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Best Overall Dog Brush
Amazon
FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool for Large Long Hair Dogs 23-41 kg
What Dogs Love:
  • doesn't scratch skin
  • comfortable
  • removes loose fur
What Humans Love:
  • ergonomic handle
  • effective
  • pulls off long tuft of fur
Reviewers Say:

With nearly 30,00 reviews and a 4.7-star rating on Amazon, the FURminator is popular for a reason. It's available in three sizes and in both long hair and short hair versions, making it a good choice for every kind of dog. The stainless steel bristles only remove loose undercoat hair without hurting your dog's skin or damaging the topcoat. Reviewers say it's...

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With nearly 30,00 reviews and a 4.7-star rating on Amazon, the FURminator is popular for a reason. It's available in three sizes and in both long hair and short hair versions, making it a good choice for every kind of dog. The stainless steel bristles only remove loose undercoat hair without hurting your dog's skin or damaging the topcoat. Reviewers say it's completely worth the price and works particularly well on dogs who shed. One reviewer even calls it "the deshedder to end all deshedders."
More Info
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What Humans Love:
  • ergonomic handle
  • effective
  • pulls off long tuft of fur
What Dogs Love:
  • doesn't scratch skin
  • comfortable
  • removes loose fur
Reviewers Say:

With nearly 30,00 reviews and a 4.7-star rating on Amazon, the FURminator is popular for a reason. It's available in thr...

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+
With nearly 30,00 reviews and a 4.7-star rating on Amazon, the FURminator is popular for a reason. It's available in three sizes and in both long hair and short hair versions, making it a good choice for every kind of dog. The stainless steel bristles only remove loose undercoat hair without hurting your dog's skin or damaging the topcoat. Reviewers say it's completely worth the price and works particularly well on dogs who shed. One reviewer even calls it "the deshedder to end all deshedders."
Best Budget Dog Brush
Chewy
Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush
What Dogs Love:
  • two brush options
  • helps with shedding
  • good on long fur
What Humans Love:
  • low cost
  • comfortable handle
  • easy to use
Reviewers Say:

Need a solid dog brush, but don't want to break the bank? Check out this one from Hartz. Professional groomers helped design this brush that's meant to deshed, detangle, and remove mats. The bush has two sides that feature stainless steel pins and Nylon bristles, which makes it easy to remove loose hair and swap sides if needed. While the bristles are a bit ...

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Need a solid dog brush, but don't want to break the bank? Check out this one from Hartz. Professional groomers helped design this brush that's meant to deshed, detangle, and remove mats. The bush has two sides that feature stainless steel pins and Nylon bristles, which makes it easy to remove loose hair and swap sides if needed. While the bristles are a bit tougher, reviewers say it works great on longer fur and doesn't irritate their dog.
More Info
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What Humans Love:
  • low cost
  • comfortable handle
  • easy to use
What Dogs Love:
  • two brush options
  • helps with shedding
  • good on long fur
Reviewers Say:

Need a solid dog brush, but don't want to break the bank? Check out this one from Hartz. Professional groomers helped de...

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+
Need a solid dog brush, but don't want to break the bank? Check out this one from Hartz. Professional groomers helped design this brush that's meant to deshed, detangle, and remove mats. The bush has two sides that feature stainless steel pins and Nylon bristles, which makes it easy to remove loose hair and swap sides if needed. While the bristles are a bit tougher, reviewers say it works great on longer fur and doesn't irritate their dog.
Most Durable Dog Brush
Amazon
The Pet Portal Self Cleaning Dog Brush for Shedding Slicker Brush Cat Long Haired Pet Brush Grooming Deshedding Supplies – Small Pets White
What Dogs Love:
  • gentle
  • massages
  • soft and flexible bristles
What Humans Love:
  • durable
  • easy to clean
  • works on cats too
Reviewers Say:

Not only does this slicker brush feature durable pin bristles, but it's also great at removing loose fur. It's available in two different sizes, so it can work with a variety of sizes and hair types. The thin bristles allow you to carefully tug at mats as well as remove tangles, dirt, and loose fur. It has a 4.5-star rating from more than 2,500 Amazon review...

