Quick answer: Use an undercoat rake to lift loose, dead undercoat from double-coated breeds, and a dematting comb, with sprung or serrated teeth, to work through tangles in long coats. Wide heads with more teeth cover big areas quickly; compact heads with fewer teeth give control around legs, ears and the tail. Work little and often, in the direction of growth, and leave severe matting to a professional.
If you share your home with a Husky, a German Shepherd, a Collie or a long-haired cat, you know the spring and autumn "blow": tumbleweeds of fur in every corner. A normal brush skims the top coat and barely touches the problem underneath. Undercoat rakes and dematting combs are made for exactly that layer. Here is how they differ, how to choose one, and how to use it without upsetting your pet.
Why ordinary brushes struggle
Many breeds have a double coat: longer, coarser guard hairs on top and a dense, soft undercoat beneath. The undercoat sheds in quantity, and the loose hair stays trapped under the top coat until it is lifted out. Left alone, it can felt into mats close to the skin, especially behind the ears, in the armpits, on the trousers and under the tail. A slicker brush tidies the surface. Getting at the undercoat needs longer, stronger teeth that reach down through the guard hairs.
Undercoat rakes: for loose, dead undercoat
An undercoat rake has a row of long, curved metal teeth set in a head on a handle. Drawn through the coat in the direction of growth, the teeth catch and lift out loose undercoat while sliding past the guard hairs. The rakes in our pet grooming range have riveted wooden handles and come in different head widths:
- Wide heads (around 16 teeth): cover the back, sides and chest quickly on large, heavy-shedding breeds.
- Medium heads (around 12 teeth): a good all-rounder for medium dogs and long-haired cats.
- Compact heads (around 8 teeth): give more control around legs, ears and the base of the tail, and suit smaller animals.
Dematting combs: for tangles and knots
A dematting comb is built to work through a tangle rather than over it. The 20-tooth dematting tool in our range uses individually sprung steel teeth that flex through resistance from knotted fur, which reduces pulling on the skin. Serrated teeth on some designs thin and remove the tangled undercoat as they go.
Work a mat from its outer edge inwards in short strokes, holding the hair at the base between your fingers and the skin so the pull does not reach your pet. If a mat is tight to the skin, large, or your pet is uncomfortable, stop. Severe matting is a job for a professional groomer or your vet, and pulling at it can hurt.
Wire coats are different
Terriers, Schnauzers and other wire-coated breeds are traditionally hand-stripped: dead hair is plucked out with specialist hand-stripping tools rather than raked. Hand-stripping is a technique worth learning from a groomer first. Our range includes stripping sets for groomers and experienced owners.
A calm deshedding routine
- Choose a quiet time, after a walk when your pet is settled, and keep sessions short.
- Start with the easy areas (the back and sides) to build trust.
- Work in the direction of growth, in short strokes, with light pressure. Let the tool do the work.
- Move to tricky areas last: the trousers, tail, behind the ears and the armpits, with a compact head.
- Reward calm behaviour. A treat pouch on your belt keeps rewards at hand, with a wide opening for one-handed access.
- Stop before your pet has had enough. Two short sessions beat one long struggle.
Grooming time is also a good moment to check claws. Our scissor-style pet nail clippers have a safety lock, and our pet nail care guide (linked below) covers how to trim safely.
What to watch for
- Redness, sore spots or flaky skin: stop and ask your vet. Heavy shedding can sometimes have a medical cause.
- Too much pressure: raking should lift loose hair, not scrape skin. Lighten your stroke.
- Over-grooming one area: move around the body instead of working one patch until it thins.
Caring for the tools
- Pull the hair out of the teeth after every few strokes, and fully after each session.
- Wash the head in warm soapy water from time to time, then dry thoroughly. Keep wooden handles out of soaking water.
- Check for bent or rough teeth and replace the tool if any could scratch.
- Keep a separate tool for each pet if one has a skin problem, and follow your vet's advice on cleaning.
You can find rakes, dematting tools and stripping sets in the pet and veterinary tools collection.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an undercoat rake and a dematting comb?
An undercoat rake has long, curved teeth that lift loose, dead undercoat out of double-coated breeds while sliding past the top coat. A dematting comb has sprung or serrated teeth designed to work through tangles and knots. Many owners of long-haired pets use both: the rake for routine deshedding, and the dematting comb for problem areas.
How many teeth should a deshedding rake have?
Wide heads with around 16 teeth cover large areas quickly on big, heavy-shedding dogs. Around 12 teeth is a good all-rounder for medium dogs and long-haired cats. Compact heads with around 8 teeth give more control around legs, ears and the tail, and suit smaller animals.
Can I use an undercoat rake on a cat?
Yes, on long-haired and double-coated cats, with a gentle touch and short sessions. A medium or compact head is easier to control on a cat. Work in the direction of hair growth and stop if your cat becomes uncomfortable or you notice sore skin.
What should I do about severe matting?
Stop and ask a professional groomer or your vet. Mats that are tight to the skin, large or painful are difficult to remove safely at home, and pulling at them can hurt. For small tangles, hold the hair at the base and work from the outer edge inwards with a dematting comb.
Everything above ships from the UK with free UK delivery on every order, and we aim to dispatch orders placed before 2pm UK time, Monday to Friday, the same working day. Unused items can be returned within 30 days. Browse the full pet grooming range below.
