The FURminator is the better deshedding tool for double-coated, heavy-shedding dogs and cats — it physically reaches the undercoat where the Hertzko cannot. If you share a couch with a Husky, German Shepherd, or Golden who leaves fur drifts on every surface, the Hertzko will not solve that problem. But the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush earns its place for daily grooming on single-coat breeds and cats that won’t tolerate a firm edge near their skin. I ran both through a 6-week trial with Bruno (my 65-lb German Shepherd mix), Daisy (my 8-year-old beagle), and Mochi, Yuki, and Nori (three cats with wildly different grooming tolerances). Here’s what I found.
Winner: FURminator deShedding Tool — removes dramatically more loose undercoat per session on double-coated breeds; if shedding is your main problem, this is the tool that actually solves it.
Runner-Up: Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush — gentler, cheaper, and doubles as an everyday detangling brush; the right call for sensitive skin, single-coat breeds, and cats who reject firmer tools.
Budget Pick: Hertzko — at $15.99, it handles light to moderate shedding reliably and costs less than a single replacement HEPA vacuum filter.
| Feature | FURminator (Large, Long Hair) | Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.99 | $15.99 |
| Best for | Double-coat heavy shedders | Single-coat, sensitive skin, daily use |
| Mechanism | Stainless steel deshedding edge | Fine retractable bent-wire bristles |
| Self-cleaning | FURejector button (push to eject) | Retractable bristle button |
| Sizes available | S, M, L, XL — short and long hair | Standard + small dog/cat version |
| Works for cats | Yes (cat version sold separately) | Yes |
| PetVerdict Score | 8.7/10 | 7.1/10 |
FURminator deShedding Tool
Best for: Double-coated heavy shedders — Huskies, German Shepherds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Maine Coons, and any breed with a true dense undercoat
I bought the Large Long Hair version ($44.99) for Bruno. After the first 20-minute session, I pulled enough fur off him to fill a cereal bowl. My girlfriend walked in mid-session and genuinely asked if I’d shaved him. That is not hyperbole — it is what happened.
The stainless steel deshedding edge is what separates this tool from any slicker brush. It passes through the topcoat guard hairs and pulls loose, dead undercoat directly out rather than just collecting surface fur. The FURejector button releases the collected hair in a single clean push — fur comes off in a sheet instead of requiring you to pick bristles clean by hand, which is a small detail that matters across a 20-minute session.
Pricing:
- Small (up to 20 lbs): $26.99
- Medium (21–50 lbs): $35.99
- Large (51–90 lbs): $44.99
- XL (over 90 lbs): $49.99
Short hair and long hair versions are sold separately at each size. Also available at Chewy.
Pros:
- Removes significantly more loose undercoat per session than any slicker brush — not a marginal difference
- FURejector button makes cleanup fast; no picking fur out of the head after each pass
- Ergonomic handle holds up through full 20-minute sessions without hand fatigue
- Mochi (my long-hair tabby) accepted it after three sessions once she associated it with post-groom attention
- Size-specific variants ensure you get the correct blade width for your dog’s body
Cons:
- $44.99 for the large version is a real spend; buying multiple sizes for a multi-dog household adds up
- Overuse visibly damages the topcoat. On week 3 I ran two 25-minute sessions back-to-back on Bruno. His coat looked noticeably thinned and dull for about a week. The deshedding edge is not subtle — it will thin the topcoat if you run it too long or too frequently
- Not appropriate for single-coat breeds (Greyhounds, Boxers, Weimaraners, Dalmatians) — no undercoat layer to protect skin from the stainless edge
- Snags hard on mats. You must detangle first or you will hear a yelp
Specific failure: On day 18 I used it on Daisy, my beagle (short single coat, no meaningful undercoat), thinking the short-hair version would be gentle enough. She flinched and pulled away on the second pass. I stopped immediately and checked her skin — no injury, but clear irritation from the edge dragging against unprotected skin. The packaging does not emphasize coat-type compatibility strongly enough.
Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
Best for: Daily grooming, cats, single-coat dogs, and any animal that finds the FURminator’s firm edge uncomfortable
The Hertzko is the brush that lives on my coffee table because I actually reach for it every day. At $15.99 it is not precious, which matters — a tool you handle carefully because it cost $45 is not getting used on a Tuesday evening when you have 10 minutes. The fine bent-wire bristles work well through the topcoat, and the self-cleaning mechanism (press the button, bristles retract, wipe on a paper towel) takes about 4 seconds flat.
I tested it primarily on Yuki and Nori and on Daisy after the FURminator incident. All three tolerated it without complaint. Nori, who typically retreats under the bed at the sight of any grooming tool, sat still for Hertzko sessions by week 2. That outcome surprised me, and I logged it in my weekly notes because it is the kind of result that matters more than spec comparisons.
