Top 5 Best Undercoat Rakes For Australian Shepherds (2024 Review)

Looking for the best undercoat rake for Australian Shepherds?

Great! You’ve come to the right place.

In this Digdoggy.com guide you’ll learn:

  • The top 5 rakes for Australian shepherds
  • How to pick the best undercoat rake
  • Why undercoat rakes are important for dogs

And much more!

Australian shepherd being groomed with undercoat rake

Looking at the athletic, adorable Australian Shepherd, you would think that the breed was flawless. 

After all, they are the Einsteins of the canine world, born and bred for centuries to work in perfect tangent with us humans. 

There is one little curveball. Australian Shepherds shed. A LOT! They are double-coated dogs with two layers of fur. 

The bottom layer is called the “undercoat”, and the other is called a topcoat that shields from water and dirt. 

The top layer is stiffer and coarser, while the undercoat is typically soft and serves as insulation. 

The undercoat is what causes little puffs of fur to be blown all over your home. 

But fear not! With proper care, you can minimize your Aussie Shepherd’s shedding and keep it to a minimum. 

A robust undercoat rake will reach beneath the protective topcoat, and remove the loose hair from the undercoat. 

With so many options, you might be unsure which undercoat rake is right for your furry Australian Shepherd. We’ve done the heavy lifting for you, so here are our favorite undercoat rakes! 

ImageProduct
digital-business-prep-table__image
Oster-Shedding-18-Tooth-Coarse
  • Stainless steel blades
  • Rounded tips
  • Rust-resistant aluminum handle
  • Stainless steel blades
  • Rounded tips
  • Rust-resistant aluminum handle
View on Amazon
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Furminator-Grooming-Rake
  • Ergonomic non-slip handle
  • Rotating metal teeth
  • Long, stainless steel teeth
  • Ergonomic non-slip handle
  • Rotating metal teeth
  • Long, stainless steel teeth
View on Amazon
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Pat Your Pet Dog Undercoat Rake 
  • Stainless steel
  • Rust Proof and non-irritating teeth
  • Dual head designed 
  • Stainless steel
  • Rust Proof and non-irritating teeth
  • Dual head designed 
View on Amazon
digital-business-prep-table__image
PawsPamper Undercoat Rake
  • Classic Wood Handle
  • Rounded blades
  • Dual head
  • Classic Wood Handle
  • Rounded blades
  • Dual head
View on Amazon
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Mars Coat King Grooming
  • Adjustable bolts on both sides
  • Solid wooden handle
  • 23 stainless steel teeth
  • Adjustable bolts on both sides
  • Solid wooden handle
  • 23 stainless steel teeth
View on Amazon

Our Overall #1 Rated Pick

Updated On April 2, 2022

Overall, we think the Oster dog rake is the ideal undercoat rake for double coats. This tool works best through medium to thick undercoats with its efficient 18 teeth.

The teeth’ ends are rounded for your dog’s safety and comfort. 

The Oster undercoat rake is gentle on your dog’s coat and skin (using curved tips), helping to keep it healthy and in shape. During testing, we found that most of our canine participants show no signs of irritation or discomfort.

We noticed the tool is a little heavier than expected which can be a problem for those who suffer from wrist or hand pain.

However, this also doubles as a pro because it helps in keeping the blades close to the skin when grooming making this the overall best choice for Australian Shepherds. 

What's In This Guide?

Our Top 5 Best Undercoat Rakes For Australian Shepherds

In a hurry? Check out our top 5 Australian Shepherd dog rakes! Keep reading to discover more about our top picks.

  1. Oster-Shedding-18-Tooth-Coarse
  2. Furminator-Grooming-Rake
  3. Pat Your Pet Dog Undercoat Rake 
  4. PawsPamper Undercoat Rake
  5. Mars Coat King Grooming

This video below will teach you how to groom an Australian Shepherd with a undercoat rake. 

What Is An Undercoat Rake for Australian Shepherds?

Undercoat rakes have small, curved blades that are used to remove dead hair from the undercoat, without damaging the undercoat.

They can be used on both wet or dry coats and offer a dual function that removes knots and dead loose hair. 

Always pull the rake in the direction of where the coat is growing. Start with a wider toothed rake, then work your way down to narrower-set teeth as the rake pulls more easily after removing most of the dead hair. 

