Moulting season is really a problem of undercoat. The hair that ends up on the sofa is the soft layer underneath the topcoat, and an ordinary brush simply skims over it. A deshedding blade reaches down through the guard hairs and pulls the dead undercoat out before your pet distributes it around the house for you. A session or two in the right week saves an enormous amount of hoovering later in the month.

The blade is fine stainless steel with an edge-trimmed profile, which is what lets it catch loose hair and small tangles without cutting into the coat itself, and the handle is shaped to be held through a full grooming session rather than gripped awkwardly for two minutes. Worked gently along the direction the coat lies, it lifts dead hair and spreads the natural oils along the shaft as it goes, which is where the shine after a good groom comes from.

• Fine stainless-steel deshedding blade
• Self-cleaning design
• Ergonomic grip for longer sessions
• Suits short, medium and long coats
• Available in two sizes, S and M
• Works on both dogs and cats

Go lighter than you think. Deshedding blades cut through to the undercoat, and pressed hard or worked repeatedly over the same patch they will thin the topcoat and leave visible tracks, particularly on a fine-coated dog. Short passes, light pressure, and stop once the tool stops filling. Not one for a double-coated breed you intend to show, and never use it on matted hair, which needs cutting out or a groomer.

What the options mean. Sizes run from S to M — £13.99 for the smallest, £14.99 for the largest.

Who it's for: Owners of moulting dogs and cats who would rather the hair ended up in the tool than on the furniture.