Dog combs: which one for which coat
A comb does a different job to a brush: it gets into the undercoat and finds tangles a brush glides straight past, which is why most thorough grooming routines use both rather than one or the other. The short answer: a wide-tooth comb suits long or curly coats, a fine-tooth comb suits short, dense coats and flea-checking, and either should be used gently, working from the ends of the fur rather than dragging straight through a knot from the skin.
Wide teeth for long or curly coats
Breeds with long, silky or curly coats — spaniels, poodles, and poodle crosses among them — tend to mat close to the skin behind the ears, under the legs and around the collar, areas a brush often cannot reach properly. A wide-tooth comb gets down to that layer without simply skimming the top coat.
Working through a mat with a comb takes patience rather than force. Hold the fur below the tangle to stop pulling on the skin, and work the comb through from the tip of the mat inward in small sections, rather than trying to drag it out in one go.
Fine teeth for short coats and fleas
A fine-tooth metal comb is the standard tool for checking a short-coated dog for fleas, since flea dirt and the fleas themselves get caught between the close-set teeth in a way a brush will miss entirely. Running one through after a walk in long grass is a quick habit worth building.
The same fine comb also lifts loose, dead undercoat on double-coated breeds during a heavy shed, working well alongside a slicker brush rather than instead of one. Short, gentle strokes in the direction of hair growth are more effective than long, hard pulls.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Ancol Ergo Double Sided Comb
Ancol Ergo Double Sided Comb: a SGL grooming comb for combing the coat
£8.79
Round-Tipped Deshedding Rake Comb
A double-sided undercoat rake with rounded stainless-steel blades that gently cut through mats and remove loose hair. The non-slip ergonomic handle makes deshedding dogs and cats quick and comfortable.
From£8.99
Ancol Ergo Moulting Comb
A dog moulting comb with two tooth lengths, for the undercoat and top coat
£6.79
Ancol Ergo Medium Comb
A medium-toothed dog comb, for locating and easing out tangles in long coats
£6.79
Double-Sided Deshedding & Flea Comb
A two-sided steel comb with coarse deshedding teeth on one side and fine flea-comb teeth on the other. Lifts loose fur and catches fleas to keep your cat or dog's coat clean and healthy.
£13.99
Ancol Ergo Medium Course Metal Comb
Ancol Ergo Medium Course Metal Comb: a SGL grooming comb for combing the coat
£8.99
Stainless Steel Dog Grooming Rake Comb
A long-pin stainless steel rake comb with a soft rubber handle. Reaches deep into the coat to detangle knots and lift out loose undercoat, reducing shedding and keeping your dog's fur smooth and healthy.
£7.99
Self-Cleaning Deshedding Grooming Comb
A curved self-cleaning deshedding brush with fine bristles that glide along your pet's body to lift loose hair and undercoat. Press the button to retract the bristles and release collected fur in seconds.
£7.99
Dematting & De-Knotting Comb
A handheld dematting comb with rows of curved cutting blades that slice through knots and mats without pulling. The ridged 'dino-spine' handle gives a secure grip. Ideal for grooming long or curly-coated dogs and cats.
£7.99
Ergonomic Undercoat Dematting Comb
An undercoat rake that gently removes mats, tangles and loose fur from thick or long coats. The lightweight ergonomic handle reduces hand fatigue during longer grooming sessions for cats and dogs.
£9.99
Double-Sided Dematting Comb & Undercoat Rake
A two-sided grooming rake with rounded blades that gently cut through tough mats and tangles, then thin and deshed the coat. Ideal for long or thick-coated dogs and cats, with a comfortable non-slip handle.
£7.99
Common questions
- What's the difference between a comb and a brush for dogs?
- A brush is generally faster for everyday smoothing and lifting loose hair from the top coat, while a comb reaches closer to the skin and through the undercoat, which is where mats and flea dirt actually sit. Most thorough grooming routines use a brush first and a comb to finish or check problem areas.
- How do I get a mat out without hurting my dog?
- Hold the fur firmly just below the mat so you are not pulling directly on the skin, then work the comb through from the outer tip of the tangle inward in small sections. If a mat is tight to the skin and will not budge gently, it is safer to have it clipped out than to keep pulling.
- Which dogs need combing most often?
- Breeds with long, silky, curly or double coats — spaniels, poodles and poodle crosses, and thick-coated breeds during a seasonal shed — benefit from combing several times a week. Short, smooth-coated dogs need it far less often, mainly for flea-checking after walks in long grass.
- Can I use a human comb on my dog?
- It is better not to. Dog combs are spaced and shaped for fur density and skin sensitivity that differ from human hair, and a human comb's teeth are often too fine or too sharp-edged to work through a mat without catching or scratching the skin underneath.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.