Best Dog Brushes And De-Shedding Tools
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Brushing your dog regularly is not only important to decrease shedding, but it will also help promote a healthy coat. Regular grooming will also help remove dirt, dead hair, and dry skin, as well as stimulate and spread natural oils.
There are many different types of dog brushes and tools available; it’s important to know your dog’s needs based on breed, coat type, and length.
Below, we have reviewed the best dog brushes and tools in every category to present you with our top picks.
Compare Best Dog Brushes And De-Shedding Tools
Lifestage Puppy, Adult | Lifestage Adult | Lifestage Adult | Lifestage Adult | Lifestage Adult |
Material Plastic | Material Plastic | Material Silicone | Material Stainless Steel | Material Plastic |
How We Tested:
- We purchased several dog brushes
- We spent a few hours testing the brushes on several dogs
- We did not receive these product in exchange for a favorable review; they were purchased with our own money
The Best Rated Dog Brushes Reviewed
Kong ZoomGroom
Product Info
- Lifestage: Puppy, Adult
- Material: Plastic
- Can be used wet or dry
- Great at reducing shedding
- Fits in hand comfortably
- Dogs mistaken brush for a chew toy
- Slippery when wet
- Rubber bristles maybe big for smaller dogs
Hartz Groomer's Best Combo Dog Brush
Product Info
- Lifestage: Adult
- Material: Plastic
- Great for de-shedding, de-tangling
- Ideal for all dogs
- Reasonably priced
- Ergonomic grip handle
- Stainless steel tips can come loose on thick coats
- Bristle side may not get through undercoat
- Steel tips may hurt some dogs
The bristles on the reverse side help to distribute natural oils that keep your pups coat shiny and soft. The handle has a rubber coated ergonomic grip to make brushing all types of coats simple yet effective.
Mr. Peanut's Grooming Glove
Product Info
- Lifestage: Adult
- Material: Silicone
- Can be used on many animal coat types
- Adjustable wrist fastener
- Machine wash and air dry
- Budget friendly
- Made for right hand only
- Glove is not tight fitting
- Doesn’t hold onto loose hair well
Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Product Info
- Lifestage: Adult
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Great for brushing out tangles and knots
- Quick clean by pressing the bristle retraction button
- Unique bristles gently penetrate long and thick fur to remove mats and tangles
- Comfortable, durable and anti-slip handle grip
- Pins can bend easily
- Maybe too big for small breeds
- Some dogs do not like the feel of the pins
The comfortable anti-slip handle helps to prevent wrist strain, no matter how long you brush your dog. Cleaning the brush is simple with the automatic retraction button, which pulls the bristles back up into the brush, so that you can just push the removed hair away.
FURminator Curry Comb
Product Info
- Lifestage: Adult
- Material: Plastic
- For all coat types
- Comfortable ergonomic design
- Removes loose hair
- Strap is small and tight
- Doesn’t grip hair well
- Brush maybe better for small dogs
The handle has a simple ergonomic design for a secure and comfortable grip while you brush. The rubber grips the hair and removes it from your dogs coat as you brush.
Paws & Pals De-Shedding Tool
Product Info
- Lifestage: Adult
- Material: Plastic
- Works great on under coats
- Reasonably priced
- Helps prevent mats, reduce shedding and odor
- Works best on undercoats
- Might take off too much hair if not used right
This tool works great for removing loose hair dirt, and dander, as well as prevent matting. It reduces shedding by 90% and helps control your dogs undercoat when used correctly. The comfort grip handle is designed to fit easily in to your hand for maximum control.
Safari De-Matting Dog Comb
Product Info
- Lifestage: Adult
- Material: Plastic
- Great for removing dead hair
- Adjustable for left or right hand
- Smooths and de-mats hair easily
- Reasonably priced
- Comb is long for medium hair length
- Handle could be softer
- Thumb rest can be awkward when brushing
This comb can be used on medium to long-haired dogs and the blades are designed to avoid contact your dogs skin. This combs handle can be use with either hand and has an ergonomic, rubber grip handle.
Pet Republique Slicker Brush
Product Info
- Lifestage: Adult
- Material: Plastic
- Removes dirt and dander from coat
- Self cleaning
- Gets through to under coat
- Smooths and de-mats hair
- Maybe too sharp on sensitive skin
- Bristles can bend easily
- Brush head maybe small for German Sheherds
This slicker brush can also be used for smoothing the coat after grooming, and the pins are long enough to get through your dogs under coat. The ergonomic, rubber handle and heavy plastic material makes it very durable and easy to use.
This brush has a self-cleaning one-push button feature, making clean up easy when dealing with the coat of a German Shepherd.
Hartz Groomers Best Slicker Brush
Product Info
- Lifestage: Adult
- Material: Plastic
- Great for de-shedding, de-tangling and removing small mats
- Stainless steel bristles are covered with safety tips
- Ergonomic design
- Brush is on the smaller side
- Pins bend easy
ConairPRO Soft Dog Slicker Brush
Product Info
- Lifestage: Adult
- Material: Plastic
- Reinforced gentle tips
- Comfortable gel-grip handle design
- Great for less dense areas
- Reasonably priced
- Brush head on the small side
- Tends to pull on hair
- Not effective on thick haired areas
ConairPRO Dog Pet-It Boar Bristle Brush
Product Info
- Lifestage: Adult
- Material: Plastic
- Great for daily brushing
- Hand held grip design
- Helps to gently distribute oils
- Budget friendly
- Can be awkward to hold onto
- Brush is small for a Golden Retriever
- May not penetrate under coat
This brush is a great option for dogs who are sensitive the other brush types or fears being brushed. This brush features a hand held grip so that your fingers can hold the brush comfortably in the palm of your hand.
