What's The Best Brush For Your Dog?

It's important to select the right grooming equipment for your dog for a variety of reasons. Depending on the type of coat, the wrong brush could cause damage their skin and fur, and result in brushing being a negative experience. The right tools will allow you and your dog to be comfortable and enjoy the grooming experience together, creating an even stronger bond between owner and pet.

When selecting a brush, the main factors are your dog’s coat and what you want to achieve from the grooming session. Some dogs need help to detangle matted fur and others might need a specific deshedding tool. Not sure what kind of coat your dog has?

Not sure what kind of coat your dog has? Check out our guide first to determine your pup's needs!

Here are the four main types of dog brushes:

PIN BRUSH

PIN BRUSH

The pin brush has metal pins with small rounded ends to prevent them from being sharp and catching the skin. They are great for brushing out small knots and mats in fur and can go through the top and under coat.

COMBO PIN & BRISTLE BRUSH

Some pin brushes are double-sided, these combo brushes can be the best of both worlds. The pin side works through tangles while the other side is a bristle brush and is great for smoothing the coat out.

BEST FOR: Breeds like Golden Retrievers, Spaniels, Setters, Lhasa Apso, etc, will find these the most comfortable. They are most useful for medium to long haired dogs as pin brushes aren’t very effective on short coated dogs.

SLICKER BRUSH

SLICKER BRUSH

A slicker brush has fine wire bristles that are usually on a flat or slightly curved brush base. The bristles are set at an angle and some have rubber tips to prevent damaging the skin. The brush is designed to work through tough tangles and remove dead hair. The bristles can be very sharp, so it's recommended to avoid the eye area. You can use a metal comb on their facial fur as a safe alternative. Use the slicker brush with other grooming tools such as a conditioning spray to keep your dog's coat healthy.

BEST FOR: Breeds such as Poodles, Cavapoos, Goldendoodles, etc. These are made for dogs with medium/long or curly fur or a double coat. It's designed to work on tough tangles and remove dead hair. Be careful with long fur as overuse can also cause damage.

RUBBER BRUSH

RUBBER/CURRY BRUSH

A rubber brush, also knows as a curry brush, is made of rubber or plastic nubs that stimulate fur and skin and give the feel of a true massage. This brush works best on dogs with short coats or dogs that require little effort to remove shedding hairs. The small, rubber bristles are gentle on skin but firm enough to remove dead fur and knots and give a shine to the hair. 

BEST FOR: Small breeds such as Boston Terriers, Beagles, and short-coated versions of dogs like Chihuahuas and Dachshunds. Dogs with delicate fur would benefit from this type of brush. Additionally, a curry brush is great for dog massages because the nubs are gentle enough that you can make direct contact with the skin without damaging it.

UNDERCOAT RAKE

UNDERCOAT RAKE

Rakes are designed with wide set teeth to pass through topcoats and remove tangles and dead undercoat fur near the dog’s skin. The brushes often shaped like a shaving razor and have one or two rows of pins. They are intended to be used with minimal, even pressure, as pressing hard could damage your dog's skin. When selecting a rake, look for one with pins that are similar to your dog’s fur length. Ones that are too short won't reach the the inner layer of undercoat, and ones that are too long could hurt the skin.

BEST FOR: Breeds like Huskies, German Shepherds, Malamutes, and Samoyeds. These dogs tend to develop dead undercoats, especially during shedding. and their thick coats also tend to trap debris.

 

ADDITIONAL GROOMING TOOLS

DESHEDDER

DESHEDDER

These brushes, such as the Furminator help remove large amount of loose or dead fur. They are designed to help remove dead undercoat hairs before they fall out and become furry tumbleweeds rolling across your floors. They are highly recommended for breeds like the Shiba Inu, Border Collie and Australian Shepherd who have a double-coat and who are prone to excessive shedding.

GROOMING COMB

GROOMING COMB

These combs are best for dogs with thick, woolly or curly fur. Grooming combs are designed with wider teeth so you can comb out knots and detangle fur without damaging it. It's recommended that you choose a comb with the teeth size that works best for your dog's coat. Select a comb with large spaced teeth for long, thick or curly hair and narrower spaced teeth for pups with short coats.