6 products
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Handcrafted in USA
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Skin-Safe Dual-Row Pins
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2% Donated to Charities Like K9s For Warriors
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Family-Owned & Real Phone Support
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Untangler Rotating-Pin Tech
Why "Made in USA" Matters for the Tool Touching Your Pet's Skin
An undercoat rake is the most aggressive grooming tool in your kit. Long metal pins pulling through dense fur, with the goal of yanking out a layer of dead undercoat your pet's body wants gone. Done right, it's a relief for a double-coated dog mid-blow-out. Done wrong — with cheap sharp-edged pins — it leaves razor burn, broken skin, and a dog who runs the next time you reach for a brush. Every rake on this page is made in the USA by Untangler, the small American manufacturer behind the rotating-pin technology that lets the pins glide instead of drag. Same brand we trust for our cat-grooming combs — they've been making skin-safe grooming pins for decades.
Most bargain rakes at the big-box stores are mass-produced overseas with sharp-edged pins, fixed (non-rotating) teeth, and the kind of "we'll cut corners on the file finish" quality that scratches your pet's skin within a few strokes. Our American-made pet undercoat rakes are different. Every rake in this collection is:
- Made in the USA by Untangler — not relabeled imports, not white-labeled overseas tooling
- Built with rotating pins — each tooth turns as it passes through fur, so the pin glides instead of dragging and tugging
- Smooth-tipped, dual-row pins — rounded tips and V-shape geometry that protect skin from the scratching cheap rakes cause
- Solid stainless steel pins — the pins themselves don't bend, snap, or rust over years of use
- Backed by a family-owned shop — we answer the phone when you call
Not sure which rake fits your pet's coat? Email shop@libertypaw.com or call 877-729-5789. We'll match the tooth length and pin geometry to your dog's coat type.
⭐ Our Featured Pick: The Mini Rake V-Shape Double Row 1″ Teeth
$13.58 • Made by Untangler • Made in USA — the dual-row, V-shape rake the keyword strategy doc spotlights for skin-safe undercoat removal. Two staggered rows of 1″ rotating pins penetrate the top coat without snagging it, then lift dead undercoat out as the pins rotate. The V-shape geometry routes pins away from skin contact, which is the difference between a relieved dog and a flinching one.
Multi-species (cats and dogs both) • Free shipping on orders over $57 • 30-day happiness guarantee.
Shop the Mini V-Shape Rake →Three Rake Families We Build Around
Every rake in this collection lands in one of three families. Pick by your pet's coat density and how much undercoat there is to lift:
Mini V-Shape Rakes (1″ teeth)
The everyday rake. Dual-row, 1-inch rotating pins in a V-shape geometry. Right for small dogs, cats, sensitive areas (face, neck, behind ears, underbelly), and medium-density coats. Lightweight in the hand, gentle on the pet. Our most multi-species pick — the Mini Rake V-Shape is the featured product for skin-safe deshedding.
Extra-Long Tooth Rakes (1.25″ teeth)
The heavy-coat rake. Longer 1.25-inch rotating pins that penetrate deeper into dense fur and packed undercoats. Built for Huskies, Goldens, Bernese, Newfies, and any thick double-coated breed mid-blow-out. Same skin-safe rotating-pin tech as the minis, just with more reach.
Staggered Combo Rakes (1.25″ / 1″ staggered)
The versatile pick. Staggered pin lengths combine the depth of the long-tooth rake with the gentle finish of the 1″ pins, all in one tool. Best if you have a mixed-coat household (one heavy shedder, one short-haired) and want a single rake that handles both. Our highest-stocked rake.
How to Pick the Right Rake for Your Pet
The wrong rake either leaves the undercoat behind (too gentle) or scrapes skin (too aggressive). Here's the framework we walk customers through on the phone:
1. Start with your pet's coat density
Thick double coat (Husky, Golden, Shepherd, Bernese, long-haired cat)? Go to the Extra-Long Tooth (1.25″) rake — the pins need length to reach the undercoat. Medium-density single coat or short-haired breed? The Mini V-Shape (1″) is plenty. Multi-pet household with both coat types? The Staggered Combo covers both in one tool.
2. Pre-brush, then rake
An undercoat rake works best on a pre-brushed coat. Run a slicker brush or a comb through the top coat first to clear surface tangles — then go in with the rake to lift the undercoat. Rakes are not the first tool you reach for; they're the second. Pair this collection with our pet combs or detangling brushes for the full grooming routine.
3. Work in the direction of hair growth, with gentle pressure
The pins do the work — you don't need to push hard. Use short strokes in the direction the fur grows. If you feel resistance, stop and clear the rake; don't pull through a tangle. The rotating pins will turn the loose undercoat out of the way; sharp force is what causes razor burn and scratches.
4. Match session length to your pet's tolerance
Cats: 2-3 minute sessions, then quit while they're still tolerating it. Dogs: 5-10 minute sessions during heavy shed seasons (spring + fall blow-outs). Stop at the first sign of frustration. The job doesn't have to be done in one sitting — multiple short sessions over a week are gentler than one marathon.
