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Brushing your dog may feel like a chore, but regular brushing prevents tangles and mats. These snarled knots of hair can get trapped in their coat, which can cause discomfort, irritate the skin, and even cause infections. Frequent brushing also distributes healthy oils and removes loose hair from the coat before it sheds all over your clothes and home. car detailing brushes
To help you narrow down the best brush for your dog, I tested 23 different grooming tools over a three-month period with two dogs: a Labrador retriever with short, straight hair and a miniature poodle with long, curly hair. I received editorial review samples from manufacturers with the exception of Millers Forge, Chris Christensen, and ConairPro brushes, which Insider purchased. I'm no novice when it comes to brushing dogs. I've been brushing, bathing, and clipping my poodle for more than a decade now. I also brushed and bathed thousands of pets during my eight-year tenure as a veterinary assistant.
For additional expertise on dog brushing, I talked with pet groomer Cassie Edmond, who is an animal caregiver at the San Diego Humane Society. Dog brushes come in different styles for different coats. To know which type of brush is best for your dog, first identify their coat type using the handy breakdown at the end of this guide.
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Best combo: Hartz Groomer's Best Combo Brush - See at Chewy Equipped with two brush styles and a nonslip handle, the versatile Hartz Combo Brush is ideal for dogs with many different coat types.
Best for deshedding: Furminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool - See at Chewy The Furminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool safely and effectively removes loose, dead undercoat hair as well as dirt and debris.
Best slicker: JW Pet Gripsoft Soft Slicker Brush - See at Chewy The JW Pet Gripsoft Soft Slicker Brush's flexible, ideally angled stainless steel bristles minimize skin irritation while lifting out loose hair.
Best pin: Chris Christensen Oval Pin Brush - See at Amazon The durable, high-quality Chris Christensen Oval Pin Brush glides through the coat and gently detangles hair without painful pulling.
Best curry comb: Bodhi Dog Bath Brush - See at Amazon The easy-to-grip Bodhi Dog Bath Brush is like a loofah for your dog, and it's effective for bathing or dry brushing.
Best grooming glove: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Grooming Gloves - See at Amazon The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Grooming Gloves whisk away loose hair as you give your dog a gentle massage.
Pros: Stainless steel pins with safety tips, good for dogs of most sizes, anti-slip grip for comfort and control, two brushes in one
Cons: Might be too large for toy dogs
A combo brush is two brushes in one: a pin brush and a soft-bristle brush. Use the pin side to brush out tangles and remove loose hair. The bristle side works well for short-haired dogs such as dachshunds, pit bulls, and Chihuahuas. "It can be helpful in removing dead hairs during shedding season and redistributing the dog's natural oils on its body," said Edmond.
We really like the Groomer's Best Combo Brush from Hartz. It's great for dogs of many coat types and convenient if you have two dogs with different types of hair. I tested this brush on a miniature poodle and a Labrador retriever. Only the pin brush side was useful for the poodle coat, but the Labrador coat benefited from both sides.
Overall, this is just a really nice brush. It's lightweight yet sturdy and comfortable to hold. The stainless steel pins have safety tips for gentle brushing, and the nylon bristles are soft yet stiff enough to do some good hair removal. Measuring 12 inches long and 3 inches wide, the brush is well-sized for small to large dogs. However, it's not suited to the job of grooming toy breeds. For that, consider the Burt's Bees Double-Sided brush.
Hartz also offers a satisfaction guarantee on all its grooming tools if they have not been misused or abused. Simply return the brush with a copy of your receipt within one year of purchase for a replacement or refund.
Pros: Reduces loose hair from shedding, doesn't damage topcoat, skin guard protects from digging into skin, works for dogs of all sizes and most coat types, money-back guarantee
Cons: Not for use on nonshedding breeds, teeth can be damaged if you drop tool, overbrushing or applying too much pressure can irritate skin
Deshedding tools have one purpose: to remove as much loose hair from your dog's coat as possible — before it ends up in your house and on your clothes. Although designs vary, deshedding tools often look like metal rakes or fine-tooth combs.
