Does Your Dog Need an Undercoat Rake?
Regular grooming visits are important, especially if you have a long-haired dog, but they can add up quickly. Even though letting a professional groom is important, grooming at home can be convenient and much more affordable. When you do choose to skip the grooming visit and try it at home, it is important to groom correctly so that your dog stays happy and healthy.
There are many different types of tools that can make grooming easier when you do it yourself. An undercoat rake can be extremely beneficial and make the process easier.
What is an Undercoat Rake?
An undercoat rake is designed to remove the undercoat of your dog with small sharp blades that are set closely together. These blades grab and remove excess or dead hair while leaving the topcoat shiny and healthy. This type of rake can work on double-coated breeds, heavy coats, rustic coats, or hand-stripped coats.
How Does it Work?
As the rake has rounded edges, it will not cut the skin as it reaches into the deep fur to remove loose hair. Most undercoat rakes can be used on wet or dry fur, but typically work best on a damp coat prior to a bath.
The larger toothed comb is best for removing mats behind the ears and tails, while the finer toothed comb can rake through most of the body. If there are thick mats, you may need to cut the fur with shears or go see a groomer.
Starting with the wide-toothed rake and working your way down, you carefully drag the rake through the coat, working out the loose fur. It is recommended to start slowly and use caution until you get the hang of it. Although the rake is relatively safe, be careful with the amount of pressure applied as it could rip the top layer of fur up if not used correctly. Use caution with the rake in the areas of loose skin such as around the neck and ears especially.
If your dog does not enjoy being groomed, try letting them stay somewhere they are more comfortable like on a bed or couch. Although there may be more cleanup, allowing them to sit comfortably will make a more enjoyable grooming experience for you both.
Recommendations
Pat Your Pet Deshedding Brush
Under $20 on Amazon, this rake comes highly recommended with its comb options for both smooth dematting and deshedding. It is skin safe as it had rounded edges on the blades to make sure your dog’s skin is protected. The brush also features an easy-grip handle to allow for ease of use.
FURminator Grooming Rake
Under $10, this rake is rated the most gentle option by many users. The blades are rounded, one-rowed, and rotate for the most comfortable deshedding process. It has a wide head that is best for larger animals but can work for any sized pet.
Nomad Double-Row Undercoat Rake
Featuring two rows of teeth, the Double-Row rake is great for long, thick undercoats. According to Nomad, this rake will reduce shedding by up to 90% after just one session. This rake works on dogs of all sizes with its brush being moderately sized. It has a comfort-grip handle to make brushing easier.
LUKACY Undercoat Rake
This is a dual-sided tool with 5 teeth on one side and 10 on the other for dogs of different uses; you can get stubborn tangles and deshedding done with this tool. It comes into two sizes of 2.5” and 3.5”, making it ideal for several sizes of pets. It has a no-scratch design as it has rounded edges that won’t knick the skin.
These undercoat rakes will make the at-home grooming process more comfortable and easier. Relatively affordable, undercoat rakes can make skipping a trip to the groomer more realistic and cheaper.