If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your dog’s shedding, you’re not alone. Dogs can be some of the best companion animals, but one challenge that many dog owners face is shedding. Even dogs labeled as hypoallergenic dogs will shed.
Although there isn’t a silver bullet answer for addressing shedding, one of the best things you can do is regularly brush your dog. So, we have reviews of some of the most popular brushes that help with shedding.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites – 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hertzko Pet Slicker Brush
For all coat types
Ergonomic design
Safe bristles
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Best Value
Frisco Pet Deshedding Brush
Ergonomic and lightweight
Wide blade for more coverage
Durable stainless-steel blade
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Premium Choice
FURminator Deshedding Dog Tool
Safe curved edge
Easy cleanup
Blade easily reaches undercoat
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Best for Puppies
Mr. Peanut’s Hand Gloves
Comfortable experience for puppies
Easy to clean up
Can use on dry and wet hair
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Safari Dog Mat Remover
Rust-free, stainless-steel blades
Safe, rounded edges
Ergonomic design
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The 10 Best Dog Brushes for Shedding
Out of all the brushes we’ve checked out, the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush is the best overall dog brush for shedding. In general, slicker brushes are some of the best brushes for heavy shedding.
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This brush has very fine bristles that can penetrate through thick fur to pick up more dead hairs. The bristles also have a safe design that won’t scratch your dog’s skin. Therefore, it’s safe to use on all coat types.
The brush also has an ergonomic design and comfortable grip so that you’ll have an easier time brushing your dog. Another convenient feature is the easy cleanup. The brush traps a lot of hair, and you can easily dispose of the hair by pressing its automatic retraction button. This button retracts the bristles into the base of the brush and leaves the clump of hair out.
With being a high-quality brush, it can be a little more expensive compared to other slicker brushes in the market. However, it saves you so much time by deeply brushing your dog’s hair and eliminating the need to spend time picking out hairs from the brush.
Pros
For all coat types
Ergonomic design
Safe bristles
Easy hair cleanup
Cons
Relatively expensive
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Frisco Deshedding Cat & Dog Brush is the best dog brush for shedding for the money you spend. It’s consistently sold at a relatively low price, while sufficiently getting the job done.
For all coat types
Ergonomic design
Safe bristles
Easy hair cleanup
- For all coat types
- Ergonomic design
- Safe bristles
- Easy hair cleanup
Relatively expensive
- Relatively expensive
First, it has a wide design to cover more area, and the stainless-steel blade is tough enough to work through tangles and mats on your dog’s coat. It’s also very lightweight and has an angled design, making brushing your dog an easier and more comfortable process for you.
When using this tool, always be mindful of the amount of pressure you use because the blades can cut your dog. It’s best if a responsible adult uses this tool.
Also, since this brush is specifically designed for shedding, it doesn’t really address the other health benefits of brushing, such as evenly distributing natural oils. Therefore, you’ll have to have another brush to help keep your dog’s coat healthy.
Pros
Ergonomic and lightweight
Wide blade for more coverage
Durable stainless-steel blade
Cons
Need to use other brushes
Not safe for children to use
The FURminator Long Hair Dog Deshedding Tool is a great premium option that’s worth the relatively high price. Many dog owners swear by how effective this brush is when dealing with shedding from dogs with long coats.
Ergonomic and lightweight
Wide blade for more coverage
Durable stainless-steel blade
- Ergonomic and lightweight
- Wide blade for more coverage
- Durable stainless-steel blade
Need to use other brushes
Not safe for children to use
- Need to use other brushes
- Not safe for children to use
The tool has a patented design with a stainless steel edge that reaches deep into a dog’s undercoat. For additional safety, the edge is curved to conform to your dog’s body so that you can avoid cuts and damaging the top coat.
With regular use, this brush can help reduce shedding because it catches so much hair. As an added convenience, it has a hair ejection button. So, if too much hair gets caught in the blade, you simply press a button to easily remove the hair.