And while many have curved teeth, it is still best practice to use them carefully to avoid any damage to the skin. The same rules apply when using the tool around sensitive areas like the hock, ears, armpits, and flanks.

How Do Undercoat Rakes Work For Australian Shepherds?

Undercoat rakes for Australian shepherds work like any other brush for a dog. They can be used right after a bath and also on a dry coat during weekly grooms. 

But as these tools are designed for removing loose and dead hair, a quick brush down using a slicker brush afterwards will be required in most cases. 

Using this type of tool regularly will reduce the overall shedding of an Australian shepherds coat which is a huge benefit for any pet parent that owns a heavy shedding breed. 

During molting season you can increase the frequency of how often you use this tool to around 3 times per week.

In the earlier stages, brushing an Australian shepherd just once per week should be enough to manage their molting. 

Aussie shepherd with a persons hand holding an aundercoat rake next to the dogs head

What should you look for in a high-quality undercoat rake for an Australian Shepherd?

Clean-up

The ability to simply and swiftly remove extra hair from the blade can make the grooming procedure easier for both you and your dog. 

Search for an undercoat rake that captures loose hair yet can be easily removed by hand. 

If you choose an undercoat rake with stainless-steel teeth and blades, you’ll almost certainly choose a good one. Make sure the tool is simple to clean and rustproof.

Durability

In most cases, reading reviews like this will allow you to see how the tool stands the test of time. There’s nothing worst than purchasing a product only to find it falls apart within weeks of buying it. 

Australian shepherds have thick double coats that can only be tackled with well-constructed tools. Rubber handles and steel frames are usually a good place to start.

Tools that use bolts are useful for retightening a rake that has become slack and ineffective over time. But while they offer a big benefit, bolts can also be a pain due to them slackening from excessive use. 

safety

Rounded blades and sturdy handles are the two most important features to look out for. This tool will be making close contact with your dog’s skin, so it’s best to have a tool that won’t damage it.

Some undercoat rakes do a great job in removing dead hair but are also so sharp that they cut skin. We have tested and found the products on our list not to do this, so you should have no problems with safety when choosing a tool from our recommended products section.

How Do Undercoat Rakes Differ From Rakes?

Despite their identical appearances, each grooming instrument has a varied amount of efficiency. A rake will only collect a specific quantity of loose, dead fur and is best utilized on dog breeds with thin, coarse, and short hair.

For double-coated dogs with dense, thick, or lengthy coats, an undercoat rake is an excellent choice. 

It has sharp, curved teeth that penetrate your dog’s topcoat, weakening the undercoat. An undercoat rake for double-coated dogs is more efficient than a regular rake at removing dead hair. 

As a result, there will be less shedding in your home while leaving your Aussie Shepherd’s topcoat more lustrous and healthy in the process.

Our Reviews Of The Best 5 Undercoat Rakes For Australian Shepherds

Pick #1: Oster-Shedding-18-Tooth-Coarse Rake

This efficient undercoat rake is rust-resistant and easy to clean once you’ve completed grooming.

The screw connection between the head and the handle, on the other hand, may become loose after several applications.

Oster is built robustly with high-quality stainless steel and is ideal for thinning, shaping, and finishing your dog’s undercoat.

Its well-constructed construction allows it to efficiently remove dead hair from the undercoat of your furry friend.

You will be able to give your dog’s coat a hand-stripped appearance.

Pros

Cons

Pick #2: FURminator Grooming Rake

The pins on this rake are long and do not irritate the skin, reducing tangles by removing dead hair. 

It is also possible to rotate the teeth, which works great in thick hair.

Our gripe is that while the rake is being used, the fur remains in the rake and does not spread as well as the first on the list. 

However, this product does remove loose hair very easily and quickly. It makes a great alternative for the Oster undercoat rake.  

Pros

Cons

Pick #3: Pat Your Pet Dog Undercoat Rake

The Pat Your Pet Undercoat Rake has a dual head and is equipped to tackle Australian Shepherd’s thick double coat.

Begin combing your dog on the side with sharpened blades and a nine-teeth comb for removing tangles. 

Then, to thin and remove superfluous hair, flip the tool over and use the reverse side, which has a blade with 17 teeth.

