Where grooming is concerned, dogs with double coats are among the highest maintenance breeds that you can get. With their long, dense fur and tendency to shed hair everywhere, keeping up with a regular grooming schedule is essential — for the health of their fur and to reduce the number of stray hairs left around your house.

There’s a wide variety of brushes designed for all sorts of dog breeds, but not all of them cope well when faced with thick undercoats. To help you figure out which brush is the best for you and your double-coated dog, we put together these reviews for the best dog brushes for undercoats.

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The 10 Best Brushes for Double-Coated Dogs

1. Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush — Best Overall

Affordable and double-sided, the Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush is the best overall brush for double-coated dogs. It combines a simple design with two brush types and an ergonomic handle to make grooming sessions more effective.

The nylon bristles on one side are soft but firm to the touch and help redistribute the natural oils through your dog’s fur. On the other side, the stainless-steel pin brush detangles stubborn knots in your dog’s undercoat and topcoat. Both sides of the brush help remove dead fur and reduce shedding.

While this brush is cheaper than many other brushes on this list, it’s also cheaply made, so it might not last that long.

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2. JW Pet Gripsoft Double Row Undercoat Rake — Best Value

With two rows of rounded-tipped, metal teeth, the JW Pet Gripsoft Double Row Undercoat Rake is the best brush for double-coated dogs for the money. It has an ergonomic handle with non-slip grips to ease the strain on your hands during lengthy grooming sessions. Unlike combination brushes, this rake is designed specifically for dogs with an undercoat, although it’s suitable for all breeds and fur types.

While some brushes can damage the top coat, this one is designed to reach deeper and remove loose hair from the undercoat without causing damage to the outer layer of fur.

Some users may find the handle too bulky to be held comfortably for lengthy grooming sessions, though. The design also makes it more suitable for dog breeds with long fur.

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3. FURminator Deshedding Tool — Premium Choice

Designed by a professional groomer, the FURminator Deshedding Tool uses a curved design to make grooming a more comfortable experience for your dog. It helps remove loose hair from the undercoat and with regular use, reduces shedding.

There are three sizes available, and each option has an ergonomic handle to make longer grooming sessions easier on your hands. This tool is green, orange, or blue depending on the size that you choose.

Unlike many other dog brushes, which can also be used for cats with long fur, the FURminator is designed specifically for dogs and shouldn’t be used on your cat. It’s also the most expensive option on this list.

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4. Burt’s Bees Puppy Pin & Bristle Brush — Best for Puppies

For puppies and small dogs, the Burt’s Bees Puppy Pin & Bristle Brush is made from sturdy and reliable bamboo and other recycled materials. The hemp bristles help spread the natural oils throughout your puppy’s fur, keeping their coat sleek, while the pin brush removes debris and gently detangles knots.

Since it’s designed with puppies in mind, it’s lightweight and easy to hold. However, the design is too small to be effective on large dog breeds, and grooming sessions may take much longer. Your puppy may also grow out of this brush if they’re not a small breed, requiring you to purchase another brush as they reach maturity.

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5. Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush

If you’re a pet owner with both dogs and cats, the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush is suitable for both pets and all fur types. It comes in two sizes to match the size of your dog’s breed and has an easy-to-hold, non-slip handle. The Hertzko removes loose fur and has a self-cleaning function to make unclogging the bristles easy. As it removes tangles, it helps increase circulation by relaxing your pet.

Metal bristles can be sharp and bother pets with sensitive skin or shorter fur. You also have to hold the eject button down to use this brush, which can cause discomfort over long periods. Due to this heavy use, the eject function is often the first part of this brush to break.

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6. Frisco Deshedding Cat & Dog Brush

Lightweight with an ergonomic handle and non-slip grip, the Frisco Deshedding Cat & Dog Brush is affordable and sold in two sizes. Both the medium and large options are suitable for short, medium, or long fur. As a de-shedding brush, it’s designed with angled teeth to remove dead hair from the undercoat and reduce the amount of shedding from thick coats.

The teeth can feel sharp and too rough against sensitive skin, making some pets uncomfortable. For the best results, it’s recommended to partner this brush with one designed to detangle fur because this one doesn’t remove knots effectively. There’s also no self-clean button like on many other de-shedder brushes.

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7. FURminator Dog Grooming Rake

Designed for long and dense coats, the FURminator Dog Grooming Rake uses stainless-steel, rounded pins to gently detangle your dog’s fur. The pins are long enough to reach your dog’s undercoat, relieving any deep troublesome matting. Anti-microbial plastic is used to keep grooming sessions hygienic and your dog as healthy as possible.

The FURminator rake has a soft-grip and ergonomic handle to make lengthy grooming sessions more comfortable for your dog and you.

Designed primarily to detangle fur, this rake isn’t the best at removing loose fur and needs to be partnered with another brush for the best results. It’s also not that durable, as the handle can come off and the pins break easily.

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8. Hertzko Dog & Cat Dematting Comb

The Hertzko Dog & Cat Dematting Comb has a durable design and a soft-grip handle for extra comfort. The stainless-steel comb detangles matted fur and removes loose hair, dander, and dirt. It also helps relax your dog to increase circulation while being suitable for all fur types, including cats in multi-pet households.

Double-sided, the Hertzko enables you to flip the brush over to minimize the time that you spend cleaning fur from the comb. There’s no self-cleaning button, however, and clearing the loose fur from the comb can be difficult.

While the design claims to detangle fur, it struggles with long, dense coats. It also doesn’t handle tougher matted patches well and can cause pain when the knots snag on the comb.

