pet Dematting Rake is perfect for dogs with extremely dense fur. This tool comes equipped with a dual-head. One side of the brush removes mats from your pet’s coat, and the other is for de-shedding. The rounded stainless steel teeth make the deshedding process a more pleasant experience for your dog.

Some people say that the tool can catch and pull on overwhelmingly matted hair. The deshedding side of this tool works best when being used on a recently detangled coat. 

Best Tools for Deshedding a Short-Haired Dog

The FURminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool for Dogs is a blade-on-a-handle deshedding brush. These types of combs work by reaching through the topcoat and removing loose hair from the undercoat.

The blade features curved edges to ensure a comfortable grooming session for your dog.

The non-slip handle features a comfortable ergonomic grip to ensure a relaxed grooming session for you.

Furminator’s high-quality build ensures you get the most out of your money. This tool won’t give up on you after only a couple of uses.

The easy to clean tool has a furjector button that expels the accumulated hair from the blade. All you have to do is brush your pet, and with the touch of a button, you can empty the hair from your comb into the trash can.

The short version comes in three different color-coded sizes:

• Green – Small
• Orange – Medium
• Blue – Large

This tool’s problem is that the close together positioning of the teeth allows the metal blade to become clogged by matted hair or dirt. Since the teeth are easily blocked, you may have to do some light prep work on your dog’s coat before using this brush. You should always start the deshedding session with clean fur that’s free of mats and tangles.

Like all other undercoat tools, this brush isn’t compatible with single coats, skin sores, or sensitivities. 

The Penn-Plax Vacgroom Kit is perfect for pet owners who hate having to clean their house after cleaning up their pet. The kit uses your vacuum to remove loose hair and other debris types as you brush your pup. Deshedding using the Vacgroom results in a much faster and more tidy grooming session. 

 The kit boasts of its nearly universal fit for any circular intake channel, and comes with:

• The Vacgroom tool
• Universal adapter
• 46″” reinforced extension hose
• 3 comb options

Nothing is perfect, however, and we do have to play devil’s advocate here. So one of the things that aren’t so great about the Penn-Plax Vacgroom kit is, some complained that even though the vacuum keeps hair from hitting the floor, the brush itself does not eject fur. That means you have to pull the fur loose from the teeth of the blade manually. Other users also complained that the included hose would come loose from their vacuum while using.

The MIU Pet Deshedding Brush is a great low-budget option for those who want to reduce the amount of loose pet hair without breaking the bank. This brush boasts that it can reduce shedding by up to ninety-five percent.

The device comes with a removable brush head. This feature is useful if you want to store the blade in a safe place or if you would like to give the tool a rinse after a grooming session. It also comes with a blade cover to protect the tiny stainless steel teeth from damage while in storage. 

The durable non-slip handle is comfortable in your hand.

This tool comes in three different colors:

• Blue 
• Sapphire 
• Yellow

So what are the drawbacks, you ask? For the most part, the biggest complaint is that it doesn’t remove as much hair as the higher-end deshedding brushes. This brush’s blade also only comes in one size: four inches. So the size may be too big or too small for some pets.

The Furrbliss Dog Brush sets itself apart from the crowd by removing hair gently. It’s’s made with 100% premium medical-grade silicone so you can rest easy knowing you’re brushing your dog with pet-safe material. This brush is not only vet-approved but it’s’s made by vets as well.

Due to its construction, the brush is water-friendly. That means you can take it into the bath for cleaning sessions in addition to using it for general grooming and fur maintenance. You can also use this device to remove lint and hair from your clothes or upholstery.

Another great thing about Furbliss is that they have a brush for all dog sizes and hair lengths. Since they have such a large selection, you can find just the right brush for your dog. They offer five different color-coded models:

• Yellow – Large pets with short hair
• Red – Large pets with long hair
• Blue – Small pets with short hair
• Green -Small pets with long hair
• Orange – Equine hair 

Even though they offer a wide range of products for different hair lengths, it’s important to temper your expectations. These silicone tools will not remove as much loose undercoat fur as a metal rake or a blade-on-a-handle comb because of their gentle nature. These tools work best on single coated pets or dogs with skin sores or sensitivities.

