How to Use an Undercoat Rake

A good undercoat rake is a necessity if you own a large dog that has a thick woolly undercoat. Cold weather dogs can develop a thick undercoat to protect and insulate their skin. During shedding season, the undercoat will come out in clumps and leave your dog uncomfortable and your carpet covered with unsightly dog hair. Fortunately, an undercoat rake makes removing the old loose hair easy and painless.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Undercoat rake
• Leash

1. Purchase a good quality metal undercoat rake that has a double row of teeth. Expect to pay upwards of $15 for the rake. Resist the urge to purchase a cheaper imitation. You will be glad you invested in a quality rake once you groom your dog.

2. Take your dog outside to a location where he is comfortable and where you can groom him without worry about getting hair in the house.

3. Put him on a leash if he tends to be uncooperative. Most dogs actually enjoy being groomed with an undercoat rake and will willingly stay seated while you complete the grooming.

4. Hold the rake in your right hand at a 45 degree angle to your dog's coat, leaving the left hand free to hold the leash. The rake should have an angled handle that allows the rake to reach through the outer coat and into the undercoat.

5. Gently rake in a firm motion following the contours of your dog's body. Pay special attention to the rump and the upper legs. These areas tend to be the thickest.

6. Remove old hair from the rake and discard. Holding a plastic bag in the left hand provides an easy and quick way to dispense of old hair while you are grooming your dog.

7. Continue to groom your dog with the rake until you have removed all loose undercoat hair. Depending on the dog and your previous grooming habits, this can take a while on the first grooming.

8. Groom daily with the rake until all shedding undercoat hair has been removed.

9. Maintain by grooming once a week, or whenever you notice shedding undercoat hair.

Tips & Warnings

• Many dogs shed the undercoat once a year, but some breeds shed twice a year. Still others tend to shed continually throughout the year.
• Use the undercoat rake whenever necessary to keep your dog's coat free of shedding undercoat hair.