Do De-Shedding Tools Work?

FURminator deShedding Tool

You've probably seen some of the ads on TV for these wonder tools that almost magically whisk away mountains of fur from dogs. They look great - but do they really work? Can it really be that easy to remove all that hair? Well, the answer is yes, and no. Yes, they do work but there is some actual work involved.

The tools come in various forms and names - the Furminator, the Mars Coat King, the Furbuster, but they all work on a similar principle. De-shedding tools are basically coat rakes that are used to pull out the animal's dead undercoat. Most dogs have two layers of coat, a dense, thick undercoat that insulates and protects the dog from the elements and provides warmth in the winter; and an outer coat that, to some extent, sheds light water and dust. It's the undercoat that grows thicker during the winter and sheds during warmer weather. This is the coat that you typically find shed in your house.

FURminator deShedding Tool

De-shedding tools have teeth which reach beneath the outer guard hairs of the outer coat and drag through the undercoat to help it shed quickly. This leaves the dog looking smooth and sleek, even longhaired dogs. So, instead of your dog slowly shedding his thick undercoat all over your house, the de-shedding tool pulls out the dead coat efficiently as you use it.

Pet Grooming Brush

Do these tools really work as seen on TV? Yes, they do. You can very easily pull out large mounds of dead hair from your dog quickly. It does not hurt your dog in any way as long as you don't scrape the teeth of the de-shedding tool against his skin. This is unlikely to happen if your dog has a lot of undercoat. You can usually tell when you are getting close to the dog's skin and ease up on your strokes.

DakPets Dog Brush

There is a little more effort involved in pulling out the dead undercoat than is sometimes shown on TV. Some dead hair may come away very easily but you usually have to rake the de-shedding tool through the undercoat just as you would pull a brush through your dog's thick hair.

De-shedding tools work best on your dog's neck, back and sides. They can be tricky to use in smaller places and you need to be careful when using them around legs or any place where your dog's bones stick out since you could scratch him. But in places where there is lots of fluffy hair de-shedding tools do work very well.

HappyDogz Pet Grooming Shedding Brush

To choose the right size de-shedding tool for your dog it's a good idea to ask someone else who has one or check the recommended size on the web site. If you buy the tool at a pet store, talk to the sales clerk. The larger the size, the more hair they will remove. However, if you buy a size that's too large for your dog you won't be able to work the tool properly over your dog's body.

De-shedding tools are a great help for grooming your dog but they are best used for seasonal shedding. They have limited use the rest of the year. Even if you have a longhaired dog a de-shedding tool will only help you so much in keeping him looking good during the summer months, although they can help a little to reduce year-round shedding.

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