Most dogs shed to some extent, but some breeds shed much more than others. If you have a big shedder in your house, you need the best de-shedding tools. While regular brushing helps reduce the amount of hair that ends up on your floor, some brushes are better than others. The type of hair that your dog has can also determine the types of tools you should use. We tested the best de-shedding tools and created reviews to give you the top 10 list of the best dog de-shedding tools in 2023.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Decker Double Blade Scraper
Easy to clean
Double-sided brush head for multiple purposes
Covers a wider surface area than most other tools
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Best Value
FURminator Dog De-shedding Tool
Ergonomic handle
Stainless-steel teeth
The ejector button allows easy cleaning
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Premium Choice
Hertzko Pet De-shedding Tool
Auto-cleaning feature
Use on all sizes of dogs
Curved blade reduces skin irritation
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Warren Hair De-shedding Brush
Removes mats and tangles
Eject button to release the hair
Bristles don’t damage your dog’s skin
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Hartz Groomer’s De-Shedding Dog Brush
Durable
Good at removing clumps of hair
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The 10 Best Dog De-shedding Tools
It may seem odd for a horse de-shedding tool to land in the number-one spot on a list of dog de-shedding tools, but after trying out a ton of different dog de-shedding tools, this one designed for horses is by far the best choice. Since it’s made for equines, you can use it on any type of dog hair, from wiry to soft and straight to curly.
Material: Plastic and stainless steel
Works Best for: Double-coated dogs
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This shedding blade is easy to clean out and does double-duty as a mud scraper should your dog take a roll outside during the rainy season. While you use the toothed side to clean out dirt and de-shed, you can use the smooth side to remove sweat and water. To cover more surface area, the handles pop apart so you can brush with two hands. It’s kind of like a brush and squeegee all-in-one. Since it’s made from stainless steel, it’s durable and long-lasting.
While it works on all dogs, this de-shedding tool should be reserved for medium to large-sized dogs, as it may be too big for small animals. It works particularly well on pulling out shedding undercoats in double-coated dogs like Border Collies, German Shepherds, and Huskies.
Pros
Double-sided brush head for multiple purposes
Durable
Covers a wider surface area than most other tools
Easy to clean
Cons
Suited for larger breeds
The FURminator Dog De-shedding Tool is the best dog de-shedding tool for the money. It is used to remove loose hair with stainless-steel teeth that reach through topcoats. A fur “ejector” makes hair disposal easy and spares you the unpleasantness of picking clumps of hair out of the comb. The FURminator comes in three sizes appropriate for small to large dogs.
Double-sided brush head for multiple purposes
Durable
Covers a wider surface area than most other tools
Easy to clean
- Double-sided brush head for multiple purposes
- Durable
- Covers a wider surface area than most other tools
- Easy to clean
Suited for larger breeds
- Suited for larger breeds
Material: Stainless steel
Works Best for: Dogs with long hair
The FURminator doesn’t work for dogs with coats less than 2 inches long, but it does a good job of removing loose undercoat hair in long-haired dogs that ordinary combs can’t reach. For dogs with short hair, the sharp teeth on this tool have to potential to scratch their skin.
Pros
Stainless-steel teeth
The ejector button allows easy cleaning
Available in three sizes
Ergonomic handle
Cons
The teeth of this tool are sharp and may scratch the skin of certain breeds
The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Deshedding Tool is the premium choice for dog de-shedding tools. It works well for all sizes and breeds of dogs, with all types of coats. The 4-inch stainless-steel blade is curved to reach under your pet’s topcoat to remove loose hair and dander. The curve contours the blade to your dog’s body, making it easier to brush them than traditional flat-bladed tools, and the result is less skin irritation for your dog. Cleanup is a breeze with the self-cleaning feature: An automatic eject button leaves the tool hair-free and ready to use again.
Stainless-steel teeth
The ejector button allows easy cleaning
Available in three sizes
Ergonomic handle
- Stainless-steel teeth
- The ejector button allows easy cleaning
- Available in three sizes
- Ergonomic handle
The teeth of this tool are sharp and may scratch the skin of certain breeds
- The teeth of this tool are sharp and may scratch the skin of certain breeds
Material: Stainless steel
Works Best for: All dogs
Despite the premium price tag, this tool doesn’t stand up the way that it should. The brush head tends to pop off when using the “eject” button to remove hair. Once this happens, it’s hard to get the head snapped back in place.