Overall, this brush works great with dogs with long coats. It does a sufficient job with short coats, but with its expensive price, you might be better off using a different brush that can do the same job as this one.
Pros
Safe curved edge
Easy cleanup
Blade easily reaches undercoat
Cons
Not as effective with short coats
More often than not, puppies will not naturally like being brushed, so it takes time for them to get used to different brushes. While your pup’s getting accustomed to healthy grooming practices, you can use these hand gloves to help them out.
Safe curved edge
Easy cleanup
Blade easily reaches undercoat
- Safe curved edge
- Easy cleanup
- Blade easily reaches undercoat
Not as effective with short coats
- Not as effective with short coats
The gloves have soft, rubbery tips, so when you pet your dog, it picks up debris and loose hairs. They also work effectively with both wet and dry hair. The tips are very smooth and comfortable, so your pup will feel like it’s getting massaged rather than getting brushed.
Cleanup is also easy. Once you’re finished petting your dog, simply rinse the gloves with water and the hairs will fall out.
Although these gloves can be used on all coat types, it doesn’t really do a good job of collecting short and bristly hair. So, you might end up with a pile of loose hair around your pup.
Pros
Comfortable experience for puppies
Easy to clean up
Can use on dry and wet hair
Cons
Doesn’t pick up short hair very well
Some dog coats are more prone to matting than others. If you have a dog with long and wispy hair, you’ll want to consider adding the Safari Dog Mat Remover to your grooming toolkit.
Comfortable experience for puppies
Easy to clean up
Can use on dry and wet hair
- Comfortable experience for puppies
- Easy to clean up
- Can use on dry and wet hair
Doesn’t pick up short hair very well
- Doesn’t pick up short hair very well
This tool is prepared to tackle the most stubborn knots and mats. It has rust-free stainless steel blades with rounded edges to keep your dog’s skin safe. Since the blades are so sharp, they work exceptionally well with tails with long hair. Since the blade is such high quality, it doesn’t dull quickly.
The whole brush has an ergonomic design, so grooming your dog is quick and painless for both you and your dog. It’s also meant to be used to massage your dog’s coat and increase blood circulation. However, since dogs with short coats don’t tend to get mats, this brush may be unnecessary for them.
We also wish that the surface area of the brush was wider. It’s pretty narrow compared to other deshedding tools and brushes. However, the size does make removing isolated mats an easier and more controlled experience.
Pros
Rust-free, stainless-steel blades
Safe, rounded edges
Ergonomic design
Massages coat and increases blood circulation
Cons
Narrow brush
Not as effective with short hair
The Safari Dual-Sided Shedding Blade Dog Grooming Tool works exceptionally well for heavy shedders of all coat types. One side of the blade has coarse teeth for thick, long coats, and the other side of the blade has finer teeth for short coats.
Rust-free, stainless-steel blades
Safe, rounded edges
Ergonomic design
Massages coat and increases blood circulation
- Rust-free, stainless-steel blades
- Safe, rounded edges
- Ergonomic design
- Massages coat and increases blood circulation
Narrow brush
Not as effective with short hair
- Narrow brush
- Not as effective with short hair
If you have a large dog, you can unhook the loop of the blade so that it straightens out for even more coverage.
Overall, this brush is one of the most versatile tools that works with all kinds of dogs. The only issue that some dog owners may face is that the blade is thinner than other deshedding blades. Although the flexibility enables the blade to change shapes, it can take some time to get used to and brush your dog without the blade wobbling around.
Pros
Works well with most breeds
Changes shape for larger dogs
Dual-sided for different functions
Cons
Blade can be wobbly
The Paws & Pals Best in Show Dog & Cat Deshedding Tool that has a stainless steel edge that effectively combs through top coats and undercoats to remove debris and loose hair. Regular use can reduce shedding and prevent matting, so it works very well with dogs with long and thin hair.