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Not only does this slicker brush feature durable pin bristles, but it's also great at removing loose fur. It's available in two different sizes, so it can work with a variety of sizes and hair types. The thin bristles allow you to carefully tug at mats as well as remove tangles, dirt, and loose fur. It has a 4.5-star rating from more than 2,500 Amazon reviewers with shoppers saying it's well-made and easy to clean thanks to its fur remover button.
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What Humans Love:
  • durable
  • easy to clean
  • works on cats too
What Dogs Love:
  • gentle
  • massages
  • soft and flexible bristles
Reviewers Say:

Not only does this slicker brush feature durable pin bristles, but it's also great at removing loose fur. It's available...

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Not only does this slicker brush feature durable pin bristles, but it's also great at removing loose fur. It's available in two different sizes, so it can work with a variety of sizes and hair types. The thin bristles allow you to carefully tug at mats as well as remove tangles, dirt, and loose fur. It has a 4.5-star rating from more than 2,500 Amazon reviewers with shoppers saying it's well-made and easy to clean thanks to its fur remover button.
Our Other Favorites
Chewy
FURminator Firm Slicker Brush For Dogs, Large
What Dogs Love:
  • removes mats and tangles
  • gentle
  • good on curly fur
What Humans Love:
  • comfortable
  • secure
  • thin bristles
Reviewers Say:

This slicker brush from FURminator is unique as it has straight bristles on one side and bent bristles on the other — the latter being ideal for tackling curly hair. Reviewers were shocked by the professional quality of this brush and say that it's especially good at removing mats and tangles without damaging their dog's coats. One reviewer even claims it ...

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This slicker brush from FURminator is unique as it has straight bristles on one side and bent bristles on the other — the latter being ideal for tackling curly hair. Reviewers were shocked by the professional quality of this brush and say that it's especially good at removing mats and tangles without damaging their dog's coats. One reviewer even claims it was able to remove 95% of their Siberian Husky's loose fur.
More Info
+
What Humans Love:
  • comfortable
  • secure
  • thin bristles
What Dogs Love:
  • removes mats and tangles
  • gentle
  • good on curly fur
Reviewers Say:

This slicker brush from FURminator is unique as it has straight bristles on one side and bent bristles on the other — ...

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+
This slicker brush from FURminator is unique as it has straight bristles on one side and bent bristles on the other — the latter being ideal for tackling curly hair. Reviewers were shocked by the professional quality of this brush and say that it's especially good at removing mats and tangles without damaging their dog's coats. One reviewer even claims it was able to remove 95% of their Siberian Husky's loose fur.
Amazon
Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
What Dogs Love:
  • gently brushes out knots
  • massages
  • doesn't irritate skin
What Humans Love:
  • anti-slip grip
  • easy to use
  • retractable bristles
Reviewers Say:

The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush is great for gently but effectively removing stubborn tangles from your pup's undercoat. The bristles are curved slightly, allowing them to easily penetrate thick fur without irritating the skin. Clean-up is simple, too. Just press a button and the bristles will retract so you can easily remove hair.

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The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush is great for gently but effectively removing stubborn tangles from your pup's undercoat. The bristles are curved slightly, allowing them to easily penetrate thick fur without irritating the skin. Clean-up is simple, too. Just press a button and the bristles will retract so you can easily remove hair.
More Info
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What Humans Love:
  • anti-slip grip
  • easy to use
  • retractable bristles
What Dogs Love:
  • gently brushes out knots
  • massages
  • doesn't irritate skin
Reviewers Say:

The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush is great for gently but effectively removing stubborn tangles from your pup'...

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+
The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush is great for gently but effectively removing stubborn tangles from your pup's undercoat. The bristles are curved slightly, allowing them to easily penetrate thick fur without irritating the skin. Clean-up is simple, too. Just press a button and the bristles will retract so you can easily remove hair.
Chewy
Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Dogs, Large
What Dogs Love:
  • gentle
  • soothing
  • removes mats quickly
What Humans Love:
  • easy to clean
  • sturdy grip
  • minimal effort to use
Reviewers Say:

Does your dog's fur mat easily? The Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush has thin bristles that make tackling mats and knots much easier. To clean the brush, just touch a button, and the hair will fall away from the pad. Plus, the stainless steel pins are gentle on your dog's skin. It maintains a 4.4-star rating on Chewy with reviewers raving about the self-cl...