Pros
Auto-cleaning feature
Curved blade reduces skin irritation
Use on all sizes of dogs
Cons
The brush head pops off and doesn’t stay in place
This long hair de-shedding brush from Warren London has stainless-steel bristles that reach through layers of fur but that aren’t sharp enough to damage your dog’s skin. The handle has an ergonomic design that reduces fatigue during long grooming sessions. Like many other de-shedding tools, this brush has an eject button to release hair once you’re done. It comes in three sizes, so you can choose the one that fits your dog best.
Auto-cleaning feature
Curved blade reduces skin irritation
Use on all sizes of dogs
- Auto-cleaning feature
- Curved blade reduces skin irritation
- Use on all sizes of dogs
The brush head pops off and doesn’t stay in place
- The brush head pops off and doesn’t stay in place
Material: Stainless steel and plastic
Works Best for: Dogs with long hair
The Warren London de-shedding brush doesn’t remove as much hair as some other models on this list and doesn’t work well for double-coated dogs. It does do a good job of removing mats and tangles in long hair.
Pros
Eject button to release the hair
Bristles don’t damage your dog’s skin
Ergonomic handle
Removes mats and tangles
Cons
Doesn’t remove as much hair as some other tools
The Hartz Groomer’s Best Fur Fetcher does a supremely good job at removing large clumps of hair. If you have a dog that primarily sheds by “blowing out” their coat twice a year, this brush will work for you. If you have a dog that sheds continuously in small amounts, you may be disappointed.
Eject button to release the hair
Bristles don’t damage your dog’s skin
Ergonomic handle
Removes mats and tangles
- Eject button to release the hair
- Bristles don’t damage your dog’s skin
- Ergonomic handle
- Removes mats and tangles
Doesn’t remove as much hair as some other tools
- Doesn’t remove as much hair as some other tools
Material: Plastic
Works Best for: Dogs that “blow out” their coat rather than shed continuously
Dogs like this brush because it massages and grooms, so it’s great for teaching dogs to love getting brushed. The heavy-duty comb and handle stand up for the long term, so you won’t need to replace this tool anytime soon. If your dog has long hair that tangles and mats, though, you’ll want a different brush for getting these out. The Fur Fetcher tends to get caught in tangled bits of hair.
Related Read: Hartz Dog Shampoo Review
Pros
Good at removing clumps of hair
Durable
Cons
Gets caught in matted hair
The Paws & Pals De-shedding Tool has everything that you need in a dog brush at a budget-friendly price. It has an ergonomic handle for you and steel blades to remove loose hair from deep in your dog’s undercoat. It’s designed to prevent skin irritation and massage your dog’s skin to promote natural skin oil production to keep your dog’s coat shiny.
Good at removing clumps of hair
Durable
- Good at removing clumps of hair
- Durable
Gets caught in matted hair
- Gets caught in matted hair
Material: Plastic
Works Best for: All breeds
While the design of this de-shedding tool should do a great job of detangling long hair, it gets stuck during brushing if the hair is overly tangled. This brush is also narrow, so you’ll want to have a trash can nearby to remove hair between swipes. This makes grooming slightly more time-consuming than necessary.
Pros
Budget-friendly price
Ergonomic design
Cons
Doesn’t work well on tangled hair
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- Pet Life Gyrater Swivel Grooming De-shedding Pet Comb
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Material: Plastic
Works Best for: All breeds of dogs
Pet Life offers something a little different to the world of dog de-shedding tools. The handle on this tool enables you to reposition it at any angle that you choose by squeezing buttons and turning them. Once you’ve got the handle where you want it, it locks into position. There are options for grips on both the palm and knuckles. This tool does a great job at detangling, removing loose hair, and even removing fleas and ticks. Since the entire tool is pocket-sized, you can take it with you everywhere.
Budget-friendly price
Ergonomic design
- Budget-friendly price
- Ergonomic design
Doesn’t work well on tangled hair
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- Doesn’t work well on tangled hair
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Material: Plastic
Works Best for: All breeds of dogs
If you have a large dog, you might want to reserve this tool for travel only. It does a fantastic job, but it’s small, so it takes a while to do a full grooming job. Over time, the locks on the swivel handle wear down, making it hard to move around. If you like to change the handle position multiple times while brushing your dog, this is an issue. Most people find a comfortable spot and leave the handle there, and the lock isn’t a problem.
