Independent comparison of the best dog deshedding brushes available in New Zealand — FURminator, KONG ZoomGroom, Wahl, and more, with NZ prices and where to buy.
Last updated
By Jess Aldridge 
| Brush | Best For | Price NZ | Where To Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| FURminator deShedding Tool | Double-coated breeds, heavy shedders | ~$50–80 | Animates, PetStock, PetDirect |
| KONG ZoomGroom | Sensitive dogs, puppies, short-coated breeds | ~$19–25 | Animates, PetStock, PetDirect |
| Kazoo Self-Cleaning Slicker | Everyday maintenance, all coat types | ~$25–34 | Animates, PetDirect |
| Yours Droolly Shedding Rake | Heavy double coats, seasonal blowouts | ~$35–52 | Animates, PetDirect, Mitre 10 |
| Paws & Claws Grooming Brush | Budget, light shedding, first-time owners | ~$10–18 | The Warehouse |
Most households with a shedding dog need two tools: a dedicated deshedding tool (FURminator or rake) for weekly or fortnightly sessions, and a slicker or rubber brush for quick daily maintenance. The FURminator plus a ZoomGroom covers probably 80 percent of dogs in New Zealand.
For related gear: best dog shampoo NZ for bathing before deshedding sessions, best dog nail clippers NZ to handle nails while you’re grooming, and omega-3 for dogs to support coat health from the inside out. If your dog’s winter coat is the issue, I’ve also covered dog winter coats for breeds that need extra warmth after losing their undercoat.
Every dog sheds. Even the “hypoallergenic” ones lose some hair — they just do it differently. But if you own a double-coated breed in New Zealand, you already know the reality: fur on every surface, fur woven into your car upholstery, fur floating through the air in slow motion like some kind of canine snow globe.
Deshedding isn’t just about keeping your house presentable. Dead undercoat that stays trapped against the skin can cause matting, hot spots, and skin irritation — particularly in NZ’s humid upper North Island summers. Regular deshedding improves airflow through the coat, helps your dog regulate temperature, and lets you spot skin issues, lumps, or parasites early. If your dog is on flea treatment, checking the skin during grooming sessions is one of the best ways to catch problems before they escalate.
Māui is a staffy — single-coated, short-haired, and still manages to deposit enough fur on my couch to build a second dog. Even short-coated breeds benefit from regular brushing. It’s just a question of which tool matches the job.
Before diving into specific products, it helps to understand what each type of brush actually does. They’re not interchangeable, and using the wrong one on the wrong coat is either ineffective or uncomfortable for your dog.
The FURminator-style tools. A stainless steel edge (not a blade — it doesn’t cut) that reaches through the topcoat and pulls out loose undercoat hair. These are the most effective at removing dead undercoat in a single session. Best for double-coated breeds. Can irritate skin if you press too hard or overdo it on one area.
Fine, short wire pins set in a flat or slightly curved pad. They remove loose surface hair, detangle minor knots, and smooth the coat. Gentler than deshedding tools and better for everyday brushing. Work on almost all coat types. The self-cleaning versions (with retractable pins) save you picking fur out of the bristles by hand.
Look like a small garden rake with rotating teeth. Designed to penetrate thick double coats and remove loose undercoat without pulling the topcoat. Ideal for heavy-coated breeds like Huskies, Samoyeds, and German Shepherds during heavy shedding season. Not much use on short or single-coated dogs.
Soft rubber fingers or nubs that massage the skin and lift loose hair through friction. Much gentler than metal tools. Great for sensitive dogs, puppies, short-coated breeds, and bath-time use (most work wet or dry). Won’t remove deep undercoat effectively but excellent for surface shedding and circulation.
There’s a reason the FURminator has been the default recommendation for over a decade. The curved stainless steel edge reaches through the topcoat without cutting it and pulls out an almost alarming amount of loose undercoat. The first time you use one on a double-coated dog in spring, you’ll wonder how your dog had that much fur hiding under there.