HandsOn Pet Grooming Gloves are easy to use, as well as easy on the wrists. They are perfect for those with weak wrists or arthritis, as they do not require you to grip a brush. It’s’s as simple as putting on the glove and petting your pup and while doing so, it removes loose hair. The flexible rubber nodules grab the loose fur and remove it from your canine pal. 

These gloves are multipurpose. You can use them on dog wash day to help remove loose hair and dirt from your pet’s coat.

These gloves come in an assortment of different colors. They also come in multiple sizes so your gloves can fit… well, like a glove.

The sizes they offer are: 

• Junior
• Small
• Medium
• Large
• Extra-Large

Unfortunately, fur doesn’t stick to the gloves very well. This type of grooming is best done outside if you would like to avoid post-grooming cleanup. 

What to Consider When Buying Deshedding Tools for Dogs

Tool Types

There are many different types of deshedding tools. The type of device that is best for you depends on your dog’s coat type, hair length, and preferences. Having the proper equipment can ensure you get the most out of your grooming sessions while also ensuring your pet’s safety.

Undercoat rakes are exactly what they sound like. The long teeth move through your pet’s undercoat and rake up the loose hairs. The teeth on these tools are usually metal, and the shape of the teeth vary.

Dogs without undercoats are not compatible with undercoat rakes. Using these tools can cause severe pain and can damage their skin.

Undercoat rakes are most suitable for:

• Double coats
• Extremely Thick coats
• Long/medium hair

Slicker brushes are very popular grooming tools. The bristles on these brushes tend to be made out of metal and are very small. Many models come with a self-cleaning option because the short, crowded bristles aren’t very easy to clean.

These brushes are not compatible with dogs that don’t have an undercoat. If used on incompatible breeds, the deshedding tool can cause brush burn and pain.

Slicker brushes are most suitable for:

• Double coats
• Thick coats
• Wiry hair
• Medium/long hair

Bristle brushes have very slender bristles, and the hardness varies by manufacturer.  Companies usually make these bristles out of either animal hair or a plastic blend composition. Boar’s hair bristles seem to be a favorite for this type of brush. 

This deshedding tool is usually safe for single coated dogs since the bristles are not metal. They don’t usually work well for dogs with thick hair as the bristles are generally too short and too soft to reach the undercoat.

Bristle brushes are most suitable for:

• Short-hair
• Single coats
• Sensitive skin

Pin brushes largely resemble the type of brushes that most people use on their own hair. They come in all shapes and sizes, and the pin’s composition can be plastic or metal. 

The brushes are great for long-haired animals since the bristles are usually long enough to make it to the undercoat. Unfortunately, the reason why it works for long hair is the same reason why it doesn’t work for short hair. The bristles are too long and widely spaced to make a noticeable difference on short-haired dogs.

The pin brush is an excellent option for single coated dogs with long hair. Just make sure the bristles are soft or rounded. Gentle bristles ensure that the pins won’t cause uncomfortable sensations on your dog’s skin.

Most suitable for:

• Single coats
• Medium/long hair

Rubber brushes are, you guessed it, made out of rubber. This type of deshedding brush isn’t a great fit for dogs with long fur or thick undercoats as the ribbed rubber teeth are not very long.

Due to their construction, rubber brushes are usually water-safe. Using rubber brushes to scrub down your pet during bath time can help remove dirt or loose hairs stuck in the undercoat. 

These brushes are great for dogs with short hair, sensitive skin, or dogs with single coats. The rubber construction won’t irritate the skin, unlike most other deshedding combs.