"Deshedding tools are a groomer's best friend," said Edmond, who has a Furminator in her personal grooming tool kit. "It is so satisfying to use this on a husky or German shepherd during heavy shedding seasons."
The Furminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool landed in the top spot. I tested it on a Labrador retriever that sheds very heavily. The amount of hair I was able to remove from her coat was astonishing. It was far more than I could remove with the three other deshedding tools I tested.
The magic is in the stainless steel deshedding edge that reaches through the topcoat to safely and easily remove loose hair and undercoat without damaging the topcoat. The curved edge of the blade and the skin guard help the tool glide over a dog's body to prevent digging into the skin.
The Furminator's ergonomic handle offered a comfortable grip, and the release button made it easy to collect hair from the tool and continue deshedding. For storage, a special edge guard protects the metal teeth. The manufacturer is so sure you'll love the Furminator that it offers a money-back guarantee as long as the product is used and stored as directed.
Pros: Made for pets with sensitive skin, angled stainless steel bristles minimize irritation, rubberized grips and curved handle provide comfort and control
Cons: Not as effective for smooth-coated dogs with no undercoat and may cause skin irritation, too large for some toy breeds
With very thin, closely set wire bristles, a slicker brush is good for general brushing and removing loose fur. Edmonds recommends a slicker for long-haired pets and double-coated shedding dogs like Siberian huskies, German shepherds, and golden retrievers. However, she advises against using one on a short-haired dog as it can cause brush burn.
We like JW Pet's Gripsoft Soft Slicker Brush because it effectively detangles the coat and removes loose hair. It's stiff enough to untangle the coat but still gentle on the skin. With its flexible stainless steel bristles turned 90 degrees away from the skin, it minimizes "raking," making brushing more comfortable for your dog.
The 5.5-inch-wide bristle area makes it a good fit for small- to large-size dogs. I tested this brush on a miniature poodle with a long, curly coat and a Labrador retriever with medium-length hair. Even though these dogs have very different coats, the Gripsoft Slicker worked well on both types. Before testing, I also ran each of the slicker brushes along the inside of my forearm to make sure they felt comfortable — the Gripsoft Soft Slicker Brush is very gentle on the skin.
The brush is also durable, lightweight, and comfortable to hold with nonslip rubber grips on the curved handle. When I was done brushing, I used my fingers to easily lift the hair out of the rounded brush head.
Owners of toy breeds will likely find this brush too big. For the smallest of dogs, I recommend checking out the Millers Forge Slicker Brush.
Pros: Stainless steel pins with rounded, polished tips for comfort; durable design; firm cushion with air vent for flexibility; comfortable wooden body and handle
Cons: More expensive than similar models, not ideal for smooth-coated dogs
For dogs with medium to long hair, a pin brush is a good option for removing loose hair and detangling. This type of brush consists of metal pins that are more widely spaced than the bristles of a slicker brush, which helps prevent hair breakage. The pins are also set into a rubber cushion, and a high-quality brush will have pins with rounded ends to prevent scratches on the skin.
We chose the Chris Christensen Oval Pin Brush as our top pick. I've used several Chris Christensen brushes and combs over the years because they came highly recommended by my poodle breeder. This brush lived up to the standard I've come to expect from the brand's grooming tools.
I tested this brush on a miniature poodle and found it glided through his coat easily and gently detangled without scratching his skin or breaking off any hairs. The high-quality stainless steel pins have rounded and polished tips, and the pins are set into a durable, firm cushion that has an air vent hole for extra flexibility.
The wooden body and easy-grip handle are constructed from lightweight solid beech, making it comfortable to hold. The brush is available in three different pin lengths: 20mm for short coats, 27mm for medium to long coats, and 35mm for long, thick full coats.