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9. Safari De-Matting Dog Comb

Unlike pin brushes that glide through tangles, the Safari De-Matting Dog Comb uses rounded-tipped blades to cut through matted fur. The metal comb is rust-resistant and removes dirt, dander, and loose fur. It also has a non-slip handle for extra security for you and your dog and a more comfortable grip for long grooming sessions.

The blades used in this design are intimidating and can cause injuries to you and your pet if not handled properly. This tool is too big for small dog breeds and puppies. Due to the blades, the design is unsuitable for skittish or restless dogs. It also struggles with tough tangles.

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10. Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush

The Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush is built with a self-cleaning function to make cleaning up old hair a breeze. Available in three sizes, it’s suitable for a range of breeds and fur types. Along with the easy-to-clean design, this slicker brush has a soft comfort grip to make long grooming sessions easy on your hands. The metal pins are softer than many other pin brush designs and suitable for dogs with sensitive skin.

Although water won’t hurt this brush, it isn’t recommended for use while bathing your dog or brushing out wet fur. The design itself isn’t particularly durable, and the self-cleaning button breaks easily while the pins can be bent out of shape. Metal bristles can also be too sharp for dogs that find the texture discomforting.

Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Brushes for Double-Coated Dogs

A regular grooming schedule is recommended for all dog breeds because it keeps their fur in top health and helps you bond with your canine companion. Some breeds, however, require more frequent grooming sessions. In this section, we explain why your double-coated dog needs to be brushed every day and which brushes will work best.

What Is a Double-Coated Dog?

There are two types of coats that a dog can have: a single coat or a double coat. A single coat is only one layer of fur, doesn’t shed as much, and is much easier to care for. Double-coated dogs take a bit more work to maintain; with a thick underlayer and a fine top layer, they shed easily and their fur is prone to matting.

Top Coat

Also known as the “outer coat” or “guard layer,” the top coat protects against moisture, dirt, UV rays, and snow. The hairs are longer and generally coarser than the undercoat. Think of it as a raincoat.

Undercoat

This soft, fluffy layer of fur is also known as the “inner coat.” It’s made up of short fur and is denser than the protective top coat layer, which makes it great for keeping your dog warm in cold climates and cool in hot summers. If the top coat is a raincoat, the undercoat is the layer underneath it.

Which Breeds Have Double Coats?

More often than not, you’ll find double coats on working dogs. These dogs often work in all weathers and climates and benefit from the insulating properties of two layers of fur.

Why Do Double-Coated Dogs Need to Be Groomed Regularly?

Along with being much thicker than a single layer of fur, double coats are much longer. They have the downside of succumbing to tangles and getting packed with dirt and grime more easily too. Grooming your double-coated dog regularly helps alleviate a few of the downsides and offers positives too.

Reduce Shedding

Anything with fur or hair sheds. It’s unavoidable. Double-coated dogs take this to the extreme. The loose hairs in their undercoat can get caught in the top layer, leading to knotted messes. Regular grooming sessions with a good brush help ease out tangles and remove any loose fur clogging up the layers.

Redistribute Natural Oils

While the undercoat is the insulating layer, the top coat is more for protection against the elements. Due to this, it tends to be the oiler part of your dog’s fur. Brushing is a great way to help spread the natural oils in your dog’s fur through their coat. This helps even out the oils to better protect your puppy.

Bonding

It’s always best to groom your dog yourself. While it can take a while, it’s the perfect way to spend quality time with your pooch, and the benefits aren’t only limited to dogs with double coats. Most dog breeds and cats will love to have their fur brushed by their favorite humans.

Which Brush Should You Use for Double-Coated Dogs?

Dog brushes come in a range of sizes and shapes for multiple coat and fur types. Not all of them are effective on different breeds, though. A pin brush, for example, won’t be as useful for a short-haired Great Dane as it will be for a double-coated Pomeranian.

Here’s a list of the brushes that you’ll find the most useful for your double-coated dog:

Pin Brush

Despite the name and appearance, pin brushes aren’t made with actual pins and won’t hurt your dog. They’re designed with rounded tipped metal “pins” and help remove loose fur, dander, and other debris from the top coat.

Bristle Brush

Designed for the top layer of fur, a bristle brush will struggle to remove much loose fur from the undercoat. However, it’s the perfect tool to redistribute the oils in your dog’s top coat. It will help make your dog’s fur look shiny and sleek.

Combination Brushes

Owning separate pin and bristle brushes is fine, but keeping track of both of them can be a pain. Combination brushes have a bristle brush on one side and a pin brush on the other. This enables you to flip the brush over if you find any tough tangles while you’re brushing your dog’s fur.

Slicker Brush

Although they’re similar in style to pin brushes, slicker brushes are usually wider. They work best on thick fur and are great at removing tangles.

Undercoat Rake

These combs can look intimidating. They’re designed to reach past the top coat without damaging it. This helps remove tangles and loose hair from the undercoat without breaking the protective outer layer of fur.

Wide-Tooth Comb

Much like the undercoat rake, wide-tooth combs detangle your dog’s fur. They’re often too short to reach the dense underlayer, though. Used alongside an undercoat rake, you can remove the tangles in the top coat before handling the denser layer beneath.

 

Final Thoughts

These reviews cover a range of brushes, from slickers to undercoat rakes, to help you find the best option for you and your dog. Our overall best choice, the Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush, combines a bristle brush with a pin brush so you have both options available for your dog’s grooming needs. For dogs with a particularly dense undercoat, the JW Pet Gripsoft Undercoat Rake helps remove tangles without damaging your dog’s top coat.

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Featured Image Credit: dimid_86, Shutterstock