Dog Moulting: How to Remove the Undercoat Quickly and Gently
Dog moulting without hair everywhere: which tool suits which coat, how to remove the undercoat with a rake, brush and dog dryer, and why a double coat should not be clipped.
In short
- Moulting usually lasts several weeks and is generally strongest in spring.
- The tool depends on the coat: rake for double coats, massage brush for short coats.
- Undercoat rake only on dry, knot-free fur, in the direction of growth and without pressure.
- Bathing and powerful blow-drying gets the dead undercoat out fastest.
- Do not clip a double coat: it can grow back unevenly and the dog still sheds.
Contents
During moulting your dog sheds so heavily that you vacuum every day, and still more wool keeps coming out when you brush. That is normal. With the right tool for its coat, a bath and a powerful dryer, the dead undercoat is out within a few days, instead of spreading over the sofa and carpet for weeks. Here is which tool suits which coat and how to use it.
What happens during a dog's moulting
Many dogs have a double coat: on top the longer, firmer outer coat, underneath the soft, dense undercoat. Twice a year the undercoat is replaced. In spring the dense winter coat falls out, in autumn it grows back. The dead wool does not simply fall out, but stays caught between the outer hairs. There it compacts, the coat looks dull and tufty, and mats quickly form on the britches, in the armpits and behind the ears.
Dogs without an undercoat, such as Poodles, Maltese or Bichons, do not have a pronounced moulting period. Their hair grows long and falls out individually. They hardly shed, but mat easily.
When does moulting happen and how long does it last?
Moulting usually drags on for several weeks. It is generally strongest in spring. How long and how intense it is depends on breed, age and lifestyle. Dogs that live a lot in heated rooms, and some neutered dogs, often shed all year round with smaller peaks. Bitches also often shed more after a season or after a litter.
The earlier you start, the shorter the time your dog sheds extremely. As soon as tufts stay in your hand when you stroke it, it is time.
Removing the undercoat: the right tool by coat type
The most important tool is not the most expensive one, but the one that suits the coat. The overview shows what to work with for which coat during moulting.
| Coat type | Examples | Tools during moulting | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight coat with dense undercoat | German Shepherd, Husky, Malamute, Akita, Spitz, Samoyed | Undercoat rake, then slicker brush or Silver Brush, comb to check | daily 5–10 minutes |
| Long coat with undercoat | Golden Retriever, Collie, Sheltie, Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland | Slicker brush with 25 mm pins, undercoat rake on knot-free fur, pin brush, comb | daily 5–10 minutes |
| Short coat with undercoat | Labrador, Corgi | Undercoat rake, then natural bristle or massage brush | every day or every other day |
| Short, smooth coat | Boxer, Dobermann, Whippet, Short-haired Dachshund | Massage brush with horsehair, natural bristle brush for shine | two to three times a week |
| Single coat without undercoat | Poodle, Maltese, Bichon, Shih Tzu, Doodle | no rake – slicker brush and comb as during the rest of the year, more often when changing from the puppy coat | as usual, more often if there are knots |
The rule of thumb: the undercoat rake gets out the bulk, the slicker brush loosens knots and the rest, the comb shows you whether the coat is free down to the skin. With short coats, a massage or natural bristle brush replaces the slicker brush.
Undercoat rake or FURminator®? The working principles compared
Many owners ask themselves this question. The difference lies not in the brand but in the working principle: some tools pull out the loose wool, others cut or thin it out.
| Tool | Working principle | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Undercoat rake, rotating head | pulls out | double coat during moulting |
| Blade, e.g. FURminator® | cuts | short double coat, when it needs to be quick |
| Thinning tool, e.g. Coat King® | thins out | very dense coat, mostly at the salon |
| Slicker brush | detangles | daily care and finish |
| Dematting tool | loosens mats | firm knots, on specific spots |
FURminator® and Coat King® are registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers and are used here only to explain how the tools work.
