Summer Grooming Tools for Double Coats

A double coat is a two-layer system: a stiff guard-hair topcoat that sheds water and blocks UV, and a soft undercoat that traps air for insulation — in both directions. In summer the undercoat sheds heavily so it can trap less heat. Your job is to help it exit the coat, not remove the coat itself. This guide covers the three tools that do that work and how to pick between them.

Why shaving is the wrong answer

The American Kennel Club guidance on shaving your dog is clear: shaving removes the insulating undercoat, exposes skin to sunburn, and often causes post-clipping alopecia — coat that grows back patchy or coarser. The correct summer intervention is brushing the loose undercoat out, not clipping it off.

Tool 1 — the undercoat rake (primary)

An undercoat rake is a single or double row of long metal pins spaced widely enough to slide under the topcoat and catch loose undercoat without cutting either layer. This is the tool most double-coated dogs need most often.

Use it in the direction of hair growth, in short strokes, with light pressure. If the rake bounces or catches, you are pressing too hard. Expect visible clumps of undercoat within the first minute — that is the trapped-heat layer coming out.

Best for: Huskies, Malamutes, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds.

Tool 2 — the deshedder (seasonal blowout only)

A deshedder — the FURminator being the category-defining example — has a fine stainless edge that pulls and trims simultaneously. It removes more coat per stroke than a rake, which is why it belongs in your seasonal-blowout kit and not your weekly kit.

Overusing a deshedder on a double coat can thin the topcoat, causing dullness and increased shedding of guard hairs. Use it for two or three sessions during the spring and fall blowouts, then put it away. The AKC's shedding management guide recommends brushing frequently during shedding season but warns that aggressive deshedding tools can damage the coat if overused.

Tool 3 — the slicker brush (finish and daily use)

A slicker has fine, bent wire pins on a flat or slightly curved head. It does not reach the undercoat well, but it is the correct tool for detangling the topcoat after a rake pass and for daily coat maintenance. A slicker is also what you want after a swim or a wet-weather walk to lift moisture-matted fur before it locks.

A weekly summer routine that actually gets done

1. Once per week — rake pass. 10–15 minutes, working shoulder-to-hip on each side, then chest and rear legs.
2. Twice per week — slicker pass. 5 minutes, lifting the topcoat.
3. Every 4–6 weeks — bath. Use a deshedding shampoo before a rake pass; the surfactants lift dead undercoat that a dry brush cannot reach.

What to skip

• Rubber curry mitts marketed as "deshedders." They remove surface fur only and give a false sense of progress on double coats.
• Clippers of any kind unless a groomer has specifically prescribed a sanitary trim.
• Any tool that claims to work for "all coat types." Double coats need double-coat tools.

For live inventory and comparisons across brands, see our grooming directory.