Speaking as a professional groomer– deshedding tools are ESSENTIAL if you have a double coated dog. Rakes, regular combs, slicker brushes are all ways to go– but you need to do it regularly! Get your dog used to brushing AS SOON AS YOU GET THEM! If you do it regularly, you won’t have to sit and do it in large amounts, causing irritation and potential brush burn. In addition, for dogs with DENSE undercoats, like goldens, samys, bernese mtn dogs, etc, a good blowout also does wonders!