Best Dog Brush for Fall Shedding: 7 Tools by Coat Type

The best dog brush for fall shedding depends on the coat, but if you want one tool to start with, the SleekEZ is the strongest all-rounder for short, medium and long coats, while the FURminator undercoat deShedding tool is the runner-up for double-coated breeds that blow out thick undercoat. Fall is when many dogs swap a summer coat for a winter one, and a brush that reaches the undercoat, rather than just smoothing the top layer, makes the difference between a vacuum full of fur every day and a manageable week. Below are seven real, currently sold tools sorted by coat type, with the specs the makers state and a plain account of what each one is good at.

We did not physically use these brushes. This guide is based on manufacturer listings, grooming-industry guidance and published pet-care advice, and anything the maker does not state is marked not listed. Brushing helps manage loose hair, but it is not a treatment for any skin or health problem; if your dog sheds in patches, scratches a lot or has irritated skin, see a vet.

SleekEZ Dog Brush for Shedding | Patented Deshedding Dog Brush | Pet Hair Remover for Short, Medium & Long Coats | Made in USA | 5 Inch

Chosen because it specifies Patented Deshedding Dog Brush and Pet Hair Remover for Short.

View on Amazon →

Maxpower Planet Dog Grooming Rake, Deshedding Undercoat Brush, Dogs & Cats | Blue Deshedding & Dematting, Extra-Wide Double-Sided Comb, Long-Haired Coats, Reduces Shedding, Original Design

Chosen because it specifies Deshedding Undercoat Brush and Dogs & Cats.

View on Amazon →

AUSRKI Cleaning Shedding Brush - Professional Pet Grooming Kit Skin Friendly Grooming Tool for Dogs, Cats, and Puppies, Deshedding and Hair Removal for Long/Short Haired Pets, Blue

Chosen because it specifies Cats and and Puppies.

View on Amazon →

Staltwo Deshedding Dog Brush for Shedding, Undercoat Rake for Dog&Cat | Orange Extra-Wide Double-Sided Pet Grooming tool | Shedding Control for Long/Medium-Haired Dogs and Cats, Knot Removal

Chosen because it specifies Undercoat Rake for Dog&Cat and Orange Extra-Wide Double-Sided Pet Grooming tool.

View on Amazon →

Top Picks at a Glance

• Best Overall: SleekEZ Deshedding Dog Brush
• Best for Double Coats: FURminator Large Undercoat deShedding Tool
• Best Premium Rake: Mars Coat King Double Wide Dematting Undercoat Rake
• Best Budget Rake: Maxpower Planet Dog Grooming Rake
• Best Self-Cleaning Slicker: Andis 68540 Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
• Best Budget Slicker: Pecute Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
• Best Shedding Blade for Wet or Dry Coats: BOTH WINNERS Dual-Sided Shedding Blade

Comparison Table

1. SleekEZ Deshedding Dog Brush: Best Overall

• Patented deshedding design, listed for short, medium and long coats
• Marketed as a pet hair remover that works on dogs
• Used with gentle strokes in the direction of the coat
• Exact blade and handle materials: see the maker page

Best for: Households with mixed coats, or anyone who wants one tool that covers most of the season. Skip if: your dog has heavy mats, which need a dematting tool and patience first.

The SleekEZ uses a different principle from a standard slicker. Instead of fine pins, it uses a ridged, flexible head designed to catch loose undercoat as it passes over the coat. That makes it popular for fall, when the issue is not tangles but a mass of dead hair coming loose at once. It is also more versatile than the rakes, since the same tool is described as working on short, medium and long coats, which suits homes with more than one dog.

How you use it matters. Brush in short, light strokes with the coat, not against it, and do not press hard. On a fall blow-out, a ten-minute session every other day is usually kinder to the skin than one marathon session. Brush outdoors if you can, because the amount of hair it removes can surprise you.

Cleaning is easy: pull the hair off with your fingers. The tool does not claim to cut or thin the coat, so it does not replace trimming for breeds that need haircuts.

Pros: Works across coat lengths; easy to clean; light handling; good for regular use. Cons: Not a dematting tool; effect depends on technique; specs on blade materials not in the short title.