The Tauro Pro Line undercoat rake works on the first principle. Its head is mounted on a swivel and follows the contour of the body instead of snagging in the coat. It has two rows of teeth: with 0.8 mm spacing you first get out the bulk, with 0.6 mm you catch the rest. The tooth tips are rounded. It comes in three sizes: S with 45 mm for small dogs up to about 10 kg and for head and legs, M with 76 mm for dogs of about 10 to 25 kg, L with 110 mm for large dogs from about 25 kg.
Combing out the undercoat: step by step
- Loosen knots first. The rake only works on dry, knot-free fur. Loosen firm knots and mats beforehand, as described in our guide Matted Dog Hair.
- Start at the neck. Work from front to back and from top to bottom, section by section.
- In the direction of growth, with long, calm strokes. Not against the grain, not sideways and do not stay on one spot for long.
- Without pressure. The weight of the tool is enough. Pressing down only irritates the skin.
- Extra attention to problem areas. Britches, tail, ruff and behind the ears is where most wool sits. The small size or a slicker brush suits these areas.
- Follow up with the brush. A slicker brush or the Les Poochs Silver Brush, a firm deshedding brush with a flexible head for undercoat and double coats, gets out what the rake has loosened.
- Comb test. If the comb glides from the skin to the tip without resistance, the section is done.
During moulting, five to ten minutes a day are better than an hour in one go. Do not work on irritated or injured skin.
Blow-drying your dog during moulting: bathing and a dog dryer speed things up
The fastest way to get the dead undercoat out is a bath followed by powerful blow-drying. The water loosens the dead wool, the strong airflow blows it out of the coat. Groomers do exactly this at the salon.
- Do a rough pass before the bath. Go through once with the rake, loosen knots. Wet mats tighten.
- Wash thoroughly. A cleansing shampoo such as the Tauro Pro Line Deep Clean Shampoo is diluted 1:10 with lukewarm water, gently massaged in, left on for about three minutes and rinsed out thoroughly. The water has to reach the skin, especially with a dense undercoat.
- Squeeze out instead of rubbing. An absorbent towel such as the Tauro Pro Line microfibre towel takes up most of the water. Rubbing tangles long fur.
- Blow-dry with a powerful airflow. A dog dryer with high air output, often called a blaster, pushes the water and the loose wool out of the coat. The Tauro Pro Line 3-in-1 dryer with ion technology has 2800 W, up to 250 CFM of airflow, warm and cold settings and a maximum of 46 °C. Cold or lukewarm is enough, it is about the airflow, not the heat.
- Keep your distance. Do not point the nozzle directly at the skin, leave out face and ears or use only a low setting. You will see the wool flying out of the coat in clouds – best done in the bathroom, the garage or outdoors.
- Rake and brush after drying. Now the most comes out. Only once the coat is completely dry, otherwise the undercoat mats again.
A dog dryer is loud. Get your dog used to it in small steps: first switched off, then on the lowest setting on paws and back, with treats. A dryer holder frees up both hands for brush and dog. A leave-in such as the Tauro Pro Line Detangling Leave-in-Conditioner reduces static charge, according to the manufacturer, and makes brushing easier afterwards.
Do not clip a double coat
When a dog sheds extremely, it is tempting to clip it short. With a double coat this is not a good idea. Outer coat and undercoat grow back at different speeds, and the coat can grow back uneven, woolly or patchy afterwards. The outer coat also protects the skin from sun and wet. Clipping does not help against shedding anyway: the hairs keep falling out, just shorter. If the coat has to be clipped for medical reasons, the vet decides.