The size and hair-length variants matter — a short-hair FURminator on a long-coated Collie won’t reach the undercoat properly, and a long-hair version on a Labrador is overkill. Match the tool to your dog. The FURejector button pushes collected fur off the blade, which sounds like a gimmick but genuinely speeds up the process.
I’ve watched friends use one on their Golden Retriever and fill an entire shopping bag with loose fur in twenty minutes. That’s fur that would otherwise have ended up on their couch, their car seats, and drifting gently across the kitchen floor.
Verdict: Best deshedding tool in NZ for double-coated breeds — nothing else comes close for removing loose undercoat.
Honest caveat: It’s the most expensive option on this list, and it can cause skin irritation if you’re too aggressive. Light, consistent strokes in the direction of hair growth — not back and forth like you’re sanding a deck. Also, it’s not for every coat type. Dogs without an undercoat (Poodles, Maltese, Bichons) shouldn’t be FURminated. It won’t do anything useful and may damage the coat.
The ZoomGroom is KONG’s rubber grooming brush, and it’s brilliant for dogs that hate being brushed. The soft rubber fingers massage the skin rather than scraping it, which means most dogs lean into it rather than pulling away. It works wet or dry — during bath time it lathers shampoo beautifully and lifts loose fur at the same time.
For short-coated breeds like Staffies, Beagles, and Whippets, the ZoomGroom removes loose hair effectively without the risk of skin irritation from metal tools. It’s also the best starting point for puppies — gets them comfortable with grooming before you introduce something more serious once their adult coat comes through.
It won’t strip out a Husky’s undercoat the way a FURminator does. That’s not what it’s for. It handles surface shedding and light undercoat on short to medium coats, and it does it gently. At around $20, it’s worth owning even if you have a dedicated deshedding tool for the heavy sessions.
Verdict: Best gentle option — ideal for sensitive dogs, puppies, and bath-time grooming when metal tools are too harsh.
Honest caveat: Limited effectiveness on thick double coats. If your German Shepherd is blowing coat in October, you need a FURminator or a rake — the ZoomGroom won’t keep up.
Slicker brushes are the everyday workhorse of dog grooming — and the Kazoo Self-Cleaning version solves the single most annoying thing about slicker brushes: getting the fur out of the pins afterwards. Push the button, the pins retract, the fur slides off. Done.
The wire pins are fine enough to detangle without pulling, and they remove loose surface hair effectively across all coat types. This isn’t a deep deshedding tool — it works the topcoat and catches loose hair before it hits your floor. For dogs with medium-length or curly coats, it’s arguably more useful day-to-day than a FURminator.
Kazoo is an Australian brand with good NZ distribution through Animates. The build quality is solid for the price, and the medium size suits most dogs up to about 25 kg. Go large for breeds like Golden Retrievers and Labs.
Verdict: Best everyday slicker brush — the retractable pin mechanism makes cleaning effortless and the wire pins suit most coat types.
Honest caveat: Not effective for deep undercoat removal. If your dog is a heavy shedder, use this between deshedding sessions for maintenance — not as a replacement.
When a FURminator isn’t getting deep enough — or when you’re dealing with a seriously thick coat that’s blowing out — a shedding rake is the next step up. The Yours Droolly Shear Magic Shedding Rake has rounded, rotating teeth that work through dense undercoat without snagging or pulling the topcoat.
The rotating teeth are what separate this from cheap rakes that just yank. Each tooth turns independently as it moves through the coat, which means less pulling, less discomfort, and less risk of breaking coat hairs. For dogs that are already stressed about grooming, that makes a meaningful difference.
I’ve seen this recommended repeatedly in NZ dog grooming groups, particularly by Border Collie owners dealing with seasonal coat blowouts. One of those tools that doesn’t look impressive but does serious work. The large size handles big breeds comfortably.
Yours Droolly is an Australian brand (marketed under “Shear Magic” for their grooming line) with wide NZ availability — Animates stocks the full range, and Mitre 10 carries selected products.
