Best Brush for Shepherds

 I had better luck with this:

http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=101582+WID&srccode=FR0401

on my dogs. I tried the furminator and it was just a lot of work - the teeth are so fine that you have to condition, pre-comb, etc before using it (atleast on my husky). So I returned it and bought and oster rake instead - half the price.

I use a slicker and a zoom groom

I have tried a furminator (wanna buy it?) what works for the Golden retriever is a Mars Coat King. Looks like it's identical to the Oster rake...

Carla, don't waste your money on a Furminator! I know many people swear by them for their shepherds, but a plain vanilla undercoat rake works MUCH better on my coaties. Have you see the Furminator video where they use a variety of brushes that each get off a little hair, and then the Furminator, where hair flies off the dog - well, it's the exact opposite with Dena & Keefer. I get a small amount of hair off with the Furminator, and great clouds of hair with an undercoat rake.

I even took a picture because I'm weird that way.

 The Furminator works better on my Maine Coon cats than on the dogs, but I like the undercoat rake on them too.
 

I just use a $7 rake I got at Target.  I've also used a Zoom Groom and LOVE that, but don't have one yet.  I also have a slicker and a shedding blade but never use either.  The rake outdoes the slicker, and the blade works OK but it often breaks the guard hairs. 

Thanks all. I have a nice rake and a slicker. I even have a blade (but I wouldn't use that on coats)... I guess you have to use them to get them to work, eh? I was hoping for a miracle.

Thanks again!  

After I tried the Mars Coat King I knew That was my miracle. best tool in the (large) bag for me

Carla, for every day kind of brushing, the slicker works fine for me.  During blowing season I use a lot more, including the rake.

As many of you know, Jaia and B'asia are my first Shepherds and they have a long coat and I've never dealt with an undercoat like this before. But when I pet them, it doesn't feel right. It's like there's a lot of loose hair under there that doesn't belong. It seems that regular brushing sessions aren't touching it. I use a rake and some hair comes out, but the dogs never feel the same as Cara, for instance, who also has a double coat, but it's a lot thinner.

Actually Jaia feels ok, it's B'asia who feels like she has 3 or 4 coats around her neck. Does anyone know what I mean? She's also itchy.  

I wonder what I'm doing wrong...  Maybe I need to brush her every day for a while and see if that helps. I don't brush them every day, more like once a week. Maybe I should start...

 A blow dry with a high velocity drier would solve that problem. Either by taking them to get groomed or purchase one yourself. I got one for a third of the price by calling my groomer to see if they had one they would be willing to sell. Dakota is always a challenge to get her undercoat out and it bunches up underneath her top coat - not mats exactly, just kind of clumps together with the way it dries naturally. That drier has been a life saver. She hates it of course, but it really blows that hair out like nothing else. I spray conditioner her after a shampoo then blow her out. It's really great.

Edited to add: After 2 uses, the dryer has already paid for itself considering it costs me $50 per groom for her. 

I second Julie's suggestion.  Coke was sort of oily and stinky when we got him, which isn't a big deal to me.  Then, he rolled in poop and it got stuck on his belly.  We tried to cut off the clumps, but he stunk.  We took him to Chow Hound where they have professional grooming stations you can use yourself.  Just a good bath and a long, forced air dry backward removed what seemed like pounds of hair.  And right now Coke only has half his hair from having his rear end shaved! 

I've never had a long haired shepherd, but I do agree with the dryer idea.

I only brush about once a week during most of the year....blowing season is at least daily......but if someone is starting to get a little funky looking or feeling, out comes the zoom groom and I can pull out a TON of old undercoat with that.  Doesn't happen often that I need too, but it almost sounds like you really need the h.v. dryer.

My preference is to do it the old fashioned way.  Slicker, undercoat rake/comb.  Use a good shampoo that helps loosen the dead hair (Davis Detangling or Best Shot Ultra maybe) , and high velocity dryer, if your dog tolerates it. 

I just wanted to come back and thank everyone for the suggestions. I have started using the slicker and rake and I also got a "brush" that has rubber fingers instead of bristles and B'asia feels much better already! Thanks!