Dog Grooming Tools

Are you tired of wiping dog hair out of your fridge? We are too! Check out the best dog deshedding tool that really works!

Undercoat Rake

Save your hard earned cash and buy an undercoat rake. This tool works wonders! Before all the expensive gadgets came around, the undercoat rake was, and still is, the best tool to remove dead hair and excessive undercoat. Costs range between $10-$25 and they last forever.

What is Undercoat?

Undercoat is the soft downy fur, which provides the fluff to your dog’s coat. It’s also the fluff that clings to your favorite black jacket or lands in a guest’s dinner plate. 🙂 To locate it, part your dog’s coat along his side to reveal the shedding culprit. See the lighter colored and cottony hair? That is undercoat. All dogs have an undercoat. For short-haired breeds, part hair along the top of your dog’s neck. Ah, now you see it!

Funny and annoying thing about undercoats is it must be brushed out or it will shed or mat, depending on your dog’s breed. Personally, I would much rather spend the time upfront brushing undercoat out, then vacuuming months on end.

Choosing an Undercoat Rake

Undercoat rakes have straight metal or plastic teeth positioned closely together to grab and remove dead hair. Rake lengths vary depending on coat length. However, it’s best to choose a shorter tooth rake length to prevent skin damage. Even for longer haired breeds, such as Siberian Huskies, the shorter tooth rake will work just as well, especially if brushed using small sections. Some undercoat rakes boost double rows of rakes. However, they clog up faster, which prevents removing the maximum amount of hair in a short time.

When using an undercoat rake, don’t apply too much pressure or you’ll rake the metal teeth across your dog’s tender skin. Always brush in small sections. Brushing burn (brush-caused abrasions) is painful and require veterinary attention.

What About the Other Deshedding Tools?

There’s an old saying: If you ask 10 dog trainers a question, you’ll get 10 different answers. I agree to a point, but we will agree on the best products out there. Some of the expensive dog deshedding tools actually break the dog’s coat, meaning it shortens the hair shaft instead of removing excessive coat. Before falling for photos displaying mountains of deshedded hair piled next to a dog, look closely at the dog’s coat. You’ll see a ton of undercoat waiting to fly away and cling to the ceiling fan. Yup, the mountain of dog hair is probably broken coat. Don’t break hair. Remove it. 🙂

Agree if you think an undercoat rake is the best dog deshedding tool out there!