Does your dog have a thick double coat? Does it seem that no matter how often you brush them there is still a TON of hair on your floor and all over your clothes and furniture? My dog had a double coat and no matter how much we brushed her, it seemed she was always shedding. The springtime would always be worse, with chunks of hair being shed. Grooming with brushes for a double coated dog instead of a regular dog brush can make a huge difference in how much your dog sheds, while increasing their comfort in the warmer weather.
What Is A Double Coated Dog?
A double coated dog is a dog that has two layers of fur. There is the top layer, or guard coat, which is long and coarse, and the undercoat, which is short and soft. A double coated dog will shed their undercoat twice a year: in the spring, which helps make them cooler in the warmer weather and in the fall to prepare their coat for colder temperatures. The top layer is shed all year long.
How Do I Know If I Have A Double Coated Dog?
Dogs with a double coat tend to have a coarse outer layer and a soft undercoat. If your dog’s coat looks big and fluffy, most likely they are double coated.
What Dog Breeds Are Double Coated?
Some examples of double coated dogs include:
- Akitas.
- Huskies.
- Alaskan Malamutes.
- Chow Chows.
- German Shepherds.
- Sheepdogs.
- Bernese Mountain Dogs.
- Great Pyrenees.
- Newfoundlands.
- Golden Retrievers.
- Labrador Retrievers.
- Collies.
- Terriers.
- Corgis.
What Is The Best Way To Groom A Double Coated Dog?
One of the best ways to groom your double coated dog is to brush them on a regular basis. For some dogs, once a week will suffice, but for other dogs, you may have to brush them two or more times a week. Regular baths are also important.
Is It Good To Shave A Double Coated Dog?
Contrary to what you may think, it is not a good idea to shave a double coated dog. A dog’s undercoat helps to regulate their body temperature. When your dog is shaved, this disrupts the growth of the undercoat compared to the growth of the outer coat.
Therefore, when they are shaved, this causes your dog to be hotter in the warmer months due to the undercoat growing faster than the outer coat. It will also increase the likelihood of insect bites and sunburn. This is why proper grooming of your double coated dog is important.
How Do You Get Rid Of A Thick Undercoat On A Dog?
The best way to get rid of a thick undercoat on a dog is to brush them with the proper grooming tool. A good de-shedding brush can help to remove the dead hairs of your dog’s undercoat quicker than they can on their own. This in turn will decrease the amount of undercoat your dog will shed and lessen the amount of hair you will have to vacuum off your floors and furniture. It will also help your dog feel cooler in the warmer weather.
What Are Good Brushes For A Double Coated Dog?
When brushing your double coated dog, using a de-shedding tool to get out the undercoat is your best bet. There are a few different types of tools you may want to try.
Slicker Brush
A slicker brush is a grooming brush with wire teeth. They can be flat or curved. It is used to remove mats and tangles in your dog’s hair. A slicker brush can also remove any dead hair your dog may have. The longer the teeth, the closer to your dog’s skin the brush will go. The correct size to use will depend on the size of your dog. Use a small size for a small dog and a large size for a large dog. Choose a slicker brush with short teeth for a short haired dog and one with long teeth for a long haired dog.
Undercoat Rake
An undercoat rake is made of a series of curved, sharp blades that are designed to remove the undercoat without damaging the top coat. Using this tool, you can remove the undercoat in minutes. Be careful not to press into your dog when using this tool, as you may cut your dog with the blades. Use gentle strokes and you will be amazed at how much hair comes off your dog.
Shedding Blade
A shedding blade works similarly to an undercoat rake. It will remove your dog’s undercoat without damaging the top coat. A shedding blade is made of a strip of metal with small teeth. It can be used two ways: with the handles together to reach into small areas, and with the handles apart making a long blade to go over large areas.
The downside to a shedding blade is that the hair will not collect on it. Instead, it will fall to the ground. For this reason, it may be best to brush your dog with this outside to avoid excess hair inside your home.
De-Shedding Tool
This is a tool made with tiny teeth that is designed to get to the undercoat without damaging the top coat. The negative to using this style of brush is the same as the shedding blade. It is best to use this outdoors to avoid excess hair in your home, as there is no way to contain the hair once it comes off your dog.
A shedding blade or a de-shedding tool are good options for dogs that don’t like or cannot tolerate traditional brushing, as these tend to be a little gentler.
How Do You Brush Your Dog’s Undercoat?
When grooming your double coated dog, you will first want to get out any mats or tangles your dog may have. A good detangling spray can help, if your dog has particularly stubborn knots.