How Our Rakes Compare to Bargain Imports
The differences in pin construction are real, and they show up in how your pet reacts the moment you start grooming.
| What to Check | LibertyPaw American-Made (Untangler) | Typical Bargain Import |
|---|---|---|
| Where it's made | Made in the USA by Untangler | Overseas mass production, often unverified facilities |
| Pin geometry | Rotating dual-row pins, V-shape configuration that routes pins away from skin | Fixed single-row pins, no rotation, often poorly aligned |
| Pin finish | Smooth-tipped, polished stainless steel — no sharp edges | Sharp-edged pins, often with burrs from cheap stamping |
| Pin material | Solid stainless steel — doesn't bend, snap, or rust | Plated steel that rusts and bends within months |
| Action on fur | Pins rotate through fur — glide, not drag | Fixed pins drag and tug on every stroke |
| Skin safety | Built for skin-safe deshedding — no razor burn, no scratches | Recurring complaints about scratches, razor burn, and broken skin |
| Customer support | Real pet parents on the phone: 877-729-5789 | Drop-shipper email forms, slow responses |
| Mission alignment | 2% of every order to rescue dogs & veteran service-dog programs | Profit-only model |
Materials We Trust (and What We Won't Use)
Every rake in this collection is built around Untangler's proprietary rotating-pin construction. A few of the details worth knowing:
Solid stainless steel pins: The pins are solid stainless steel, not plated. Plated pins are the most common failure mode on bargain rakes — the plating wears off, the steel underneath rusts, and the rake is in the trash within a year. Ours don't rust.
Rotating-pin construction: Each individual pin rotates as it passes through fur. This is what makes the difference between a rake that drags and a rake that glides. The rotating action lifts undercoat out of place instead of yanking it.
V-shape dual-row geometry: Two staggered rows of pins, arranged in a V to route pins away from the skin contact zone. The geometry is the safety mechanism — it's not just about smooth tips, it's about how the tool is held against the pet.
Ergonomic handle: Made to fit the human hand for sessions long enough to actually finish a heavy shed. Cheap rakes give you a hand cramp before you finish the back.
What we won't sell: sharp-edged pins, fixed-pin rakes that drag, plated steel that rusts, plastic-tooth "rakes" that are really just slicker brushes in disguise, or any tool we couldn't trace to a U.S. manufacturer.
😻 A Note for Cat Families
Several rakes in this collection are explicitly cat-friendly — including the Mini Rake V-Shape Double Row 1″ Teeth and the Mini Shedding Rake with Rotating Dual-Row Teeth. The 1″ tooth length is right for most domestic cats; long-haired breeds (Persian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll) get more from the Extra-Long Tooth or the Staggered Combo. Pair the rake with our cat-specific grooming line for the full feline routine — the rotating-pin combs handle face and neck areas where a rake is too aggressive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a rake and a slicker brush?
A slicker brush has short, dense, often-bent wires that work on the top coat — finishing tool for tangles and surface dirt. A rake has fewer, longer, smoother pins designed to penetrate to the undercoat and lift loose dead fur out. They're complementary tools: slicker first (top coat), rake second (undercoat). You need both for a thick double coat.
How do I use an undercoat rake without scratching my dog's skin?
Three rules. (1) Pre-brush the top coat first so the rake isn't fighting tangles. (2) Use gentle pressure — let the rotating pins do the work, don't press down. (3) Move in the direction of hair growth, in short strokes. The V-shape pin geometry on our Untangler rakes is built to route pins away from skin contact, but pressure is what causes scratches — not pin sharpness on a properly designed tool.
How do I manage spring shedding ("coat blow-out")?
Daily 5-10 minute rake sessions for the two-to-three weeks when your double-coated dog blows their coat. Start with a slicker brush or comb to clear the top coat, then the rake to lift undercoat. Bath them mid-blow-out if you can — warm water loosens the dead undercoat so the rake can lift more in fewer strokes. Pair with a high-velocity dog dryer if you really want to blow out the loosened undercoat fast.
Can I use a rake on a cat?
Yes — on long-haired and double-coated cats. The Mini Rake V-Shape (1″ teeth) is the right starting tool for most cats. Short sessions (2-3 minutes), in the direction of fur growth, only on the back and sides. Skip the belly and the face on cats — that's where a rotating-pin comb belongs, not a rake.
Why is my rake catching on tangles?
Because the top coat isn't pre-brushed. A rake is not a detangling tool — it's an undercoat-removal tool. Pre-brush with a slicker, comb, or detangling brush first, then go in with the rake. Trying to power through tangles with a rake is what causes pulled fur and pet discomfort.
Do you offer a guarantee?
Yes — 30-day happiness guarantee on every order. If a rake has manufacturing defects (bent pin, rust spot, broken rotation) in the first 30 days, email shop@libertypaw.com and we'll make it right. Untangler stands behind their tooling, and so do we.
Build the Full Grooming Routine
Rake the undercoat, comb the top coat. Once you've picked the right rake for your pet, browse our handcrafted pet combs — the finishing tool that catches surface tangles, dander, and loose hair the rake leaves behind.
Free shipping on orders over $57 • 30-day happiness guarantee • 2% of every purchase is donated to Veteran Service Organizations, like K9s For Warriors, that train rescue dogs as service dogs for veterans with PTSD.
Email us anytime at shop@libertypaw.com — we're real pet parents here to help!
Safety & Care Note
Inspect your rake regularly. Even a well-built rake can collect bent or stuck pins over years of use — check the pin rotation, the tip finish, and the handle for stress cracks. Retire any rake with bent pins or rusted spots; the whole point of skin-safe pin geometry is defeated when one pin is off-axis.
The information on this page is for general guidance only and is not a substitute for professional grooming or veterinary advice. If your pet has skin conditions, mats that have penetrated to the skin, or shows pain during grooming, consult your veterinarian or a professional groomer before continuing.
Disclaimer: Designed for pet grooming use only. Use gentle pressure and match the tool technique to your pet’s specific coat type to avoid skin irritation, brush burns, or accidental scratches. Do not use on pets with existing skin sores, open wounds, or severe mats without professional guidance. Inspect the pins, teeth, and handles regularly for damage, and keep out of reach of children and pets.