I've never used the FURminator on a dog, however it works so-so on a cat. I prefer the Shedding Blade myself. I've used that on both cats and dogs and it works GREAT! They aren't usually very expensive either and around here you can buy them at most pet stores easily.

I don't know what the weather is like in London, however around here dogs (even short haired ones) tend to shed more in the wintertime because of people running their heating since that dries out hair coats. If that is the case with your lab, just try using 1 tablespoon of CORN oil on the food once a day starting in the autumn a few weeks before the heat is to start being run. And stop using it in the spring when it gets warm outside again. (It has to be CORN oil and NOT vegetable or any other kind of oil). It's a fairly inexpensive way to help out the coat during the winter.

Good luck.