Absolutely YES to the shedding blade . . . I had one for my horse so bought another to use on the dogs. A regular brush simply cannot penetrate their multiple layers of coat. It's funny . . . when we brush them (or rather shedblade them) there are piles of fur on the ground, and I take clumps and decorate the trees so it looks like snow in summertime! Dog hair is also great nesting material for the birds, so maybe THAT is why we have so may bird families on our property.