Verdict: Best for heavy double coats — rotating teeth penetrate thick undercoat without the harsh pulling of cheap rakes.
Honest caveat: Not suitable for short-coated or single-coated breeds. Using a rake on a Staffy or a Boxer achieves nothing except annoying your dog. This is specifically for thick, dense coats with a heavy undercoat.
Check price at The Warehouse →
If you’re not ready to spend $60+ on a FURminator and you just want something basic that removes loose hair — the Paws & Claws range at The Warehouse covers the essentials at a fraction of the price. Their double-sided grooming brush gives you a pin side for detangling and a bristle side for smoothing and removing loose surface fur.
It’s not going to compete with a dedicated deshedding tool on a double-coated breed. But for light to moderate shedders, regular maintenance brushing, or figuring out what kind of brush your dog actually tolerates before investing more — it does the job. At $10–18, the financial risk is essentially zero.
The Warehouse also stocks their metal grooming comb (~$12) which works as a basic undercoat comb for medium-length coats.
Verdict: Best budget pick — does the basics at a price that makes it a zero-risk first brush for any household.
Honest caveat: Build quality reflects the price. The pins may bend after heavy use, and the bristles won’t last as long as a Kazoo or Yours Droolly product. Fine as a starter or supplement, but heavy shedders need purpose-built tools.
If you prefer a traditional slicker without the self-cleaning mechanism (some people find the retractable pins less sturdy), the Shear Magic Slicker is the other go-to option in NZ. The anti-static pins reduce flyaway hair and the cushioned pad has decent give, making it comfortable for both short and long sessions.
PetDirect reviews are consistently positive — German Shepherd owners, Cavoodle owners, and cat owners all rate it. Available in three sizes so you can match it to your dog rather than using a one-size brush that’s too big for a small breed or too small for a Lab.
Pairs well with the Shear Magic Shedding Rake for a complete grooming kit: rake first to pull the undercoat, slicker after to smooth and finish.
Every product on this list is available in New Zealand through local retailers — no importing from US Amazon and hoping it arrives. I prioritised tools available at Animates, PetStock, PetDirect, The Warehouse, and Mitre 10. Evaluation criteria: how effectively it removes loose hair for its intended coat type, build quality relative to price, comfort for the dog, ease of cleaning, and NZ availability. Products with consistent positive feedback from NZ dog owners carried more weight than marketing claims.
This is where most people get it wrong. Buying a FURminator for a Poodle or a rubber curry comb for a Husky is wasting money. Match the tool to the coat:
Double-coated heavy shedders (Husky, Samoyed, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Border Collie, Malamute) → FURminator deShedding Tool (long-hair version) + Yours Droolly Shedding Rake for heavy blowout sessions. Follow up with a slicker brush to smooth.
Double-coated moderate shedders (Labrador, Corgi, Australian Shepherd, Beagle) → FURminator (short or long-hair version depending on coat length). A slicker brush for weekly maintenance between deshedding sessions.
Short single-coated breeds (Staffy, Boxer, Whippet, Greyhound, French Bulldog) → KONG ZoomGroom or a basic bristle brush. These dogs still shed but they don’t have a dense undercoat. Rubber and bristle tools remove loose hair without irritating their relatively exposed skin.
Long or curly coats (Poodle, Bichon, Shih Tzu, Maltese, most Doodle crosses) → Slicker brush (Kazoo or Yours Droolly) for detangling and maintenance. These breeds typically don’t shed much but mat easily. A deshedding tool isn’t appropriate — they need regular brushing and professional clipping.
Wire or rough coats (Terriers, Schnauzers, Wire-haired Dachshunds) → Slicker brush for maintenance. Some benefit from hand-stripping rather than deshedding tools. Talk to a groomer about the best approach for your specific breed.
Labrador Retriever — The NZ favourite and a notorious shedder. Dense double coat that blows twice a year. FURminator (medium or large, short-hair version) is the go-to. Weekly sessions year-round, twice-weekly during spring and autumn coat changes.
