When it comes to preventing labs from shedding, good luck! Labs shed all year long, not to mention they love to explore in the woods, water, mud and well..everywhere! That is why it is so important to get the best dog brushes for labs.
Ancestrally, labs are working dogs and because of this they have a double layer coat in order to keep them warm in icy waters. Labs undercoat is used to regulate their temperature, this is the layer that tends to shed and it’s because in the winter the hair grows thicker for colder temperature and as the weather starts to warm, they lose the winter hair and grow thinner cooling hair. This is all natural, so no need to be concerned about a lot of shedding.
In order to keep your clothes and furniture as “hair-free” as possible I have compiled a few of my favorite brushes. It’s best to groom your dog at LEAST once a week during off season but as the seasons change, I find myself grooming my lab as many times as twice a day.
There are many different types of dogs brushes, so shopping can get overwhelming, but because labs have thick, short hair I stick to the “Deshedding brushes” and the “rakes”. Other brushes like combs and bristles are most helpful for longer coats that are frequently matted and are not the best dog brushes for labs.
Deshedding Dog Brushes
Deshedding brushes are extremely helpful when grooming your lab because it brushes the undercoat and removes the dead hair before your dog sheds it in the house. The teeth of the deshedding brushes are so short and close together that your dog wont experience any scratching or pulling.
The most popular brand of deshedding brushes is the Furminator and it comes in different sizes.
Furminators are very versatile and they make all types of dog and cat brushes, but I tend to find they are quite expensive compared to its competitors. Other alternatives include “Paws & Pals” Dog Deshedding Tool and “K9konnection” Furbeast Dog Deshedding tool both for a fraction of the cost. There are a few missing features such as the skin guard on the edges of the brush, however if your dog is used to grooming habits, this should not be a problem. I personally don’t like the skin guard because it prevents certain areas when brushing at a particular angle.
Dog Rakes
When grooming your lab, rake brushes should be the second step following deshedding brushes. Because the lab’s coat is so thick, it is hard to always reach the undercoat with deshedders. Rakes have longer teeth, goes easily through a thick coat and picks the remaining dead hair. Rakes glide smoothly across the skin are helpful to reduce skin irritation and matting.
My favorite rake is the Safari Single Row Undercoat Rake. I like this brush because its simple and ergonomic. Many rakes are also used to detangle hair of longer dogs and tend to have rotating teeth which is not what we’re looking for. This brush serves the purpose we need at an awesome value compared to other brushes.
Safari Single Row Undercoat Rake
Other competitors include the ConairPro Undercoat Rake, with similar qualities and at the same price and a memory gel grip!!
Combination Dog Brushes
Lastly, there are combination brushes like Harley’s 2 in 1 brush that includes both attachments at a low price. I bought mine at a local grocery store for $7.99 and am extremely pleased with the results. With an easy movement you can turn the deshedding tool into the rake brush and groom your lab using one versatile tool!
