Double-coated dogs do not shed evenly. They blow the undercoat in clumps, and the dead fluff sits trapped underneath the guard hairs where a slicker brush skates straight over it. Left there it mats against the skin and stops air reaching it. A rake gets down through the topcoat and pulls that layer out, which is why one pass with the right tool clears more hair than ten minutes of ordinary brushing.

This one carries a different blade on each side of the same head. One row is set for deshedding, taking loose undercoat out in volume, and the other is for dematting, working through knots a few strands at a time so you are easing a mat apart rather than dragging on it. Order matters here. Clear the loose fur first, then go back to whatever is still knotted, because half of what looks like a mat is only trapped shedding.

• Two blade sides on one head: deshedding and dematting
• Non-slip ergonomic handle
• Suits dogs and cats with thick, long or double coats
• Weighs 85g
• Ships in a 17.2 x 9.0 x 2.7cm package
• Available in blue or pink

One thing worth knowing. A rake is a sharp tool used close to skin. Work in short strokes with the lie of the coat rather than against it, keep it off bony areas and broken skin, and stop at any mat that is tight to the body. That one is a job for scissors in a groomer's hands, not a rake in yours.

Who it's for: Owners of double-coated dogs and long-haired cats who currently lose the battle every spring and autumn.