Much like humans, there are an array of different brush options for our canine friends. With how important grooming is for our furry friends, it’s important to find the very best brush for them!In this article we’ll dive into why your dog’s brush is so important, the different types of dog brushes, and the ones we trust to get the job done!
Quick Review: Top-6 Brushes For Dog
Why is it important to brush your dog?
While you may think brushing your dog is just a simple task, it’s actually an important part of keeping your dog’s coat and skin as healthy as possible! Regular brushing and grooming can offer multiple benefits for your furry friend. Some of these benefits include:
Distributing natural oils: When you comb through your dog’s fur, you are helping them to distribute the natural oils throughout their body. Similar to us not brushing our hair, their fur can become tangled and matted, making it difficult for their natural oils to do their job. The more well managed their hair is, the softer and more nourished that their fur will become!
Preventing tangles and mats: Mats and tangles in your dog’s fur can become extremely uncomfortable. Mats can pull at their skin, and even cause your pup to start chewing at the site of these mats and tangles. This also makes brushing your pup more challenging, as it’s likely painful with each stroke of their fur. The more often you set aside time to brush your fur baby, the more enjoyable their brush sessions will be.
Decreases shedding in your home: Our pups shed loose and dead hair every single day. If you do not have a set schedule for brushing, this loose fur will scatter around your home. By increasing the frequency of your brushing sessions you can help to strip them off that loose fur, and prevent this fur from falling around your home.
Bonding time: When using a brush that works well with your dog’s fur, their grooming time can be a time for bonding with your canine companion. Setting aside daily or weekly brushing can be a lovely routine that you and your dog share together, and is interrupted time that you can share. If you have a brush that is comfortable for your pup, they will likely find this time soothing.
Shows you anything abnormal: Even though we interact with our dogs each day, you aren’t always aware of new lumps and bumps that pop up on their body. By brushing your pup often and actually having your hands on them, you are more able to notice new changes on their body that you may need to have checked by a veterinarian.
Helps them look their best: With all other reasons aside, frequent brushing will help your dog look their best. By removing tangles and mats and helping them distribute oils throughout their fur, you are able to give them a shining coat that they deserve!
How often should you brush your dog?
If you didn’t know, different kinds of dogs actually require a different level of grooming maintenance. Similar to people with short hair versus long hair, naturally a dog with long or coarse hair will require more upkeep. To help you better understand what your dog needs, we’ll break down recommended brushing schedules for dogs based on fur length.
Short hair: If you have a short haired breed, you may not be too concerned about your dog’s fur having tangles or mat. While their fur may be free of tangles, they likely still shed. To keep their fur looking shiny and to prevent your home from being filled with hair, you should brush your pup no less than once a week, even twice a week.
Medium Hair: Dogs with medium or long hair often vary on their fur texture. No matter what, if your pup is considered a medium hair breed, you will need to brush them at least 3 times a week. This will of course vary based on how active or playful your pup is, as dogs tend to become more wind blown with vigorous play. Brushing their fur at least 3 times a week will help to keep tangles and mats at bay.
Long Hair: Long haired breeds will need the most maintenance in terms of grooming. In order to keep their fur looking its best and free of any mats or tangles, you should offer one quick brushing session each day. These sessions don’t have to be a long process, and even a quick one minute brush through will suffice. Tangles can develop throughout the day, so it;s best to stay on top of them and groom them once each day.
Different Types Of Dog Brushes
When it comes to dog brushes, not all brushes are considered equal. Different brushes have different purposes, and are created with specific fur types in mind. To help you better understand what type of brush would be best for your furry friend, we’ll dive into the details of each type of dog brush.
Deshedding brushes: A Deshedding brush is made for dogs that have thick fur with multiple layers. These brushes are designed to target the undercoat layer of fur and removes the inner coat before it mats and tangles. It protects the coat for future growth and keeps the skin surface clean and properly aired and stimulated. These tools are great for any heavy shedding breed of dog.
Slicker brushes/rakes: A slicker brush is used with the primary purpose of getting rid of any debris, loose hair and knots in your dog’s fur. These brushes typically have fine wire bristles, packed tightly together. Though these wires can appear sharp, the bristles are angled slightly as to not scratch the skin.
Wide toothed comb: A wide toothed comb is typically used in long haired breeds that have serious tangles that need to be addressed. These work best when used daily as it can be a painful process for a dog with serious knots, so it;s best to use this brush daily with your long haired dog.
Rubber brushes: Rubber brushes don’t necessarily attack tangles or mats, but they can be great tools for removing stray hair and debris. This is a great brush option for short haired dogs that don’t experience tangles, but do experience shedding.
Flea comb: Flea combs are brushes that are made to target fleas and flea eggs. These brush prongs are placed closely together so they can easily grab tiny debris within your dog’s fur.
Qualities Of The Perfect Dog Brush
In the search for the perfect brush for your canine companion, there are a few factors to consider! Even if your dog’s brush does the job, it’s of no use if it’s difficult to use or uncomfortable for the dog owner to work with.
The very best dog brushes will possess:
Comfort: Comfort for dog and owner is extremely important for a dog brush. If the bristles scratch your furry friend’s skin or the handle is painful for you to hold for an extended period of time, you’re not likely to want to use that brush again. No matter how effective a dog brush is, it has to be comfortable for both your pup and you.
Effectiveness: When you’re looking for a brush for your canine companion, it has to be effective! If a brush doesn’t do the job it’s advertised to do, you’re not likely to waste your time with using it again. Each dog brush needs to be effective enough to make a difference in you and your dog’s life.
Durability: There’s nothing worse than finding a product that you love, only for it to fall apart or lose effectiveness over time. While everything will eventually begin to wear out, your dog’s brush should be able to give you a minimum of 1 year of effective use.
