A Golden Retriever's coat is built for cold water and harsh weather: a soft, dense undercoat for insulation under a water-repellent outer coat. Beautiful — and a shedding machine. Loose undercoat sheds steadily all year and dramatically during the spring and fall "coat blow," when it can seem like your dog is turning inside out.
You can't stop a Golden from shedding (and you should never shave the coat), but you can capture most of that loose hair with a brush before it ends up on your sofa. The secret is using a few different tools, each for a different job, a few times a week. Here's the kit that works.
Most Goldens need three tools: an undercoat rake for the dense underlayer, a slicker brush for tangles and finishing, and a de-shedding tool (like the FURminator) for seasonal blows. Our top all-rounder is the FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool. Brush 2–3x weekly (daily during sheds), always on a dry, mat-free coat.
The Tools a Golden's Coat Needs
Undercoat Rake
The workhorse for a double coat. Its rounded pins reach down into the dense undercoat and pull out loose, dead hair without cutting the topcoat. Best first tool in any session.
Slicker Brush
Fine, angled wires remove surface shedding, lift loose hair, and gently work out small tangles. Great for the feathering on the legs, tail, and behind the ears, and for finishing the coat smooth.
De-Shedding Tool
A FURminator-style edge grabs and removes large amounts of loose undercoat — a lifesaver during seasonal coat blows. Powerful, so use a light touch and not too often.
Comb & Pin Brush
A metal comb checks for hidden mats (especially behind the ears and in the "pants"), and a pin brush fluffs and finishes the feathering.
At a Glance: Top Picks
| # | Tool | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FURminator deShedding | De-shedder | Best overall |
| 2 | Maxpower / Pat Your Pet Rake | Undercoat rake | Daily de-shedding |
| 3 | Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker | Slicker | Tangles & finishing |
| 4 | Chris Christensen Slicker | Slicker (premium) | Show-quality coat |
| 5 | Andis Steel Comb | Comb | Mat checks & detail |
Detailed Reviews
The famous de-shedder, and for good reason — nothing pulls loose undercoat out of a Golden faster. The stainless edge reaches through the topcoat to grab dead underlayer hair, and the FURejector button releases the collected fur in one click. Get the Large, Long Hair version for an adult Golden. Use it gently once a week (more during coat blows) on a clean, dry, tangle-free coat — the results are genuinely dramatic.
- Removes huge amounts of undercoat
- FURejector hair release
- Built to last
- Visible, dramatic results
- Easy to overuse — light touch only
- Pricier than basic brushes
A budget hero that does the heavy lifting between de-shedding sessions. The double-sided head has 9 teeth on one side for thick mats and 17 on the other for general de-shedding. Rounded tips reach the undercoat without scratching the skin, and it's gentle enough for regular use. The most cost-effective everyday tool for keeping a Golden's shedding under control.
- Reaches dense undercoat
- Two teeth densities
- Skin-safe rounded tips
- Very affordable
- No hair-release button
- Won't smooth the topcoat
The most popular slicker brush online, and a great everyday pick. Fine bent wires lift loose surface hair, work out small tangles, and smooth the coat, while the one-click retractable bristles make cleaning the brush effortless. Comfortable grip for longer sessions. Perfect for the feathering on legs and tail and for a quick daily once-over between deeper grooming.
- Self-cleaning button
- Great for tangles & feathering
- Comfortable handle
- Affordable
- Won't reach deep undercoat
- Press lightly to protect skin
The slicker brush professional groomers and show handlers swear by. Long, high-quality bent pins glide through a Golden's thick coat and feathering without snagging, covering more area per stroke and lasting for years. It's an investment, but if you groom often or want show-quality results, the Big G is in a class of its own for a coat as full as a Golden's.
- Premium, long-lasting build
- Glides through thick coat
- Covers more per stroke
- Groomer favorite
- Expensive
- Overkill for casual owners
No grooming kit is complete without a good metal comb. The Andis steel comb has coarse and fine teeth to check for hidden mats — especially behind the ears, in the armpits, and in the feathering — and to finish the coat after brushing. Cheap, durable, and the tool that catches the tangles a brush misses before they become painful mats.
- Finds hidden mats
- Coarse + fine teeth
- Durable steel
- Inexpensive
- Not a primary de-shedder
- Slower over large areas
Never de-shed a wet or matted coat. Brush before a bath, not after, and work out tangles with a comb first — a de-shedding tool dragged through a mat hurts and can damage the coat. And resist the urge to shave a Golden: the double coat insulates against both cold and heat, and shaving can permanently change how it grows back.
A Simple Weekly Grooming Routine
- 2–3x per week: a few minutes with the undercoat rake, then the slicker brush over the whole coat and feathering.
- Once a week: a light pass with the de-shedding tool on a dry, tangle-free coat to pull loose undercoat.
- Every session: run the comb behind the ears, under the legs, and through the "pants" to catch mats early.
- During spring/fall coat blows: step up to daily brushing — it dramatically cuts the hair around your home.
- Always reward with treats and praise so grooming stays a positive, bonding routine.
Final Verdict
For most Golden owners, a three-tool kit wins: the FURminator deShedding Tool for seasonal blows, an affordable undercoat rake for regular de-shedding, and the Hertzko slicker for tangles and finishing — plus a steel comb to catch mats. Groomers and show owners may upgrade to the Chris Christensen Big G slicker.
Whatever you buy, the real secret is consistency. Ten minutes a few times a week keeps your Golden's coat healthy and shiny — and keeps the tumbleweeds of fur off your floor. For more on managing the shed, see our full guide on reducing Golden Retriever shedding.
Pair grooming day with the right shampoo and a good omega-3 supplement for a coat that looks its best.