How to Use an Undercoat Rake on Your Dog Safely

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 17, 20263 min read

An undercoat rake is a simple tool with a large effect on shedding. Properly used, it removes the dead, loose undercoat that would otherwise clog the coat and end up on your furniture.

What is an undercoat rake?

It looks like a wide comb with one or two rows of long, rounded or angled pins. The pins slide through the guard hairs and catch the soft undercoat. Rakes come in different pin lengths and spacing for coats of different depth. See best deshedding tools for other options.

Which dogs benefit

Double-coated breeds, including Huskies, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Corgis, Malamutes and Samoyeds. See double-coat grooming. It is not suitable for single-coated, curly, silky or wire-coated dogs.

Preparation

1. Make sure the coat is dry, since wet coats tangle and stretch.
2. Brush out any tangles first with a slicker brush. See how to brush a dog properly.
3. Give your dog a calm space and a few treats.
4. Choose a rake with pin length to suit the coat. Long pins for thick coats, short for thinner.

Step by step

1. Hold the rake lightly, as you would a comb.
2. Start on the back, raking gently in the direction of hair growth.
3. Let the pins glide through the coat rather than pressing in.
4. Work in small sections, lifting the top hair and raking underneath.
5. Clean hair from the rake often.
6. Rake the sides, chest, thighs and tail base, then stop when little hair comes out.
7. Follow with a slicker brush and comb.

Areas to be careful

Avoid the face, belly, genitals, ears and bony areas, where skin is thin and sensitive. Use a soft brush there instead.

How often

During heavy shedding, you may rake two to four times per week. Outside shedding periods, once every week or two is enough. Raking more than needed removes healthy undercoat and can irritate skin. See dog blowing coat.

Combining with baths

A bath and thorough drying loosen dead undercoat, and raking afterwards is highly effective. See how to bathe a dog at home and how to dry a dog after a bath.

Warning signs

Stop if your dog yelps, the skin is red or the coat is coming out in handfuls from healthy areas. If hair loss seems excessive, see your vet.

Maintenance

Clean the rake after use, check for bent pins and store it out of reach of children and pets.

Choosing the right rake

Rakes differ in pin length, spacing and the number of rows. A single-row rake with wide spacing suits a coarse, thick coat such as a Husky's, while a double-row rake with closer pins is better for a thinner undercoat such as a Corgi's. If in doubt, ask your groomer to show you which one they use on your dog, and try it on a small area first. Rounded pin tips are kinder to skin than sharp ones, and a comfortable handle helps if you have a large dog with a lot of coat to work through.

What the coat should look like afterwards

After raking and brushing, the coat should look fluffy but even, with no clumps of loose hair standing out and no bare patches. A comb should pass through easily to the skin. If you can still pull out handfuls of fur from any area, repeat gently the next day rather than pushing harder, since short, frequent sessions protect the skin better than one long, forceful one.

The takeaway

Use the rake lightly, on a clean, dry, tangle-free coat, and not too often. Pair it with a good bath and a finishing brush for best results.