2. FURminator Large Undercoat deShedding Tool: Best for Double Coats

• Large size for bigger dogs, sold in short-hair and long-hair versions
• Reduces loose hair from shedding, per the maker
• Designed for easy clean-up of collected hair
• Handle and edge details: see the maker page

Best for: Labradors, retrievers, huskies, shepherds and other double-coated breeds with thick undercoat. Skip if: your dog has a curly, single or hairless coat, or sensitive skin that dislikes edged tools.

FURminator is the best-known name in deshedding, and the tool is built around a fine-toothed edge that reaches through the guard coat to the undercoat. The choice between the short-hair and long-hair version is not cosmetic. The edge spacing is matched to coat length, so a long-coated dog with the short-hair tool will clog it, and a short-coated dog with the long-hair tool may get too little contact.

The standard guidance from groomers is to use deshedding edges on a dry, clean, mat-free coat, with light pressure and no more than a few passes over the same area. Overuse can irritate the skin and, in the worst case, strip healthy coat. Stop when the tool stops pulling out much hair. Use it about once or twice a week during a heavy shed, not daily.

It is priced as a premium tool. If you have a double-coated breed and shed season is a major chore, it is the one many owners say they wish they had bought earlier.

Pros: Well suited to thick undercoat; two coat-length versions; easy hair release. Cons: Premium cost; needs the right version; overuse can irritate skin.

3. Mars Coat King Double Wide Undercoat Rake: Best Premium Rake

• Double wide head, built for dematting and undercoat grooming
• Stainless steel teeth with a wooden handle
• Blunt-tooth line is also sold, in a different Mars Coat King model
• Number of teeth: see the maker page

Best for: Large, heavily coated dogs and groomers who want a tool built to last. Skip if: your dog is small, since the head is wide.

The Coat King is the rake professional groomers recognize. It uses long stainless teeth set in a wide head with a wooden handle, and it digs into undercoat and loosens mats without the cutting action of a blade. For fall shedding on a big double-coated dog, it works as a first pass: it lifts dead undercoat in bulk, and a slicker or comb then finishes the surface.

The trade-off is technique. Rakes can scratch the skin if you press the tips down, so hold the handle at an angle, let the teeth glide and work in sections. Do not use any rake on a wet coat, because wet hair stretches and tangles more readily.

It costs more than the budget rakes, but stainless teeth and a solid build often make it a once-in-ten-years purchase.

Pros: Sturdy stainless teeth; wide head covers large dogs fast; useful on mats. Cons: Premium cost; large for small dogs; needs technique.

4. Maxpower Planet Dog Grooming Rake: Best Budget Rake

• Double-sided, extra-wide head with two tooth rows
• Sold as a deshedding and dematting undercoat brush for dogs and cats
• Blue handle
• Material and pin count: see the maker page

Best for: Owners who want to try a rake without paying for a professional model. Skip if: you have a very large dog and need a sturdier build.

A budget rake does the same job as an expensive one, with trade-offs in tooth finish and handle comfort. The double-sided head here gives you a coarser side for mats and a finer side for fluff, so you can work through the coat in stages. For a medium dog with a moderate shed, it is a very reasonable start.

Check the tips as you use it. If the tips feel sharp or rough, round them lightly with a fine file or choose a different tool. Always test on a small patch first and watch how your dog reacts.

Pros: Low cost; two sides; good for experimentation; fits cats too. Cons: Build quality less robust; tip finish varies; specs not in the short listing.

5. Andis 68540 Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush: Best Self-Cleaning Slicker

• Large self-cleaning slicker brush
• Curved stainless-steel bristles
• Maker states it reduces shedding by up to 90 percent, a marketing claim we cannot verify
• Retractable bristle release for hair removal

Best for: Daily and weekly brushing of medium coats, plus finishing after a rake. Skip if: your dog has very short, smooth hair, where a slicker adds little.

Andis is a respected grooming brand, and this slicker is a straightforward design: curved pins on a pad, with a button that retracts the bristles to release the collected hair. That self-cleaning step is what makes it practical in fall, when you are removing a lot of hair, because you do not stop to pick fur off the pins.