Works well with most breeds
Changes shape for larger dogs
Dual-sided for different functions
- Works well with most breeds
- Changes shape for larger dogs
- Dual-sided for different functions
Blade can be wobbly
- Blade can be wobbly
The brush is also designed to help produce and evenly distribute natural oils. The ergonomic handle also makes brushing an easy experience for dog owners. The width of the blade is also a good size for all kinds of breeds. However, it’s completely straight, so it can be difficult brushing areas underneath joints, such as between the hip and leg.
Pros
Works well with all coat types
Distributes natural oils
Ergonomic handle
Penetrates to undercoats
Cons
Difficult to maneuver between joints
The Safari Shedding Comb is a considerable option for dogs with medium and long hair. It has long teeth to reach undercoats so that you can thoroughly brush your dog’s hair. In between the long teeth are shorter teeth that help gather loose hair. The ends of all the teeth are also smooth and round so that they don’t hurt your dog’s skin.
Works well with all coat types
Distributes natural oils
Ergonomic handle
Penetrates to undercoats
- Works well with all coat types
- Distributes natural oils
- Ergonomic handle
- Penetrates to undercoats
Difficult to maneuver between joints
- Difficult to maneuver between joints
Overall, this comb works very well with untangling knots and removing small mats. The only significant issue that we have with this comb is the handle. The handle is wooden and aesthetically pleasing, however it doesn’t provide a comfortable grip, even though it has contours.
Pros
Rounded teeth don’t irritate skin
Cons
Uncomfortable handle
Not for short-haired dogs
The Hartz Groomer’s Best Fur Fetcher DeShedding Dog Brush is a great alternative for dog owners concerned with using deshedders with metal blades. Instead of blades, this deshedder uses many microcombs to catch loose hair and untangle knots and mats.
Rounded teeth don’t irritate skin
- Rounded teeth don’t irritate skin
Uncomfortable handle
Not for short-haired dogs
- Uncomfortable handle
- Not for short-haired dogs
The brush has a unique set of dual rows of microcombs that can remove three times more hair than a traditional deshedding tool. It’s also gentle enough for everyday use, so it’s very possible that you might not need a lot of other grooming brushes.
This brush works can be used for all coat types, but it seems to perform best with dogs with short hair. It can also snag easily on dogs with extra thick fur. Clean up can also be difficult if you have dogs with long coats because the hair easily gets stuck between the microcombs.
Pros
Safe alternative to metal blades
Doesn’t damage top coat
Can remove more hair than traditional deshedder
Cons
Snags on extra thick fur
Difficult to clean
- Perfect Coat Professional Dog Deshedder Check Latest Price
Coat Type All Coats
Material Plastic, metal
The Perfect Coat Professional Dog Deshedder is designed specifically for brushing through mats and tangles and removing loose hair. The stainless steel edge has very small spaces inbetween so that it can even catch short hair, leaving your floors hair-free.
Safe alternative to metal blades
Doesn’t damage top coat
Can remove more hair than traditional deshedder
- Safe alternative to metal blades
- Doesn’t damage top coat
- Can remove more hair than traditional deshedder
Snags on extra thick fur
Difficult to clean
- Snags on extra thick fur
- Difficult to clean
The brush also has a comfortable ergonomic handle, so that brushing is easier and faster. It works well with most coat types and with cat hair as well, so it’s a great grooming tool for multi-pet households. However, the teeth tend to have a more difficult time catching to extra thick coats.
It’s also relatively expensive compared to its competitors, so make sure to do your research on other brushes before making an investment with this brush.
Pros
Collects loose hairs of all coat types
Teeth can hold short hair
Ergonomic design
Cons
Relatively expensive
Not for extra thick coats
Collects loose hairs of all coat types
Teeth can hold short hair
Ergonomic design
- Collects loose hairs of all coat types
- Teeth can hold short hair
- Ergonomic design
Relatively expensive
Not for extra thick coats
- Relatively expensive
- Not for extra thick coats
How To Keep a House Clean with Shedding Dogs
A good shedding brush can help immensely with maintaining shedding. However, there are other things you must do to keep your house clean, especially during shedding seasons. Here are some additional tips that will help keep your carpets and furniture hair-free.
