Undercoat does not come out with a brush. It sits below the top layer of the coat and a brush simply skims over it, which is why owners of double-coated dogs brush conscientiously all spring and still find drifts of fur behind every door. A long-pinned rake gets past the guard hairs and lifts the dead layer out at the root, where the shedding actually starts.

The pins are stainless steel, set closely together and rounded at the tips so they part the coat rather than scratching the skin underneath. Steel matters on a rake more than on most tools, because the pins take real leverage every time they meet a knot, and cheaper plated pins bend out of line and start catching. The handle is soft rubber, which lets you hold it lightly and work in short strokes rather than dragging it through.

• Long stainless steel pins with rounded tips
• Reaches through the topcoat to lift dead undercoat
• Soft rubber handle for a secure, light grip
• Suits medium and long-haired breeds
• Easy to clear between strokes

Not right for every coat. A rake is made for double-coated and long-haired dogs. On a short single coat there is no undercoat to lift and the pins just drag on skin, and single-coated breeds such as poodles and many doodles should not be raked either, since their coat wants a slicker and a comb instead. A rake also pulls tangles apart rather than cutting them, so a solid mat needs dematting blades or a groomer.

Who it's for: Owners of double-coated dogs facing the twice-yearly moult who are tired of vacuuming the same hallway every morning.