Our picks of dog brushes and deshedding tools
4 picks, updated 17 September 2026
A dog brush and a deshedding tool do different jobs. A slicker brush works the top of the coat and stops tangles turning into mats. A deshedding tool reaches down to the loose undercoat, which is where most of the hair on the floor comes from.
The deshedding tool is sized to the dog, so we have picked the FURminator in all three sizes, matched to weight and coat length. Choose the one that fits your dog and the job takes minutes.
Our picks
- 1
Petface
Slicker Brush, medium
Why we picked it
A slicker is the brush most owners actually need. Fine bent wires lift loose hair and open small tangles before they turn into mats. Petface say regular brushing spreads natural oils through the coat, which keeps it glossy. Five minutes a few times a week suits a spaniel or a doodle between grooms.
- Type
- Brush
- Best for
- Coats that tangle
- Price band
- ££
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- 2
FURminator
Undercoat deShedding Tool, small, short hair
Why we picked it
A slicker brush tidies the top of a coat. This reaches through it to the loose undercoat, which is the hair that ends up on the sofa. A stainless steel edge lifts dead undercoat while leaving the topcoat alone, the curved edge follows the shape of the dog, and the FURejector button clears the blade. This size fits small dogs of 4.5 to 9 kg with short coats.
- Type
- Deshedding tool
- Best for
- Small short-coated dogs, 4.5 to 9 kg
- Price band
- £
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- 3
FURminator
Undercoat deShedding Tool, medium, long hair
Why we picked it
Medium dogs with a long double coat shed in drifts, and this is the FURminator size made for them. The stainless steel edge works down through a coat longer than 5 cm to the loose undercoat and lifts it out, leaving the topcoat intact. The FURejector button clears the blade between strokes. It suits a collie or a springer spaniel.
- Type
- Deshedding tool
- Best for
- Medium long-coated dogs, 9 to 23 kg
- Price band
- £
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- 4
FURminator
Undercoat deShedding Tool, large, long hair
Why we picked it
A golden retriever or a German Shepherd in spring fills a bin bag, and a wider blade turns that into a job of minutes. This large FURminator has the width for it, with the same stainless steel edge reaching through a long topcoat to the loose undercoat beneath. The curved edge follows the body and the button clears the hair. It fits dogs of 23 to 41 kg.
- Type
- Deshedding tool
- Best for
- Large long-coated dogs, 23 to 41 kg
- Price band
- ££
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Side by side
| # | Pick | Type | Best for | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petface Slicker Brush, medium | Brush | Coats that tangle | ££ |
| 2 | FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool, small, short hair | Deshedding tool | Small short-coated dogs, 4.5 to 9 kg | £ |
| 3 | FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool, medium, long hair | Deshedding tool | Medium long-coated dogs, 9 to 23 kg | £ |
| 4 | FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool, large, long hair | Deshedding tool | Large long-coated dogs, 23 to 41 kg | ££ |
Questions people ask
Which size FURminator deshedding tool do I need?
Go by weight and coat length on the packet. Small covers dogs of 4.5 to 9 kg, medium 9 to 23 kg and large 23 to 41 kg. Each size comes in a short hair and a long hair version, with 5 cm of coat as the line.
Can I use a deshedding tool on any dog?
It is made for dogs with a shedding undercoat, which is most double coated breeds. A slicker brush and a comb look after a poodle or a bichon beautifully, so that is the pairing to buy for a non-shedding coat.
How often should I use a deshedding tool?
Once or twice a week for 10 to 20 minutes is plenty, which is what FURminator suggest. Step it up in the heavy shedding weeks of spring and autumn, and a light hand keeps the skin happy.