Pros: Dry or wet use; effective yet gentle; handy strap for a comfortable hold; increases shampoo lather; massaging soft rubber bristles; natural, unrefined rubber limits chemical footprint; money-back guarantee
Cons: Not ideal for all coat types; strap might be too tight for larger hands; brush can be slippery when wet
This type of brush, which is also called a curry comb, is made of rubber or soft plastic. It has flexible nubs that remove dirt and loose hair from the coat. Curry brushes are also great in the bath when used to work shampoo deep into the coat, all while giving your dog a nice massage.
These brushes are best for dogs with smooth or short coats. "I use a curry brush on short-haired dogs during or right after a bath," Edmond said. "I like to use it on dogs that are heavily shedding."
Our pick for the best curry brush is the Bodhi Dog Bath Brush. I tested this brush on a Labrador retriever with a medium-length coat. I like how the strap makes it easier to hold the brush even when wet, although like all the curry brushes I tested, it can still get slippery when wet. The 5-by-3.5-inch brush's strap fit my hand well, but people with large hands might find the strap a bit tight.
When used on a dry coat, the soft, split-ended rubber tips gently loosen and remove shedding hair and dirt. The Bodhi brush serves the same function in the bath and also increases the effectiveness of shampoo lathering for a deeper clean while turning grooming time into massage time.
Pros: Soft rubber nubs gently remove hair, flexible design for brushing all parts of body, massaging action ideal for dogs that dislike brushing, Velco wrist straps provide secure fit, available in three sizes
Cons: Not ideal for nonshedding dogs, sizing may not accommodate all hand sizes, somewhat difficult to clean hair off the gloves
Grooming gloves are great for shedding dogs that run away when you bring out the brush. They allow you to brush your dog by petting them, and most dogs love the soothing massage this provides. The rubber grips on the palm and fingers are good for removing loose hair.
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Grooming Gloves are the best of the four styles we tested. I used these gloves on a Labrador retriever that isn't a big fan of being brushed. Not only did the gloves remove a lot of loose hair, but she lay down on her side and was happy for me to continue brushing all over her body.
The five-finger design allowed me to gently brush all over, including her head, face, body, legs, and tail, while the soft rubber nodules gently collected fur. The Velcro wrist straps kept the gloves secure on my hands. For best results, brush in the direction of hair growth.
To clean these gloves, peel the hair off. Pro tip: It's easiest to remove the hair when the gloves are full. The gloves come in three sizes to fit most hands: medium, large, and extra-large. I ordered the medium according to the size chart, and they fit well — snug but not too tight.
If you have time, brush your dog every day to remove shedding hair, untangle knots, and redistribute coat oils. Beyond grooming and hygiene, there are additional benefits. "Brushing regularly gives pet parents the opportunity to touch their pets all over, which can help identify possible health concerns early," she said. "As a groomer, I can't tell you how many times I've discovered lumps, bumps, cuts, or skin issues." If you can't brush daily, once a week is sufficient for most breeds. Dogs with long coats that tend to mat should be brushed two to three times a week.
First, make sure the brush you choose is gentle on your dog's skin. Test it against your forearm if you're not sure. Give plenty of treats during brushing sessions, and stop if your dog is showing signs of stress. It's better to break brushing up into mini-sessions rather than stress your dog out. To avoid skin irritation, choose the right brush for your dog's coat type and avoid overbrushing. "There can be such a thing as too much brushing," Edmond said. "Overbrushing causes something called brush burn, which is an irritation of the skin. Slicker brushes used on short-haired dogs can cause brush burn faster."
Slicker brushes and pin brushes are good for most hair types other than very thin, smooth coats. Soft-bristle brushes and curry brushes are best for short, smooth coats. Deshedding tools are only for coats that shed. Grooming gloves can work for most coat types other than non-shedding breeds like poodles and Yorkshire Terriers. If you're not sure what kind of brush to use, ask your veterinarian or groomer for advice.
Keep your dog's brush dry and clean the hair out after each grooming session. To easily remove hair from a brush, slip a comb into the bristles near the base of the brush and lift all the hair out in one solid piece.
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