Slicker brushes primarily detangle and remove loose surface hair, so they are better as a finishing tool than as the main undercoat remover on thick-coated dogs. Use light pressure; pressing hard drags pin tips across the skin. The up-to-90-percent number is the maker’s marketing claim, and results will differ by dog, coat and technique.

Pros: Self-cleaning; good brand; comfortable; good for daily use. Cons: Not an undercoat tool alone; can scratch if pressed; claims are the maker’s own.

6. Pecute Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush: Best Budget Slicker

• One-click clean mechanism
• Lightweight design for dogs and cats
• Marketed as skin-friendly and for undercoat hair removal
• Size and pin material: see the maker page

Best for: Small and medium dogs or cats, and light shedding. Skip if: you have a large double-coated dog.

When the goal is a quick daily tidy, a light slicker is easier to use than a heavy rake. The one-click clean feature handles the main inconvenience, and the light body is easy on a tired wrist. For a short brushing session after a walk, it helps keep loose hair off the sofa.

It is a budget product, so expect average durability. Treat the retractable mechanism gently and clear hair regularly so the button does not jam. As with all slickers, avoid scraping and keep the strokes slow.

Pros: Very low cost; easy cleaning; light; good for cats too. Cons: Less effective on thick undercoat; durability unknown; details not in the short title.

7. BOTH WINNERS Dual-Sided Shedding Blade: Best for Short Coats and Bath Day

• Dual-sided stainless-steel shedding blade
• Listed for all coat types
• Soft-touch grip
• Blade teeth and flexibility: see the maker page

Best for: Short-coated dogs and as a quick clean-up tool during or after bathing. Skip if: your dog has a thick double coat or curly hair.

A shedding blade is a curved metal strip with a toothed or smooth edge that you drag across the coat to lift loose hair. It is useful in the bath, where wet fur is easier to move, and for short-haired dogs such as beagles or pugs whose loose hair is mostly on the surface. The dual-sided design gives you a toothed side and a smooth side for different jobs.

Apply it gently and keep the blade flat. It is not designed to cut hair, and it should never be used with pressure on bony areas. If your dog dislikes the metal edge, switch to a rubber curry or a slicker.

Pros: Cheap; works wet or dry on short coats; versatile; compact. Cons: Limited on thick coats; can scrape if misused; not for mats.

Also Consider

• FURminator Grooming Rake: a rake with rotating metal teeth for thick coats; a gentler alternative to the deShedding edge for owners who want a rake from the same brand.
• DOGI Deshedding Brush Undercoat Rake: a double-row stainless-pin rake for short and long coats, a low-cost alternative.
• Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush: a professional-style slicker aimed at doodles and poodles, which matter if your dog has curly hair and sheds little but tangles.
• Swihauk Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush: a skin-friendly self-cleaning slicker for dogs and cats, similar in concept to the Pecute.

How We Chose

We began by splitting the problem by coat type: double coats need undercoat tools, short coats need blades or curries, and medium coats need slickers. We read maker listings and grooming-industry guidance on tool types, technique and common mistakes, and cross-checked with general pet-care advice from veterinary and kennel-club style publications. Our picks include rakes, deshedding edges, slickers and a blade, across budget, mid-range and premium tiers, with no more than two products per brand.

We did not physically use these brushes on dogs, and we do not publish shed-weight results. Maker claims, such as percent shedding reduction, are labeled as the maker’s own. Prices change, so we use tier words only.

Buying Guide

Match the tool to the coat

Double coats, such as huskies, Labradors, German shepherds and golden retrievers, have a dense undercoat that is shed in handfuls in fall. They benefit from an undercoat rake or a deShedding edge. Single coats, such as poodles and many terriers, shed little but tangle, so a slicker and comb are better. Short smooth coats, such as beagles and boxers, respond to a rubber curry or shedding blade. Mixed or fluffy coats are often best served by a rake followed by a slicker.