Ease during use: No matter how wonderful a brush is, you won’t want to use it often if it’s difficult to assemble or use each day. Some brushes that are meant to be effective and improve your dog’s grooming schedules have been known to fail on the market due to how complicated they were to take apart to remove their fur after grooming. The best dog brushes are as user friendly as possible.
Brands With The Best Brushes For Dogs
There are so many different types of dog brushes on the market that it can be challenging to know which ones you can trust to brush your dog’s fur with ease. We’ve done the research for you and put together a list of the brands we trust to get the job done!
Our favorite brands with the best dog brushes are:
- Furminator
- Hertzko
- Pet Neat
- Sleek EZ
- Hartz
- Bamboo Groom
Some of these brands are so good at what they do for dog fur, they offer multiple kinds of brushes to target different types of fur. Now, let’s dive into the details on what each brand has to offer.
Best Brushes For Dogs Product Breakdown
We’ve gathered a list of the 10 dog brushes that will change your grooming routine FURever!!
- Furminator Deshedding
Pros
- Reaches the bottom layer of fur better than other types of brushes
- Strips excess fur, dead fur, debris, and more
- Does not irritate or cut your dog’s skin
- Easy elimination of fur after brushing with their Furejector button
- Easy clean up
- Comfortable handle for the dog owner
Cons
- The only con we could find was the higher price than other dog brushes. Though it is a bit more pricey, it;s because it really is the best of the best.
- Hertzko Slicker Brush
Pros
- Bristles that can comb through any type of dog fur
- Made for dogs with short, medium, and long hair
- Brushes through tangles without any pain for your pup
- Wire bristles can target tangles, loose fur, and dirt that trapped within their fur
Cons
- Since the wire bristles can cause a “tickle sensation”, some dogs need a few brushing sessions to get used to it
- Pet Neat Pet Brush
Pros
- Excellent at removing loose hair and debris within the fur
- Durable stainless steel blade is made to last
- Significantly reduces stray hair founda round your home
- Comfortable handle for the handler
- Fur is easy to remove from the blade when finished
Cons
- There is no button that releases the fur like other dog brushes, but dog hair is still easily removed from the blade.
- Hertzko Soft Brush
Pros
- Gentle rounded end bristles make your brushing routine pain free
- Combats tangles and mats in long haired dogs
- So sensitive that it’s suitable for areas around the face
- Comfort grip and rubber handle to make sure the brushing process is easy for dog parents
Cons
- While this is an incredible option for dogs that easily get tangles and mats, it’s not ideal for anti-shedding. This brush is made more for medium and long haired dogs.
- Sleek EZ Brush
Pros
- Rated the world’s #1 deshedding tool for dogs
- Unique wave pattern blade is top notch at removing excess fur
- Tiny teeth on the blade that are able to get in between small tangles and remove debris in the fur
- No need to pull hair from this brush as the hair simply falls to the ground from the blade
Cons
- Since the fur from the EZ brush falls to the floor, you will have to pick up the fur around you after your dog;s grooming routine
- Hartz Detangling Brush
Pros
- Double sided brush that targets each area of grooming
- One end combats tangles, while the other end of the brush removes excess fur
- Comfortable handle that helps to give the owner complete control
- Designed for dogs with every kind of fur
Cons
- While this is a wonderful option for most dogs, it may not be the best option for heavy shedders.
- Furminator Rake
Pros
- Targets the hard to reach undercoat in dogs with thick fur
- Strips loose fur that is otherwise untouched without a deep brushing tool
- Gentle on your dogs skin
- Easy grip handle to give owners full control and comfort
Cons
- This brush does not have a button release, so you will need to manually remove the fur from the brush.
- Furminator Rubber Brush
Pros
- Rubber bristles that pick up every loose hair in its tracks
- Comfortable handle for easy control
- Helps stimulate natural oil production on your dog’s skin
Cons
- This brush is skilled at picking up excess fur and debris, but will not solve your dog’s problem with tangles.
- Bamboo Groom Brush
Pros
- Made of biodegradable bamboo
- Bristles brush away excess fur and debri
- Adds shine to your dog’s coat
- Easy to grip handle
Cons
- Similar to the other brush that focuses on the top coat, this won;t be the best option for removing tangles or mats.
- Hertzko Bristle Brush
Pros
- Removes excess fur and debris from the top coat
- Fluffs and shines their fur
- Massages their skin during grooming
- Brush is strong and durable, and made to last
Cons
- Since this brush targets the top coat, it may not be ideal for dogs with serious tangles.
FAQ
How do I make the grooming process more enjoyable for my dog?
There are a few ways to make sure that your pup gets the most out of their grooming process:
- Give them treats: Every task involving your dog is made easier when their favorite treats are involved! In order for your pup to truly love their grooming experience it’s best to offer a tasty treat at the end of each grooming session. This will make your pup more cooperative, and will reward them for being so well behaved!
- Give them love: Since this can be a time to bond with your furry friend, take the time to give them all the head pats, belly rubs, and praise they desire! This can be a perfect time to really soak in some quality time with your favorite pup.
- Keep up with it: Your dog’s grooming routine will be made easier if you keep up with it. The more you brush through their fur, the less tangled it will be. If you skip grooming sessions you run the risk of having to comb through painful tangles next time, so it’s best to avoid this.
How do I know if my dog needs to be professionally groomed?
While many grooming hurdles can be tackled with at home grooming, some situations require professional help. If your dog has any tangles or mats that have become ingrained into the skin, close to the skin, or causes them pain when you try to address the tangle at home, it’s time to seek professional grooming help. You never want to accidentally harm your pup at home due to not having the proper tools.
Last update on 2025-01-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API