The issue of pet hair shedding is one that dog owners cannot avoid and the problem quickly becomes more about dealing with the grooming of the coat to make hair loss more manageable, rather than simply cleaning it up from the carpets and upholstery.
There are different ways of tackling this shed fur and dander – clipping a long coat to make it more manageable, brushing the top hair to detach loose hair or using a tougher de-shedding tool to strip out the molting undercoat. The following list of tools highlights some of the best products on the market that are designed to remove and deal with pet hair in a quick, effective manner.
Some are simple devices for a little light, occasional grooming while others are a little more mechanical for a tougher approach. By comparing the products, hopefully you can determine the best approach to your own pet’s shedding problem.
Tools that Aid with Managing Pet Hair in the Home
1. Wahl Professional Animal Deluxe U-Clip Pet Grooming Kit
One of the best places to start is with the U-Clip Pet Grooming kit from Wahl. Not only is this a great looking, powerful pair of clippers that should make short work of a difficult coat. The best clippers cut through long coats and matted fur with ease, and this system has a “super shunt” motor that works at 7200 strokes per minute to provide an efficient result. This corded model also has an adjustable blade and power-efficient design. The system is only for use on fine to medium coats, but this still applies to a large number of dog breeds and there are many positive reports from buyers about the quality of the cut on a range of breeds, as well as the general quality of the tough housing and parts.
The kit is designed to be user-friendly, and this is seen with the ergonomic shape, light weight, extra combs and scissors and instructional DVD. There is even an apron to wear to stop the pet hair getting into clothes. On top of that, it is clean, quiet, cool and stable enough not to bother most nervous dogs.
2. Furminator Deshedding Tool for Dogs
The Furminator is perhaps one of the most well-known tools when it comes to dealing with unwanted pet hair because it has so many keen users that are putting it to work on the thick, unmanageable coats of their pets. This tool comes in different sizes – with long and short hair options – and is designed to “reduce shedding better than any brush, rake or comb”. To do this, it has a stainless steel edge that gets in deep into the undercoat and dislodges the loose hairs. All the hair is collected and can be ejected at the touch of a button.
This constant advertisement of the ease of use is a must for all dog owners that want an easier option, and this is also seen with the comfortable handle. The effect will always depend on the coat of the dog and their tolerance to that kind of treatment – as it is purely designed for use on the undercoat – but it can make a massive difference in the right situation. The only potential downside here is that the extras that add to the final result and the spare blades can get a little bit pricey.
3. SleekEZ 5 inch Cat-Dog-Horse Brush Grooming Tool
While tools like the Furminator are a tough, effective way of dealing with a specific type of problem coat, there are other approaches that dog owners can try that are less vigorous and a lot cheaper. This SleekEZ brush is a great example because not only does it have the versatility and simplicity to be used on a range of pet hair, it is currently the most popular in dog grooming rakes
The design is very straightforward: there is a wood base with a waterproof lacquer that can be easily gripped for ease of handling and a metal blade design that rakes through the coat of short and wire haired dogs to remove the loose hair more easily. There are mixed reviews about the “exclusive” blade system as it seems to work on some individuals and not others. Some enjoy the experience and are transformed by the amount of dead hair that it picks up, while other dog owners seem to struggle to get results and warm about the potential for injury. The effectiveness of this product will depend on the individual dog and handling as much as the breed.
4. Pet Thunder Better Petter Dog & Cat Brush Glove
If both the rake and the Furminator still seem as though they are far too rough and potentially dangerous for use on the coat of your dog, you may want to look into something softer and more pleasant. This Pet Thunder product is sold as the “gentle grooming mitt your pet will love” and there are even claim that it is so appealing to pets that they will come to you to be groomed. The textured rubber is designed to attract and remove dead hair with ease and the adjustable velcro strap means that it can fit most hands for a simple process.
The purpose of this glove also means that it is one of the more versatile options that it around. There is the ability to use this glove on all coat types – from short wiry coats to longer, finer ones – but there is also the chance to use it in different environments. Some owners will use this on a daily basis while playing with their pet for regular pet hair maintenance; others will use it in the bath to essentially kill two birds with one stone when dealing with fussy dogs.
5. Butler Home Products 617125 Giant Pet T Hand Roller
Sometimes, no matter how much of it you remove from your dog’s coat, there will still be plenty of shed pet hair all over the living room and sofas. Lint brushes are a great way of dealing with shed fur around the home because of the simple action of using the device and the way that the material sheets attract the hair that is stuck on the upholstery. This giant roller comes with 70 layers of material for plenty of grooming sessions and each sheet has Zipstrip tech to ensure that it can easily removed and disposed of after use. Once the roll is finished, either buy a replacement or a new roller.
The T shape of the handle on this roller is ideal because it allows for comfort, manoeuvrability and effectiveness. The product can be handled with ease and there is no restriction to the movement of the roller. This ease of use means that users have indeed used it in a variety of ways. Some use it on the sofa and bedding, while others take the portable device to to the car and some even say they have used it on their pets to cut down on the effort.
6. Scotch-Brite FurFighter Hair Remover Kit
The final model in this list is one that is pretty similar to the lint roller in terms of its function, but is perhaps a little more sophisticated looking. The basic specification for this model simply talks about the basic handle and the quality of the 5 refill sheets. These sheets are designed to be more effective at picking up hair than a lint roller, with the additional ability to get rid of more troublesome dander. This could make a massive difference for anyone that has to deal with allergies. Buyers agree that the process is quick, with some cleaning a sofa in just 10 minutes, and that the results are a little better. The upholstery may not be spotless, but this is a great aid for small, consistent efforts.
A single sheet does seem to do a pretty decent job at picking up pet hair in a quick and easy manner, but this quantity also means that it wont be long before you have to get extra sheets or look for an alternative method. Some try and get around this by cleaning the fur off the pads to reuse them, but this takes a lot of time and effort.
Leave a Reply