If you and your fur-baby are dealing with some shedding issues, you are at the right place. A solution is not too fur-away ! Today, we will take a look at the deshedding brushes and their combination that are excellent at tackling all of that extra fluff.
Before we begin, I want to introduce you to my friend – Aditi.
Aditi, my schoolmate, had German Shepherd dogs for more than 12 years. Even a first-time visitor would easily tell she had dogs, coz lo and behold – The dog-fur.
Clothes, furniture, linen, bookshelf, every nook and corner of her house had a little tornado of dog fur which I used to call – the ‘ furnado ‘.
Dog-bath-days were a nightmare for Aditi’s family. Though Aditi brushed her dogs every week, she had no idea about the dog shedding process and the need for deshedding brushes in her dogs’ grooming kit.
Short-fur or long-fur, all dogs shed, and deshedding is the manual removal of a dog’s loose, dead fur. The idea is to clear away the fur before it lands on your clothes, furniture, floor, linen, and food.
It’s no more a secret, that no dog is shed-free. While all dogs shed their fur, some don’t shed as much as the others.
Certain dog breeds like Boston Terrier, Poodle, Shar-Pei, Bison Frise and Yorkshire Terrier are mild shedders compared to Bulldogs, Akitas, Pomeranians, Beagles, Pugs, and Alaskan Malamute.
My Indian Pariah – Selfie, sheds less compared to my fluffy beast– Tuffy, a German Spitz.
Well, there’s a reason why some dogs are heavy shedders (coat-blowers), and others just drop hair all throughout the year. It depends on the breed and layers of fur (type of coat).
A single coat dog has a single layer of fur, and a double coat dog has two layers of dense woolly fur, an under coat and an outer coat.
Dogs with a double coat tend to shed fur seasonally just like trees shed their leaves during fall and grow new foliage in spring.
In the fall, you will see it shedding its light summer coat and a higher incidence of shedding as a sign of preparation for the winter.
On the other hand, in the spring, a dog sheds its thick winter coat, and the dog’s coat becomes airy and lighter in preparation for the ‘dog days’ in summer.
While most dogs shed few times a year, some of them like Huskies, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Newfoundlands that have thicker double-coats, create furnados all year round.
Additionally, some medical conditions can also cause excess shedding in dogs. Parasites, fungal infections, stress or sunburn are some of the more common issues that may cause a dog to shed excessively.
But, the question is, how do we deal with dog shedding?
Brushing every day or even few times a week with deshedding brushes will help your dog who just can’t seem to stop shedding fur.
Your dog will love these deshedding brushes as they are designed to feel good like a massage.
As long as you brush your dog with gentle and smooth strokes in the direction of the hair, he will find it to be a soothing experience in no time.
Most importantly, the more fur you remove by brushing, the less it will end up on your clothes, floors, and furniture. So, here’s a list of a variety of deshedding brushes and tools you’ll need.
Table of Contents
1. Pin Slicker Brush
The pin slicker brush is a favourite of every dog owner and dog for obvious reasons.
A dog being brushed with a pin slicker brush enjoys the grooming session just like you would enjoy a head-massage at a parlor.
The slicker brush is the first and the most basic type of brush used while grooming a dog, at home or at the groomers. The fine stainless steel bristles help to loosen up the hair of your pooch.
This high-quality deshedding brush is also pocket friendly for dog parents. It comes in all sizes, and in two styles – a regular pin slicker brush, and a self-cleaning slicker brush with a one-click self-cleaning feature.
The slicker brushes come with a comfortable and angular design for dog owners to grip easily and use.
This universal deshedding grooming tool is ideal for all dog breeds, including those with short, medium, and long fur.
What fans say: “I’m a fuzzy-wuzzy dog. My momie calls me boochie – as I look like a hairy boochie (a hairy caterpillar in the Anglo-Indian terminology). For obvious reasons, momie brushes me every morning, and grooms me especially before and after a bath on ‘bathy-bathy’ days. I love it when my momie brushes me with a spiky comb – the slicker brush. It feels like hundreds of tiny fingers are giving me a good scratch all over my body. With the slicker brush, my hair is free from knots and tangles, and I also have a healthy skin. Thank you momie!” – TUFFY, German Spitz
2. Undercoat Deshedding Brush
This tool is the most effective brush among all the deshedding brushes for dogs. It reduces shedding by 95%.
With 10-minutes brushing sessions twice or thrice a week, you’ll notice a dramatic decrease in the amount of dog fur on your clothes, furniture, floor, linen, and hands when you pet your fur buddy.
It is great for both single and double-coat dogs. This deshedding tool with a rust-resistant smooth blade does its job bang on.
Dog parents swear by this deshedding brush tool because it’s inexpensive, very effective, and dogs seem to enjoy being groomed with it.
The removable stainless steel comb lasts for years and can withstand the toughest coats.