The Tauro Pro Line brushes for moulting
These tools have proven themselves for dogs with an undercoat. The firmness rating compares the Tauro Pro Line brushes with one another: 1 is the gentlest, 5 the strongest.
| Brush | Type | Pins / width | Firmness | Suitable coat | Typical breeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slicker brush, plastic, curved | Slicker with curved head | 11 · 20 · 25 mm | soft or firm (3 of 5) | medium to long coat, all sizes | Poodle, Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Collie, Maine Coon |
| Slicker brush, wood, curved | Wooden slicker, domed head, S/M/L | 25 mm | soft (2 of 5) | long, dense coat with undercoat | Golden Retriever, Flat Coated Retriever, Collie, Sheltie, Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland, Old English Sheepdog, Tibetan Terrier, Afghan Hound, Maine Coon, Persian |
| Slicker brush, wood, large | Wooden slicker, 27 × 10 cm | 25 mm | soft (2 of 5) | large dogs from 25 kg with a long or dense coat | Newfoundland, Bernese Mountain Dog, Leonberger, Golden Retriever, Hovawart, Landseer, Kuvasz |
| Prestige pin brush, pear wood, stainless steel | Pear wood pin brush, STOP technology | 20 · 27 · 35 mm | medium (2 of 5) | medium to very long coat | Golden Retriever, Collie, Afghan Hound, Old English Sheepdog, Tibetan Terrier, Havanese, Bergamasco, Newfoundland |
| Prestige beech, nylon and boar | Nylon pins and boar bristles, S/M/L | 16 mm nylon + natural bristle | medium (2 of 5) | long, dense coat | Golden Retriever, Collie, Setter, Cocker Spaniel, Havanese, Tibetan Terrier, long-haired cat |
| Prestige beech, boar bristles | Natural bristle brush, 23.5 cm | pure boar bristle | soft (1 of 5) | all coat lengths as a finish, the only brush needed for short coats | Labrador, Beagle, Retriever, Spaniel, Setter, Collie, Havanese, Coton de Tuléar |
| Prestige massage brush, horsehair | Horsehair with bronze or brass wire | horsehair + wire | medium (3 of 5) | short, smooth coat | Beagle, Labrador, Boxer, Dobermann, Short-haired Dachshund, Whippet, French Bulldog, Pug, short-haired cat |
| Undercoat rake | Rake with rotating head, S/M/L | 45 · 76 · 110 mm wide | firm (4 of 5) | double coat with undercoat, moulting | German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Malamute, Labrador, Golden Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog, Samoyed, Corgi, Akita, Spitz, Maine Coon |
You will find more on the individual brush types on our pages Slicker brushes, Pin brushes and Natural bristle brushes.
Dog shedding extremely: when to see the vet?
Heavy shedding during moulting is normal. Have it checked by the vet if:
- bald patches appear or the coat thins out over large areas,
- your dog scratches a lot, the skin is red or flaky,
- the heavy shedding does not ease off for months,
- the coat becomes dull and brittle or your dog seems different in other ways.
What we recommend
- Tauro Pro Line undercoat rake – for all dogs with a double coat. Rotating head, two rows of teeth, three sizes by body weight. Not for single coats such as Poodle, Maltese, Bichon, Shih Tzu or Doodle.
- Les Poochs Silver Brush – the firm deshedding brush with a flexible head for following up. In 4.5 cm for dogs up to about 20 kg or 9 cm for large areas.
- Tauro Pro Line slicker brush, wood, curved – for long, dense fur with undercoat. The 25 mm pins reach through the outer coat.
- Tauro Pro Line 3-in-1 dryer with ion technology – if you bathe regularly and want to shorten the moulting. You will find all dryers and holders under Dryers and dryer holders.
- Tauro Pro Line Deep Clean Shampoo – for the moulting bath. Removes dirt, sebum and product residue, free from SLS, parabens, silicones and mineral oils.
- Tauro Pro Line Prestige massage brush – for short, smooth coats. Gets out loose hairs and dandruff and massages the skin.
- Tauro Pro Line coat comb with two tooth spacings – for the comb test after every section.
cotonluv is an authorised dealer of all the brands we carry.
Your next step
Not sure whether your dog has an undercoat or which rake size fits? Send us a photo of the coat via WhatsApp, ideally a close-up where you part the fur with your hand. You will find all brushes of the brand in the Tauro Pro Line brushes collection.
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