FURminator vs Hertzko: Deshedding Tool or Slicker?

The FURminator and the Hertzko are not two versions of the same brush, though they are often shopped as if they were. This page compares the working part, sizes, cleaning buttons and the makers' limits, matches each tool to coat types, and shows how to use both on a husky, shepherd or long-haired cat.

How we chose: we did not test either tool; we compared what FURminator and Hertzko publish and what their Amazon listings say, and give cards only to tools sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store on September 28, 2026.

FURminator and Hertzko side by side

For a slicker you can buy from Amazon.com, the Andis self-cleaning slicker is in the price table below.

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

What the FURminator does

FURminator's product page for the medium short-hair tool describes it as "specially designed to reach through the topcoat to safely and easily remove loose hair and undercoat without damaging the coat or cutting the skin," when used as directed. The edge sits in a curved "Skin Guard" that FURminator says prevents "digging in at edges," and the FURejector button "releases hair with ease."

It is sized two ways. By weight: the medium dog tool is for dogs of 25 to 50 lb, and the large long-hair tool for dogs over 50 lb. By coat: short-hair and long-hair versions, the long-hair edge built to reach through a longer topcoat. For cats, the Amazon listings split the short-hair tool at 10 lb.

FURminator also says what not to do. Its FAQ says the tool "may be used on most animals that shed, including dogs, cats, and other pets with an undercoat," but "should not be used on non-shedding breeds or on pets with particularly sensitive skin." The same page sets the dose: "1-2 times a week for 10 to 20 minutes each session," more often only in heavy shedding seasons.

What the Hertzko slicker does

A slicker works on the top and middle of the coat. Hertzko's Amazon listing describes "fine bent wires designed to penetrate deep into the coat," says the brush "gently removes loose hair, and eliminates tangles, knots, dander and trapped dirt," and that it works "on dogs and cats of all sizes and types of hair." It was "designed with sensitive skin in mind," per the same listing.

The button is the feature people buy it for: "simply click the button and the bristles retract back into the brush," so the mat of collected hair slides off in one piece. The listing publishes no size chart and no list of coats to avoid.

A slicker is also the tool the ASPCA names for tangles. Its dog grooming tips say to "use a slicker brush to remove tangles" on short, dense fur, and to remove tangles "with a slicker brush" every day on long, silky coats.

Which coats suit which tool

• Double coat that sheds in clumps (huskies, shepherds, many retrievers, thick-coated cats): FURminator, once or twice a week, with a slicker first to take out tangles. FURminator's product page tells you to remove tangles or mats before using the tool.
• Curly, wavy or doodle coat: slicker, then a metal comb. FURminator's own FAQ rules its undercoat tool out for non-shedding breeds, so do not use it here.
• Long, silky single coat: slicker, daily, per the ASPCA. A deshedding edge has little undercoat to work on.
• Smooth, short coat: neither is the first tool. The ASPCA suggests a rubber brush and a bristle brush.
• Sensitive skin: FURminator says not to use its tool. Use a slicker with a light hand, and ask your vet if the skin is red or sore.

Our guide to dog and cat brushes by coat type goes through each coat in more detail.

Using them together

For a double-coated dog, the order matters. FURminator's directions say to check the skin first for "sores, bruises and skin conditions," to remove tangles with a rake or dematting tool before the edge touches the coat, and to use "fewer long, gentle strokes" in the direction the hair grows, with extra care near the belly, legs and rear.

Its FAQ warns that using the tool on matted or tangled fur "can bend or break the teeth, as well as feel uncomfortable for the pet."

So a typical week looks like this: a slicker session (Hertzko or Andis) on most days the coat needs it, and the FURminator once or twice for 10 to 20 minutes. FURminator says to stop "if you notice any redness or irritation."

Key point: the FURminator removes more hair per stroke, which is exactly why its maker limits how often you use it. The slicker is the tool you can reach for daily.

Seller and recall check

On September 28, 2026 the Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush was listed on Amazon only by a third-party storefront (BullzEyeDeals), and two other Hertzko slicker listings were out of stock, so it has no product card. The FURminator tools and the Andis slicker are sold by Amazon.com.

We found no CPSC recall of a FURminator or Hertzko brush. The CPSC did announce a 2024 recall of FURminator deShedding Ultra Premium Dog Conditioner, a 1 gallon conditioner, over bacteria; it is not one of the tools here. You can search any brand on our pet recall page.

For more undercoat tools, rakes, rubber curries and gloves, see our full guide to deshedding brushes. If shedding comes with bald patches, redness or scabs, ask your vet; this page is not veterinary advice (more on that).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Hertzko brush remove undercoat?

Partly. Hertzko's listing says its bent wire pins "groom the undercoat," but a slicker is built for tangles and loose hair; a dense double coat that sheds in clumps usually needs an undercoat tool as well.

How do the self-cleaning buttons differ?

The FURminator's FURejector button pushes collected hair off the steel edge. The Hertzko's button retracts the wire pins into the pad so the hair slides off.

Which FURminator size should I buy?

Go by weight and hair length. For dogs, medium is 25 to 50 lb and large is over 50 lb, each in short- and long-hair versions; for short-haired cats, the tools split at 10 lb.

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