Most of the mess from deshedding happens after the brushing, when you are picking a wad of undercoat off the bristles and it clings to your fingers. Pressing the button on the back of this brush retracts the bristles into the head and the whole clump lifts away in one piece, straight into the bin. That single detail is why a session finishes in minutes rather than dragging on.

The head is curved rather than flat, which matters more than it sounds: it follows the line of a dog's ribs and haunches instead of skipping over them, so the fine bristles reach the loose undercoat sitting beneath the topcoat rather than tidying the surface. Working in the direction of the coat with light strokes lifts dead hair, spreads the natural oils along it, and gives you a regular excuse to check the skin for fleas, scurf or sore patches.

• Curved head follows the shape of the body
• Fine bristles reach loose undercoat, not just the topcoat
• Button retracts the bristles to release collected fur
• Cuts down the amount of hair shed around the home
• Suits most coat types, on dogs and cats
• Light enough for long sessions without hand ache

One honest note. What we send is the curved self-cleaning brush shown in the photographs.

Who it's for: Owners of moderate to heavy shedders who would rather brush little and often than lose an afternoon to a blown coat.