Dog Brush Types
Bristle Brushes
This type of brush is best for smooth-coated dogs that shed frequently. The bristle clusters remove debris and loose hair and leave a nice shine.
Rubber Brush
A rubber brush, also known as a curry brush, is a great multi-function tool for all types of coats. The rubber nubs make it especially useful if you have a short-haired dog that sheds a lot. The rubber acts like a magnet, grabbing loose hair while the soft tips massage the skin.
Slicker Brushes
Slicker brushes have fine, rounded wires that are close together on a flat surface. This type of brush works with all coat types to remove loose fur and help de-tangle.
Pin Brushes
A lot like the slicker brush, this brush’s wire pins are tipped with plastic or rubber. Pin brushes are made for longer, silkier coat types.
Grooming Mitt
A grooming mitt is like a glove with rubber nubs that helps get those hard-to-reach places. It is used to remove dirt, dust, and dead hair easily. This is used mostly for shorter coats.
Shedding Rake
This brush is really just a type of comb with small, harmless teeth. It is useful on almost every coat type for removing loose hair.
De-matting Comb
There are several styles of de-matting combs for dogs, but they are all designed to help you remove knots and tangles. These grooming tools have sharp blades that cut through the hair, removing matted areas of fur.
Reasons to Brush Your Dog
Regardless of your dog’s coat type, it is always a good idea to brush him on a regular basis. Brushing your dog is not only beneficial to keeping his coat looking nice; it may also prevent skin or parasite problems. Here are some of the top reasons for brushing your dog:.
- Prevents Matting: Matted fur attracts debris and pests. Dogs with longer coats fall victim to this much more often, and once the mat is formed, it is painful to remove by brushing. Matted fur usually has to be cut off or shaved off. It is ideal to prevent mats before they start by keeping your dog’s fur brushed on a regular basis or removing any small matted areas before they become too big.
- Removes Loose Hair: Brushing can help remove loose fur from any dog, regardless of how much your dog might shed. Dogs with double-layered or thick coats might leave more hair behind, but short-haired dogs shed as well. Routine brushing means you will have less hair floating around your house.
- Health Check: Brushing your dog is the perfect time to do an overall health check on his skin and fur. Check for pests like fleas or ticks, especially if your dog spends time outdoors. With routine brushing, you can find fleas before they spread. Finding ticks quickly during routine brushing can reduce the possibility of your dog contracting something more debilitating. It is also a good time to check your dog’s skin for any injuries, lumps, lesions, excessively dry skin, or yeast spots that may have an odor.
- Bonding: If you make brushing a routine, your dog will really enjoy it and look forward to your attention. If your dog is not tolerant of being brushed, offer treats as a reward. Brushing can also be calming for you and your dog, as well as a stress reliever.
- Hair and Skin Conditioning: Brushing your dog’s fur distributes the oils throughout the skin and hair and stimulates circulation. Your dog’s coat contains natural oils, but because he does not groom as obsessively as a cat, he needs a little help spreading those natural oils around. It will help his coat look shiny and clean in the end.
Grooming Challenges and Tips
Difficult Dogs
If you groom your dog on a regular basis, you will teach him that it is routine, and he will earn attention for good behavior. However, there are always some dogs that do not like being brushed, and you may want to invest in a muzzle to prevent being bitten.
You can remove it at a later stage once your dog accepts being brushed. It may also be helpful to start grooming sessions with a softer brush just to get him familiar with it. Eventually, you can move up to a more effective tool.
Long Coats
If your dog has a long coat, it is important that you brush all the way through the coat, down to the dog’s skin. Comb through the hair with a metal comb first to untangle any knots, then work through any mats with a slicker brush or de-matting rake for more stubborn mats.
You can also remove dead undercoats with a de-shedding rake, which will remove excess dead hair and thin the coat out. Lastly, thoroughly brush the coat in the opposite direction it grows, then finish by brushing in the same direction the hair grows.
Matted Hair
If your dog’s fur has mats, you will want to remove them as soon as possible. Matted hair not only looks bad, but it can cause health issues. Mats in your dog’s coat may cause him pain, cut off circulation, restrict movement, or cause irritation and skin infections.
A de-tangling spray on the mat can help once it soaks in. Comb from the edges of the mat first, where the hair is less tangled and work your way in. Never use scissors to remove mats, and if you are unable to remove it, it may be time to see a groomer.
Dead Hair and a Thick Undercoat
Some dog breeds shed more than others. A de-shedding tool is great for removing dead hair from the undercoat. Most of these tools come in a wide range of sizes for dogs with long or short coats, but they are especially useful for dogs that have a dense undercoat.
It only removes loose dead hair from the coat, but it is highly effective and leaves your dog looking and feeling better. It will also save your furniture from excess fur.
Shedding
Shedding is something you deal with if you own a dog. While combing may not be necessary for short-haired breeds, short-haired dogs still tend to shed a lot. A rubber brush or curry comb is very effective for removing loose hair to reduce the amount of shedding all over your house, rugs, and furniture. This type of brush can be used to remove loose hair from any type of dog.
Final Thoughts
Having the right brush and a grooming routine is essential for your dog’s health. Becoming familiar with your dog’s coat and skin will help you recognize anything unusual and allow you to deal with any problems right away.