This undercoat rake’s teeth all have rounded ends to protect your dog’s skin from injury. It is ideal for dogs with medium to long straight thick coats.

This grooming tool stimulates the skin to encourage circulation and a lustrous, healthy, shiny coat when used correctly.

Pros

Cons

Pick #4: PawsPamper Undercoat Rake

The PawsPamper Undercoat Rake was designed for your dog’s comfort in mind, with rounded blade edges that won’t hurt your dog’s skin.

Instead, your Australian Shepherd’s skin is massaged by curved teeth, improving circulation and the shine of the topcoat.

This undercoat rake is well-built for performance and longevity. Excess hair removal is quick and painless because of the teeth’ design. It can effortlessly comb through your dog’s matting and is simple to clean out once it is full.

We discovered that the PawsPamper undercoat rake works effectively on most breeds, particularly those with thick or double coats like Australian Shepherds or German Shepherds. 

Keep in mind that PawsPamper specifically advises that it should not be used on pets with thin coats. In addition, the size may be insufficient for working with extra-large dogs.

Pros

Cons

Pick #5: Mars Coat King Grooming

Last but not least is the Mars Coat King undercoat grooming rake.

The efficient double-wide, stainless-steel teeth blades extend into the solid wooden handle for increased strength and longevity.

It effortlessly removes dead hair from double coats and detangles mats and knots. This undercoat rake is gentle and doesn’t pull or tug.

Although it works on all types of fur, long-haired dog breeds, particularly double-coated and wire-haired breeds, benefit the most from it.

The higher-quality construction will cost you more, but we discovered that many dog owners believe the improved performance is worth the extra cost. 

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an undercoat rake daily for my Australian Shepherd grooming?

A regular grooming practice could include using an undercoat rake. For Australian Shepherds or other dogs with thick undercoats that mat often, daily grooming might be required.

But, for dogs with thin undercoats, use it only once or twice a week and it’s always preferred to use this tool with a light hand, especially on puppies.

Are undercoat rakes bad for dogs?

Efficient undercoat rakes can remove fluffy, dead undercoats from shedding breeds in minutes while keeping the topcoat lustrous, healthy, and shiny.

They swiftly and easily imitate the hand-stripped look on dogs with thick coats. When used before bathing or in the tub on a wet coat, gentle and quality undercoat rakes usually function better.

Can you use an undercoat rake too much?

Tugging too hard on a tangled, thick, and dense coat will make an Australian Shepherd uncomfortable and the grooming process difficult.

Digging too deeply in a repetitive manner can also cause skin damage to your furry partner. Rakes can be very effective in removing dead coats or “lint” from rustic-coated breeds if they are used correctly.

Our Top Pick: Oster Dog Rake

As the best overall undercoat rake, this Oster Dog Rake takes the top spot. 

This convenient grooming tool shapes and finishes and thins fur on all Australian Shepherds with medium-to-thick undercoats gently and effectively. 

It features a sturdy, rust-resistant, and easy-to-clean stainless steel construction and effectively eliminates stray hair from your dog’s undercoat.

The rake is easy to clean and contains rubber pins for your dog’s comfort.

We tried this on Australian Shepherds and long-haired Spaniels and found that this undercoat rake effectively grabs heaps of undercoat hair and thins the coat effectively.

It’s gentle on the skin and the dogs seem to love it! 

Conclusion

We hope our handy pros and cons lists, thorough reviews and helpful buyer’s guide have assisted you in finding the best undercoat rake for your Australian Shepherd’s thick coat. 

When it comes to keeping up with your furry friend’s shedding and coat maintenance, this indispensable grooming item can make all the difference. No more bales of fur bouncing through the house!

Adeline Ee

Adeline Ee

Adeline holds a BA in Mass Communication from the University of Washington. She is a certified canine behaviorist, marine conservationist, rock climber, and scuba diving instructor. Originally from Singapore, she now lives on Gili Air, an island off Lombok, Indonesia.

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Adeline Ee

Adeline Ee

Adeline holds a BA in Mass Communication from the University of Washington. She is a certified canine behaviorist, marine conservationist, rock climber, and scuba diving instructor. Originally from Singapore, she now lives on Gili Air, an island off Lombok, Indonesia.

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