Pros
The handle can be repositioned
Dual-purpose for removing bugs
Pocket-sized
Cons
Small size isn’t ideal for large breed dogs
Lock wears out and becomes loose over time
Most of the brushes and de-shedding tools on this list are designed for dogs with long coats or double-coated dogs that blow out their coats. If your dog has short hair or just sheds constantly, this is a tool worth checking out. Vetnique Labs Furbliss Pet Brush is a multi-purpose groomer that works on your dog and on yourself. It will remove lint and hair from your clothing and furniture. It acts as a calming massage tool for your dog while simultaneously removing loose hairs. Since it’s made from medical-grade silicone, it’s easy to clean and can be used on wet or dry hair. To sterilize this brush, simply pop it in the dishwasher.
The handle can be repositioned
Dual-purpose for removing bugs
Pocket-sized
- The handle can be repositioned
- Dual-purpose for removing bugs
- Pocket-sized
Small size isn’t ideal for large breed dogs
Lock wears out and becomes loose over time
- Small size isn’t ideal for large breed dogs
- Lock wears out and becomes loose over time
Material: Silicone
Works Best for: Dogs that constantly shed, short-haired dogs
This brush comes in various colors, but this isn’t just for aesthetics. Each color is designed for a different coat type. For example, blue is for small dogs with short hair, while yellow is for large dogs with short hair. That said, while the product says that it works on long-haired dogs, we don’t recommend it. The brush doesn’t hold hair and isn’t designed for detangling.
Pros
Good for short-haired dogs
Also removes hair from your clothing and furniture
Massaging action
Cons
Doesn’t hold hair
Doesn’t work on long hair
The FURminator Dog Grooming Rake comes from FURminator’s professional line of grooming tools. This line of tools is designed to give you access to salon-quality grooming at home, but unfortunately, it doesn’t quite perform the way that it should. One key feature of this tool is its anti-microbial plastic coating. It keeps bacteria from proliferating on the handle, which is nice if you don’t always clean your dog’s brush the way that you should. For dogs with long hair, the FURminator does a good job of removing mats and tangles and pulling out loose undercoat hair.
Good for short-haired dogs
Also removes hair from your clothing and furniture
Massaging action
- Good for short-haired dogs
- Also removes hair from your clothing and furniture
- Massaging action
Doesn’t hold hair
Doesn’t work on long hair
- Doesn’t hold hair
- Doesn’t work on long hair
Material: Plastic
Works Best for: All dog breeds
Unlike FURminator’s “non-professional” de-shedding tool, this one doesn’t have a self-cleaning feature or a button to eject the hair, so you’ll have to pick the clumps out of the rake by yourself. This tool is better at removing mats, but you might want to use the de-shedder for removing loose hair, so this isn’t an all-in-one tool.
Pros
Good at detangling matted hair
Anti-microbial plastic coating
Cons
No self-cleaning feature
Not good at removing loose hair
The other tools on this list are all brushes of some sort, but this tool is different because it’s a de-shedding glove. Made from Neoprene, the glove is covered in bristles over the palm to de-shed your dog while you pet them. Loose hair gets stuck in the glove, which you can then peel off and throw out.
Good at detangling matted hair
Anti-microbial plastic coating
- Good at detangling matted hair
- Anti-microbial plastic coating
No self-cleaning feature
Not good at removing loose hair
- No self-cleaning feature
- Not good at removing loose hair
Material: Neoprene
Works Best for: All dogs
This glove doesn’t remove nearly as much hair as expected. It works for small to moderate shedders, but we wouldn’t recommend it for heavy-shedding dogs. The other downside of Mr. Peanut’s Hand Gloves is that they won’t work for every dog. If they are finicky about you touching certain areas of their body, you won’t be able to brush that area. Since the gloves only come in one size, they don’t work well for people with very small or very large hands.