Most suitable for:

• Sensitive skin
• Broken skin
• Single coats
• Short hair

Blade-on-a-handle combs seem to be many people’s favorite tool to reduce shedding. They have metal teeth in a tight row that slide through the undercoat to remove loose fur. These combs work well for a lot of different coat types. However, dogs with the densest or longest of coats may not be compatible with this brush as it may not be possible to get the blade past the overcoat. 

These combs don’t play well with mats and tangles. A different comb may be needed to detangle the coat before use. These blades are also not compatible with dogs who don’t have an undercoat.

Most suitable for:

• Medium/long hair
• Double coats
• Thick coats

Coat Type

When it comes to deshedding tools, it’s essential to tailor your purchase to your dog’s coat type. Using the wrong kind of brush on your dog can result in an uncomfortable grooming session for your pup, with little to no actual results. 

There is the coat you can see (overcoat), and then another layer of fur underneath (undercoat). Most people don’t think about the undercoat or lack thereof, but it’s a crucial factor when deciding what brush is best.

A double coated dog has an undercoat. This extra coat helps protect your dog from the weather. The undercoat will be much thicker during the winter and will reduce significantly by summer. Dogs will usually blow their coat in spring to prepare for their summer coat, and in fall to prepare for their winter coat.

A single coated dog will have no undercoat and therefore are not compatible with undercoat deshedding tools. Using undercoat tools on a single coated dog can cause grooming sessions to be painful. These uncomfortable grooming sessions cause brush burn, scratches, and sores,   to appear on your dog’s skin.

While single coated dogs are usually said to be a non-shedding breed, that simply isn’t true. Every dog sheds; these dogs just tend to shed less.

If your pup is an AKC recognized breed, you can find breed-specific grooming information on their website. 

Skin Health

When selecting the best dog grooming tool for your shedding problem, it’s essential to consider their skin health.

When grooming dogs with sensitive skin, sores, allergies, or any other skin irritation, you should be using gentle tools.  Never use harsh tools on broken skin. Raking a metal tool across scabs or sores causes pain and discomfort to your pet, and can even cause bleeding. 

If your pet links brushing to pain, it can cause your dog to be afraid of grooming tools. This link can cause the dog to associate grooming with pain and encourage bad behaviors.

Make sure to look over your pet’s coat before grooming to confirm your furry friend’s skin is healthy enough for the type of tool you plan on using.

Keep in mind that skin sores combined with heavy shedding can be symptoms of a bigger problem. Seek help from a veterinarian if you’re worried about any symptoms your dog may have.

Comfortability

Grooming tools shouldn’t be uncomfortable for your pup, and they shouldn’t be uncomfortable for you either. You should groom your pet regularly and often, so making sure to buy a comfortable tool should be a big priority. 

Some terms to look for when buying a deshedding tool are:

• Ergonomic handle
• Comfortable handle
• Non-slip
• Easy-grip

These terms usually mean that the company has put thought into the handle’s construction.

Ease of Use

Deshedding is usually a messy affair. Some tools rake fur into the floor for later clean up, while others trap hair in the comb. Some brushes can deposit trapped hair into the trash can with a touch of a button, while others make use of a vacuum. 

The best products will help you keep the mess to a minimum and make cleanup a breeze. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is deshedding good for dogs?

Yes. When you de-shed your dog, you’re removing loose fur from their coat. Leaving dead hair in your dog’s fur can cause dirt and oil buildup, itching, or matting.

What will stop my dog from shedding so much?

Dogs will shed regardless of what you do. Shedding is normal and healthy; however, excessive shedding can be a sign of a medical condition. See your vet if you’re worried about any symptoms.

You can also lower the amount of loose fur in your house by bathing and brushing your dog regularly. Grooming your dog more often during spring and fall (the times of year dogs blow their coats) will also lower the amount of dog hair accumulating in your home.

How often should I use a deshedding tool on my dog?

You should always follow the recommendations from the manufacturer in regards to the use of grooming products. Some tools are safe to use every day, while others are only safe to use once or twice a month. Grooming frequency also depends on shedding tendencies and coat types.

Last update on 2024-08-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API