Different parts of a dog's body need different amounts of tool — a small patch behind the ears wants something compact, while a whole flank benefits from a wider sweep, and most deshedding tools only really do one of those well.

This blade solves that by opening and closing: closed, it suits small dogs or targeted spots; opened up, it covers larger areas like the back in fewer passes. The shallow, spiked teeth strip loose and dead hair from smooth, short and wiry coats.

• Shallow, spiked teeth
• Two teeth sizes on one tool
• Use closed for small dogs or targeted areas
• Use open for larger sections of coat
• Suits smooth, short and wiry coats
• Brush gently in the direction of fur growth

What the label does not say. There's no coat-length limit given beyond "smooth, short and wiry", so for a long or curly coat this probably isn't the right tool — the makers don't confirm either way, so we're going on the coat types they do list.

Who it's for: owners of a smooth, short or wiry-coated dog who want one tool that adjusts between a small area and a larger one, rather than switching brushes.