Brush Regularly
One of the best things you can do is to follow a consistent brushing schedule. Dogs with especially long or curly hair can have more get trapped in their coat, which can quickly lead to a coat filled with knots and mats. When you fall behind on brushing, you can end up spending hours grooming your dogs or paying extra at the groomer to clean and trim them.
A quick 5 to 15-minute brush session every other day can do wonders for your dog as it loosens up the coat. It can also keep your dog smelling cleaner for longer, so you don’t have give them as many baths.
Use Different Brushes
The best way to figure out the kinds of brushes you need is to familiarize yourself with your dog’s breed and grooming needs. You can also consult with a groomer for professional recommendations. There are five main brush types made for dogs:
Bristle Brush
Slicker Brush
Comb
Pin Brush
Deshedding Tool
Each of these brushes serve different purposes and work best with different coat types. Most dogs will benefit from being brushed by a main brush and then getting cleaned off with either a comb or deshedding tool.
- Bristle Brush
- Slicker Brush
- Comb
- Pin Brush
- Deshedding Tool
Bristle Brush
Bristle brushes have tightly packed bristles that pick up debris and draw out loose fur. They typically work best with short-haired, shedding dogs.
Slicker Brush
Slicker brushes are helpful for dogs with thin medium to long hair or curly hair. They’re mostly used to break up and remove knots and mats.
Pin Brush
Pin brushes are the most common type of dog brush. They’re great for loosening up hair and untangling small knots and mats. Since the pins pretty well-spaced out, many dogs require a second brushing with another type of brush, such as a slicker brush or comb.
Comb
Combs are usually used after an initial brushing with a slicker brush or pin brush. It breaks up any additional tangles and picks up remaining loose hair. Dogs with medium to long hair and curly hair will benefit from a second brushing with a comb
Deshedding Tool
Deshedding tools often have sharp blades that can cut the base of a tangle or mat to easily remove them. They can be exceptionally effective for dogs with thick, double coats. When shopping for a deshedding tool, always check to make sure that they can reach the undercoat without damaging the top coat.
Invest in a Good Hair Remover Tool
Along with a set of good brushes, hair remover tools can help immensely with cleaning up your house. You can use lint rollers to pick up hair around the house, but they aren’t the most eco-friendly option, and you have to keep restocking them.
Hair remover tools come with different textures that work well with certain types of surfaces. The most common kinds of remover tools typically pick up hair using rubber or microfibers.
Regularly sweeping your house once a week with a hair remover tool can help rooms look clean and reduce the amount of pet hair that gets stuck on your clothes.
Use Deshedding Shampoo
Some shampoos are manufactured to specifically address shedding. The formula of these shampoos usually contains ingredients that promote healthy skin and coat to reduce shedding.
Regularly bathing your dog will help remove loose fur and using a high-quality shampoo will also nourish its coat. These functions may not completely stop your dog from shedding, but you’ll most likely see less shedding if you keep up with regular bathing using a deshedding shampoo.
Final Thoughts
Based on our reviews, the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush is the best dog brush for shedding. It works with most coat types and does a great job of picking up loose hair. Cleanup is also very easy.
We also like the FURminator Long Hair Dog Deshedding Tool because it has a very safe design, and it’s easy for dog owners to maneuver.
Sticking to a grooming routine may feel tedious, but it’s completely worth it. With 10 to 15-minute regular grooming sessions, you can help your dog shed less and keep your home looking spotless and clean.
See also:
- 10 Best Dog Cooling Mats – Reviews & Top Picks
- 9 Best Soft Dog Crates – Reviews & Top Picks
- Why Do Dogs Pee on Tires? Dog Behavior Explained
Featured Image Credit: Dmytro Zinkevych, Shutterstock