Next, brush your dog with the proper brush to help get rid of the dead hairs of their undercoat. Brush in short strokes in the direction of the hair growth. Be careful not to pull on your dog’s hair while you do this.
Depending on the type of brush you use, you will also want to be careful not to press down too hard or spend too much time in any one area, as this may lead to skin irritation or cuts to your dog.
The Best Brushes For A Double Coated Dog
These are some of the top rated brushes for dogs with a double coat according to users. They work well at getting out the undercoats of dogs. You may have to try a few different kinds to find what does the best job on your dog. Product descriptions are per the manufacturer.
Best Slicker Brushes For A Double Coated Dog
BaByliss Pro Pet Long Pin Slicker Brush
- Flexible stainless steel pins.
- Gentle bristles.
- Anti-slip gel handle.
- Can be used on a fine coat.
- Removes mats, tangles, and excess hair.
- Can be used on sensitive skin.
Pros/Cons:
- Handle is very comfortable to hold.
Safari Soft Slicker Brush For Dogs
- Works on all dog breeds.
- Stainless steel pins.
- Removes mats and tangles.
Pros/Cons:
- Pins are soft to the touch.
- Hard to clean out the hair.
Artero Double Flexible Slicker
- Double sided.
- Black side for de-matting.
- Grey side for brushing.
- Flexible to contour to your dog.
Pros/Cons:
- Comfortable to hold.
- Gentle.
Chis Christensen Big K Dog Slicker Brush
- Long, sparse pins to penetrate deep into your dog’s coat.
- Detangles and removes knots.
- Removes undercoat.
- Thins and separates hair.
- Design of pins helps to lift up more of the coat.
- Flexible cushion.
- Extra long handle.
Pros/Cons:
- Expensive.
Paw Brothers Extra Long Pin Flat Slicker Brush
- Non-Slip grip.
- Extra long pins to get deep into the coat.
- Stainless steel pins.
- Rounded corners that don’t catch fur.
Pros/Cons:
- Comfortable handle.
- Pins long enough to get deep into the coat.
Best Undercoat Rake / Brushes For Double Coated Dogs
Paw Brothers Stainless Steel Double Wide Coat Rake
- Non-slip rubber grip.
- Replaceable blades.
- Rounded teeth.
- Double wide for larger dogs.
Maxpower Planet Pet Grooming Brush
- Dual head design.
- 9 tooth side gets out mats and tangles.
- 17 tooth side thins and de-sheds.
- Slightly sharpened blades.
- Rounded ends on the teeth.
- Anti- slip rubber handle.
FURminator Grooming Rake
- Rotating teeth remove loose hair and tangles.
- Non-slip ergonomic handle.
Pros/Cons:
- Not all the teeth rotate.
JW Pet Gripsoft Double Row Undercoat Rake
- Non-slip ergonomic handle.
- 2 rows of teeth.
- Round tipped teeth.
- Metal teeth in 2 different lengths.
- Teeth are turned 90 degrees from the skin to avoid irritation.
Pros/Cons:
- Doesn’t pull on your dog when using.
Well & Good Prostyle Dual-Sided Shedding Rake
- Double sided blades.
- 2 rows of teeth.
- Good for dogs with medium to long coats.
- Ergonomic design.
- 9 tooth side gets out mats and tangles.
- 17 tooth side thins and de-sheds.
Best De-Shedding Brushes For A Double Coated Dog
In this group, we included both de-shedding tools with tiny teeth, as well as shedding blades.
FURminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool
- Removes loose hair from shedding.
- Curved edge.
- Reaches through the topcoat to remove loose hair from the undercoat.
- Ergonomic handle.
- Ejector button releases the hair.
Coastal Pet Safari Dual – Sided Dog Shedding Blade
- For medium to large breeds.
- Used with handles together or separately.
- Stainless steel blade.
SleekEZ Deshedding Grooming Tool
- Made of poplar wood with a stainless steel blade.
- Ergonomic design.
- Tiny teeth arranged in a wave pattern that grabs the tips of hair without tugging.
- Made in the USA.
Wahl Double Sided Shedding Blade
- Non-slip grip.
- Ergonomic handle.
- Locking handle.
- Double sided with a coarse blade for thick coats and a fine blade for medium coats.
JW Pet Company Gripsoft Shedding Blade
- Ergonomic handle.
- Oval shaped blade.
- Tiny teeth.
Grooming your dog can be simple when you have the right tools for the job. Using the right brushes for a double coated dog can help remove your dog’s undercoat while leaving the top coat healthy and clean.
Please check out our other posts on Health, Indoor, Outdoor, and Travel accessories for your dog, as well as Reviews of various products and travel destinations.