Pros
Easy to use and comforting for dogs
Soft neoprene material
Cons
Removes less hair than expected
Doesn’t fit all hands
Not all dogs like it
Easy to use and comforting for dogs
Soft neoprene material
- Easy to use and comforting for dogs
- Soft neoprene material
Removes less hair than expected
Doesn’t fit all hands
Not all dogs like it
- Removes less hair than expected
- Doesn’t fit all hands
- Not all dogs like it
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Dog De-shedding Tool
Using De-shedding Tools to Effectively Remove Pet Hair
Some dogs shed more than others, but no matter your dog’s breed, you’ll have to groom or brush them regularly to avoid mountains of dog hair building up around your home. Picking a de-shedding tool that fits your dog’s coat will put you a step ahead.
Tools designed to remove undercoat clumps from a double-coated dog won’t help you groom your Chihuahua. In turn, using a palm shedder for short-haired dogs probably isn’t ideal for your Husky. Different tools are designed for different coats, so paying attention to this is the number-one thing that you can do to avoid frustration in de-shedding your dog.
Things to keep in mind when de-shedding your dog:
Only apply a small amount of pressure on the tool. It’s already designed to remove hair.
Never brush against the direction that your dog’s coat naturally grows. This pulls your dog’s hair and can hurt them.
Remove any visible mats and tangles before brushing. When brushes get caught in tangles, they can pull hair and hurt.
Be mindful of your dog’s skin, so it doesn’t get scratched.
The more often you de-shed your dog, the faster the process will be.
There will be a large amount of hair floating around after this process. Be prepared to sweep and vacuum, or de-shed your dog outside to avoid the mess.
When you’re done grooming, you should remove all hair from the brush and wash it with soap and water. Otherwise, they can pick up bacteria and bugs from your dog’s fur.
Which De-shedding Tool Is Best for Which Dogs?
The de-shedding tools that look like a brush work best for dogs that have a good undercoat.
Only apply a small amount of pressure on the tool. It’s already designed to remove hair.
Never brush against the direction that your dog’s coat naturally grows. This pulls your dog’s hair and can hurt them.
Remove any visible mats and tangles before brushing. When brushes get caught in tangles, they can pull hair and hurt.
Be mindful of your dog’s skin, so it doesn’t get scratched.
The more often you de-shed your dog, the faster the process will be.
There will be a large amount of hair floating around after this process. Be prepared to sweep and vacuum, or de-shed your dog outside to avoid the mess.
When you’re done grooming, you should remove all hair from the brush and wash it with soap and water. Otherwise, they can pick up bacteria and bugs from your dog’s fur.
- Only apply a small amount of pressure on the tool. It’s already designed to remove hair.
- Never brush against the direction that your dog’s coat naturally grows. This pulls your dog’s hair and can hurt them.
- Remove any visible mats and tangles before brushing. When brushes get caught in tangles, they can pull hair and hurt.
- Be mindful of your dog’s skin, so it doesn’t get scratched.
- The more often you de-shed your dog, the faster the process will be.
- There will be a large amount of hair floating around after this process. Be prepared to sweep and vacuum, or de-shed your dog outside to avoid the mess.
- When you’re done grooming, you should remove all hair from the brush and wash it with soap and water. Otherwise, they can pick up bacteria and bugs from your dog’s fur.
For breeds that lack undercoats, it’s best to use a regular dog brush or a de-shedding glove/palm de-shedder to remove excess hair.
Most dog breeds have good undercoats, which is why they shed so much. If your dog doesn’t shed much, you probably don’t need a de-shedding tool. But if you’re unsure, here is the list of dog breeds for which you typically do not need a de-shedding tool: American Water Spaniel, Bedlington Terrier, Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Chinese Crested, Coton de Tuléar, Curly-Coated Retrievers, Dandie Dinmont, Glen of Imaal Terrier, Havanese, Irish Water Spaniel, Kerry Blue Terrier, Komondor, Löwchen, Maltese, Poodle, Portuguese Water Dog, Puli, and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier.
Conclusion
We recommend the Decker Manufacturing Company Double Blade Shedder Horse Scraper as the best overall dog de-shedding tool. This blade is hard to match for double-coated and long-haired dogs in performance and durability. It does the job well and does double-duty for scraping off water or sweat. The best tool for the money is the FURminator Dog De-shedding Tool. It’s a high-quality de-shedding tool at a budget-friendly price.
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