Size of the head

Match the head width to the dog. A narrow head on a big dog takes forever, and a wide head on a small dog is awkward. As a rough rule, small dogs under about 20 pounds do best with heads under 3 inches, while large breeds are happier with 4 inches or more.

Pin and blade design

Rakes have rounded or blunt tooth tips, slickers have fine bent pins, and deShedding edges use a fine-toothed blade. Skin-friendly pin tips with small balls on the ends are gentler. Stainless steel resists rust better than plated metal, and a comfortable non-slip handle matters when a session lasts 15 minutes.

Self-cleaning versus standard

A self-cleaning slicker saves time and fuss, but its mechanism can wear out. A standard brush is simpler and lasts longer. If you brush every day, the self-cleaning feature earns its keep.

Safety and technique

Brush in the direction of hair growth, use short strokes, work in sections and stop when the dog tires. Do not use rakes or blades on mats or on sore or red skin. Fall shedding is normal, but sudden, patchy or excessive hair loss, itching or flaky skin should be checked by a vet.

Fall Shedding Routine That Works

Start with a bath if the dog is dirty, and dry the coat completely. Work through the coat with a rake or deshedding edge, using light strokes, one section at a time, from neck to tail. Follow with a slicker on feathering and the legs, then a metal comb to check for any hidden tangles. Finish with a quick wipe-down using a damp cloth to pick up loose hairs.

Keep it short. In peak weeks, five to ten minutes a day beats an hour on Sunday. Give treats and breaks so the dog associates brushing with something pleasant, and always check the skin as you work.

Decision Matrix by Dog Type

Use the table as a starting point, not a rule. Every dog’s coat is different, and the best test is how much loose hair comes out on the first few passes and how the dog reacts. If a tool pulls hard, tugs at skin or makes your dog flinch, switch to a gentler one. If a tool stops producing hair after a few passes, you are done for that session. Over a few weeks you will learn which tool your dog tolerates and which clears the most fur.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using a rake or deShedding tool on a wet or matted coat.
• Pressing too hard and scratching the skin.
• Choosing the wrong FURminator version for the coat length.
• Brushing for too long in one session.
• Ignoring hair loss that looks unusual, instead of asking a vet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best dog brush for fall shedding?

For most homes, the SleekEZ is the best single tool, and for thick double coats the FURminator undercoat deShedding tool or a stainless rake such as the Mars Coat King does more of the heavy lifting.

How often should I brush my dog during fall shedding?

Brush two to four times a week for most dogs, and daily for heavy shedders, in short sessions. Deshedding edges are best limited to once or twice a week.

Is a slicker brush or an undercoat rake better for shedding?

A rake reaches deeper into undercoat and is better for the bulk of fall shedding, while a slicker is better for finishing and detangling.

Can brushing hurt my dog?

Yes, if you press hard, use the wrong tool or brush matted or irritated skin. Use light pressure and stop if your dog is uncomfortable.

Do deshedding tools work on all breeds?

No. They suit double and short coats, but they are not meant for curly, wire or hairless coats, where a slicker, comb or professional groomer is a better fit.

Why does my dog shed more in fall?

Many dogs shed seasonally as daylight and temperature change, replacing a lighter coat with a thicker one. Indoor dogs may shed year-round, and health problems can also cause shedding, so see a vet if it seems abnormal.

Should I brush a wet or dry dog?

Dry for rakes, slickers and deShedding edges. A shedding blade can be used in the bath, but check the maker’s instructions.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you only buy one tool, choose the SleekEZ for its versatility. If you have a double-coated breed, choose the FURminator undercoat deShedding tool in the right coat version, or the Mars Coat King for a large dog. If you are on a budget, the Maxpower Planet rake plus a Pecute slicker gives you a two-step routine at low cost, and the Andis is the better slicker if you brush daily. For short-coated dogs and bath days, the BOTH WINNERS blade is a simple, cheap option.

Sources

• Manufacturer product pages for SleekEZ, FURminator, Mars Coat King, Maxpower Planet, Andis, Pecute and BOTH WINNERS
• Professional grooming association guidance on brush types and technique
• American Kennel Club coat-care articles
• Veterinary school client guides on seasonal shedding

Last updated: October 2026