This product works for all types of dog breeds, but many dog owners suggest it is best for labs, beagles, bulldogs, and other short-hair breeds.
What fans say: “My name is Doraemon. No, I’m not the Nobita-Doraemon. My human likes the blue cat and chose to name me after it. He loves me more, though. Why wouldn’t he! I’m a 1-year-old fleece ball, and I have the best family on earth. They bring me new toys and grooming tools every month, and this time I got the best brush ever – The Toothy. That’s what my human and I call it. I’m a heavy shedder, but Toothy helps to reduce it. I wasn’t allowed on the couch until Toothy came into my life. Now I can sit on the couch and cuddle with my family.” – DORAEMON, Labrador Retriever
3. Deshedding Rake
Rake away that fur!
This tool helps in pulling out the dead fur in a dog’s coat.
It has specially designed teeth that rakes away the loose undercoat fur with ease.
You can use the rake prior to or during bathing your dog. It helps to reduce shedding and keeps those fur piles controlled.
The rake works best for dogs with thick undercoats, and can be used as often as daily.
For dogs with thin undercoats, you may use the rake once or twice a week.
Typically, a rake designed to pull out dead coat is T-shaped and looks like a comb with wide rounded steel pins. It also has an anti-slip handle.
Another kind of rake is an undercoat rake. This has curved double-sided teeth that removes dead, fuzzy undercoat in minutes, leaving the top coat shiny and healthy.
The rake is worked in the natural direction of the dog’s coat growth, gently with no pressure. Use caution when you’re using it around areas with thin skin like ears, flank, hock area, and armpits.
This tool is a must have for dog breeds like Siberian Husky, German Shepherd, Yorkshire Terrier, and Pomeranian.
What fans say: “I’m an army dog, and I assist my troop in the Himalayas. Because I have a super thick coat, sometimes, my hair gets matted in snow. I also shed a lot during spring. My handler makes my hair knot-free with the rake, and gets rid of all the dead fur. It makes me feel comfortable and all-set for my training.” – SIMBA, German Shepherd Dog
4. Equi Groomer Brush
Made in an easy-to-use design, this brush comes in multiple sizes to work on dogs.
With a special wavy patterned fine-toothed blade, this wood-handled tool brushes away loose fur, dirt, and dander—without grabbing or damaging your dog’s fur.
Though it can be used for all dogs, it’s works better for dogs with short-coats.
Interestingly, this tool can also be used to remove dog hair on the couch.
What fans say: “Buy at least a hundreds of these! Keep your hands moving, hooman! DO NOT stop! Oh this wooden brush feels so good – the only wooden thing in the house I do not chew.” The Equigroomer German shepherd dog Dollar’s first love.
5. Deshedding Gloves
For a more gentle but still effective option for removing dog fur, the deshedding gloves would be the best choice.
The gloves’ silicone tips are far softer than the metal deshedding brushes for dogs. It improves circulation with a relaxing spa-like massage.
The deshedding gloves are scratch-free, which means they guarantee not to accidentally scratch or hurt your dog while grooming.
Some dog owners have also found the motion of petting their dog as they brush them with these gloves to be very calming for their buddy. Meanwhile, the sticky silicone surface of the gloves will catch and remove loose hairs, dirt and dander.
When it’s time to clean the gloves, simply peel off the collected fur and toss the gloves into a washing machine. Voila!
What fans say: “These gloves work wonders for my long-hair. I’m a 11-month-old Pomeranian and I shed like crazy. The gloves are perfect because I do not like being brushed by those pointy brushes, and if my human tries, I bite them. With these cushy gloves, I don’t care as much.” – SNOWIE, Pomeranian.
6. Rubber Brush
If you like to use a brush while shampooing your dog, pick the rubber brush.
This silicone grooming tool is perfect for shedding pups and removing loose hair. It catches loose fur like a magnet and stimulates your puppy’s skin while promoting natural oil production.
Dogs and pups seem to enjoy the massage from the rubber bristles and also the extra scrubbing effect on their skin.
These rubber brushes come with loop handles too. The useful loop handle makes it easy to grip in the palm of your hand while you give your fur baby a bath to lather shampoo and scrub away dirt.
However, it can be used a dry brush if needed.
This rubbery brush works best for short to long-haired dogs.
What fans say: “I used to hate baths. I was petrified of water. I disliked the scent of the shampoos. But when momie scrubbed me with the rubbery brush, my eyes began to shut and my lashes brushed against each other. Those soft bristles were like tiny tranquilizers. The massage made me feel calm and relaxed, and gradually, I started loving bathy-bathy. I really love the sensation of the silicon rubber brush.” – SELFIE, Indian Pariah
Pro-Tip: For best results, use a deshedding brush or a combination of as many deshedding brushes your dog likes, both before and after bathing. Brushing your dog at least every few days is recommended, although long-haired dogs and heavy shedders may need to be brushed daily for best results.
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