Deshedding Brush vs. Slicker Brush: Which Does Your Dog Need?

They look similar, but a deshedding brush and a slicker brush aren't interchangeable — they're built for different coat problems.

Deshedding brushes: for loose undercoat

Best for double-coated breeds (think Labs, Huskies, Golden Retrievers) that blow their undercoat seasonally. The tool reaches under the topcoat and lifts out hair that's already loose, without cutting or pulling.

Slicker brushes: for tangles and mats

Fine, angled wire bristles work through knots and light mats, especially in longer or curlier coats. A self-cleaning slicker brush — one where the bristle bed retracts at the push of a button — makes cleanup much less tedious, since you're not pulling clumps of fur out by hand between strokes.

Can you use both?

Yes, and for a lot of dogs it's the better routine: slicker brush first to work through any tangles, then a deshedding brush to clear the loose undercoat underneath. Neither replaces the other — they're solving different layers of the same coat.