Golden Retriever — Even heavier coat than a Lab. FURminator (large, long-hair version) plus the Shedding Rake for the thick feathering around the legs and chest. Budget ten to fifteen minutes per session.
German Shepherd — One of the heaviest shedders kept in NZ. The undercoat is dense and the blowouts are legendary. FURminator (large, long-hair) and a shedding rake. If you own a German Shepherd and don’t own a deshedding tool, I have questions.
Border Collie — Thick double coat that varies between rough and smooth. Rough-coated Collies need the shedding rake and a slicker brush. Smooth-coated ones do well with just a FURminator.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier — Short, single coat. KONG ZoomGroom is perfect — removes loose hair, massages the skin, and most Staffies love the sensation. A FURminator is overkill for this coat type.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel — Silky medium-length coat that sheds moderately. Slicker brush for daily maintenance, FURminator (small, long-hair) for weekly deshedding sessions. Pay attention to the ears and feathering where mats form.
This might seem tangential in a brush guide, but it’s directly relevant: what your dog eats affects how much they shed. Dogs on poor-quality food with inadequate fatty acids shed more excessively because the coat and skin aren’t properly nourished.
Omega-3 fatty acids — particularly EPA and DHA from fish oil — support coat health and can noticeably reduce excessive shedding. Not all shedding (that’s genetic and seasonal), but the extra shedding that comes from a diet that’s not meeting the coat’s needs.
If your dog is shedding more than seems normal for their breed, before buying a more aggressive brush, consider whether the food is the issue. Check our best dog food NZ guide, and for dogs with skin issues that contribute to coat problems, food for allergies and probiotics are worth discussing with your vet.
Last reviewed March 2026.
For heavy shedders like Golden Retrievers, Huskies, and German Shepherds — two to three times per week during shedding season (spring and autumn), once a week the rest of the year. Short-coated breeds that shed moderately, like Labradors and Staffies, benefit from a weekly session year-round. Over-brushing with a deshedding tool can irritate skin, so watch for redness and ease off if you see it.
Yes — FURminator makes a specific short-hair version with shorter teeth designed for coats under 5 cm. It works well on breeds like Labradors, Staffies, and Beagles. Use gentle pressure and fewer strokes than you would on a thick double coat. The short-hair tool removes loose undercoat without damaging the topcoat.
A deshedding tool (like a FURminator) has a stainless steel edge that reaches through the topcoat to pull out loose undercoat hair. A slicker brush has fine wire pins that remove loose surface hair, detangle, and smooth the coat. Deshedding tools remove more undercoat per session but can irritate skin if overused. Slicker brushes are gentler and better for everyday maintenance. Most dogs benefit from having both.
Before, ideally. Bathing loosens dead undercoat and makes it much easier to remove. Use a decent [dog shampoo](/guides/best-dog-shampoo-nz/), rinse thoroughly, dry completely, then deshed. You will get significantly more loose fur out this way. Never use a deshedding tool on a wet coat — it can pull and damage the hair.
No — shedding is a natural biological process and no brush eliminates it. What a deshedding brush does is remove loose undercoat before it ends up on your couch, car, and black trousers. Regular deshedding can reduce the fur around your house by up to 80–90 percent. Diet also plays a role — dogs on high-quality food with adequate omega-3 fatty acids tend to shed less excessively.
Stainless steel deshedding tools like the FURminator should be used with extra caution on puppies under six months — their skin is thinner and more sensitive. A rubber curry comb like the KONG ZoomGroom or a soft slicker brush is a better starting point. It also helps get puppies used to being groomed without associating it with discomfort. Introduce the real deshedding tools once their adult coat starts coming in.
The heaviest shedders commonly kept in New Zealand are Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Huskies, Border Collies, and Samoyeds — all double-coated breeds. Staffies and Beagles shed moderately but consistently year-round. Breeds like Poodles, Bichons, and most Terriers shed minimally but need regular clipping instead.
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