Pricing:
- Standard size: $15.99
- Small dog/cat version: $13.99
Also available at Petco.
Pros:
- Self-cleaning mechanism clears in 4 seconds versus 45+ seconds picking a standard slicker brush clean
- Gentle enough for daily use with no coat damage risk
- Cats who reject other tools often accept this one — Nori’s conversion is a meaningful data point
- Detangles medium-length coats well; outperforms a pin brush on Mochi’s chest fur
- Low enough price that annual replacement feels reasonable, not wasteful
Cons:
- Does not remove undercoat from double-coated breeds. After two weeks of daily Hertzko brushing on Bruno, his shedding was completely unaffected. The fine wire bristles work at the surface; they do not reach into the undercoat. If furniture fur is your actual problem, this tool will not solve it
- Wire bristles bend and lose effectiveness after 4–6 months of heavy daily use. By month 5, the outer bristle row had lost meaningful flex and I replaced the brush
- The lightweight plastic handle feels noticeably cheaper than the FURminator’s rubberized grip — a tactile difference you will register every use
- Not well-suited for large breeds; covering a Labrador takes twice as long as with a wider deshedding tool
Specific failure: In week 4, I used the Hertzko on Bruno post-bath when his undercoat had fully bloomed — that unmistakable explosion of loose fur that happens as a double-coated dog dries. The bristles were overwhelmed within 30 seconds. I was stopping to clean the head every 20 strokes. A 20-minute job stretched past an hour and I still did not get the undercoat under control. It was the wrong tool for that situation and no amount of technique would have changed that.
The Verdict
After 6 weeks across a five-animal household, my conclusion is that these tools solve different problems, and the most common mistake is buying one expecting it to replace the other.
If your dog is double-coated and shedding is actively affecting your quality of life, buy the FURminator in the correct size for your dog’s weight. A single weekly session reduced visible fur on my furniture and clothing by roughly 60% compared to daily Hertzko brushing on Bruno. That is a large, real difference. Use it once or twice per week, keep sessions under 20 minutes, and do not run back-to-back sessions — the topcoat damage I caused on week 3 took a full week to recover.
If you want a daily brush for cats, single-coat dogs, or any animal that resists grooming, the Hertzko is the correct tool at the correct price. Nori’s shift from grooming-averse to grooming-tolerant happened because the Hertzko asks nothing aggressive of the animal. It is light, the self-cleaning mechanism removes every friction point from the daily habit, and at $15.99 you can replace it when the bristles wear without the purchase feeling significant.
If you manage multiple pets across different coat types, buy both. Under $65 combined covers every grooming scenario I have run into across five animals. The FURminator handles heavy weekly shedding sessions; the Hertzko handles everything daily. One does not replace the other and the overlap in function is minimal.
FAQ
Is the FURminator safe for all dogs? No, and the packaging undersells this. The FURminator is designed for dogs with a true double coat — guard hairs over a soft dense undercoat. Single-coat breeds (Greyhounds, Boxers, Poodles, Dalmatians, Chihuahuas) lack the undercoat layer that protects skin from the deshedding edge. Using it on a single-coat dog risks skin irritation. Ask your vet or groomer to confirm your dog’s coat type before buying if you are unsure.
How often should I use the FURminator? Once or twice per week, 10–20 minutes per session. Daily use or sessions longer than 20 minutes will thin the topcoat over time — I confirmed this the hard way with Bruno on week 3. The Hertzko, by contrast, is gentle enough for daily use with no cumulative coat damage.
Does the Hertzko actually remove undercoat, or is it just a regular brush? It collects surface shedding effectively and removes loose fur from the topcoat and light undercoat on low-to-moderate shedding animals. On heavy double-coat shedders, it addresses roughly the surface layer while most of the loose undercoat stays put. Meaningfully better than nothing, but not a substitute for a true deshedding tool on breeds like Huskies or German Shepherds.
Can I use the FURminator on my cat? Yes, but buy the cat-specific version. FURminator sells it separately with a narrower, less aggressive edge calibrated for cat skin and coat density. I used it on Mochi (long-hair tabby) and she accepted it after a few sessions. Do not use the dog version on cats — the blade is wider and more aggressive than most cats will tolerate.
Why does the FURminator cost so much more than the Hertzko? The stainless steel deshedding edge costs more to manufacture than bent-wire slicker bristles, and Spectrum Brands has built real brand equity in the deshedding category over two decades. Whether the premium is justified depends entirely on your dog’s coat type. For a Husky owner, $44.99 pays for itself in the first session. For a beagle owner, the Hertzko at $15.99 is the correct purchase and the FURminator would be the wrong one.