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Does your dog's fur mat easily? The Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush has thin bristles that make tackling mats and knots much easier. To clean the brush, just touch a button, and the hair will fall away from the pad. Plus, the stainless steel pins are gentle on your dog's skin. It maintains a 4.4-star rating on Chewy with reviewers raving about the self-cleaning function and how their dogs actually enjoy being brushed with it.
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What Humans Love:
  • easy to clean
  • sturdy grip
  • minimal effort to use
What Dogs Love:
  • gentle
  • soothing
  • removes mats quickly
Reviewers Say:

Does your dog's fur mat easily? The Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush has thin bristles that make tackling mats and kno...

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Does your dog's fur mat easily? The Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush has thin bristles that make tackling mats and knots much easier. To clean the brush, just touch a button, and the hair will fall away from the pad. Plus, the stainless steel pins are gentle on your dog's skin. It maintains a 4.4-star rating on Chewy with reviewers raving about the self-cleaning function and how their dogs actually enjoy being brushed with it.
Amazon
Glendan Dog Brush & Cat Brush- Slicker Pet Grooming Brush- Shedding Grooming Tools(Blue)
What Dogs Love:
  • increases blood circulation
  • soothing
  • makes coat shiny
What Humans Love:
  • easy to clean
  • well-made
  • one-year warranty
Reviewers Say:

Not only is the Glendan Dog Slicker Brush easy to clean, but it also removes mats, dander, and trapped dirt extremely well. The best part about this brush is that it massages during the brushing process — which is good for preventing skin disease and increasing blood circulation. With more than 14,000 reviews and a 4.6-star rating, you can rest easy knowin...

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Not only is the Glendan Dog Slicker Brush easy to clean, but it also removes mats, dander, and trapped dirt extremely well. The best part about this brush is that it massages during the brushing process — which is good for preventing skin disease and increasing blood circulation. With more than 14,000 reviews and a 4.6-star rating, you can rest easy knowing this product is both dog- and owner-approved.
More Info
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What Humans Love:
  • easy to clean
  • well-made
  • one-year warranty
What Dogs Love:
  • increases blood circulation
  • soothing
  • makes coat shiny
Reviewers Say:

Not only is the Glendan Dog Slicker Brush easy to clean, but it also removes mats, dander, and trapped dirt extremely we...

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Not only is the Glendan Dog Slicker Brush easy to clean, but it also removes mats, dander, and trapped dirt extremely well. The best part about this brush is that it massages during the brushing process — which is good for preventing skin disease and increasing blood circulation. With more than 14,000 reviews and a 4.6-star rating, you can rest easy knowing this product is both dog- and owner-approved.
Amazon
Pat Your Pet Deshedding Brush – Double-Sided Undercoat Rake for Dogs & Cats – Shedding Comb and Dematting Tool for Grooming, Extra Wide
What Dogs Love:
  • safe
  • doesn't scratch
  • rounded teeth
What Humans Love:
  • easy to use
  • removes big clumps
  • two-sided
Reviewers Say:

This undercoat rake is designed to remove mats and tangles, as well as thin and deshed your pup's coat. The teeth may look tough, but they're curved and gently massage your dog's skin so they'll actually enjoy being groomed. It also has a 4.5-star rating from more than 22,000 Amazon reviewers, who recommend this product for pulling out a ton from the underco...

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This undercoat rake is designed to remove mats and tangles, as well as thin and deshed your pup's coat. The teeth may look tough, but they're curved and gently massage your dog's skin so they'll actually enjoy being groomed. It also has a 4.5-star rating from more than 22,000 Amazon reviewers, who recommend this product for pulling out a ton from the undercoat.
More Info
+
What Humans Love:
  • easy to use
  • removes big clumps
  • two-sided
What Dogs Love:
  • safe
  • doesn't scratch
  • rounded teeth
Reviewers Say:

This undercoat rake is designed to remove mats and tangles, as well as thin and deshed your pup's coat. The teeth may lo...

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+
This undercoat rake is designed to remove mats and tangles, as well as thin and deshed your pup's coat. The teeth may look tough, but they're curved and gently massage your dog's skin so they'll actually enjoy being groomed. It also has a 4.5-star rating from more than 22,000 Amazon reviewers, who recommend this product for pulling out a ton from the undercoat.
Amazon
SleekEZ Original Deshedding Grooming Tool for Dogs, Cats & Horses
What Dogs Love:
  • comfortable
  • doesn't pull hair
  • desheds quickly
What Humans Love:
  • easy to use
  • effective
  • good on mats
Reviewers Say:

For dogs who shed, consider purchasing the SleekEZ Deshedding Grooming Tool. The unique wave pattern of the blade might look like it won't do much, but it's able to grab at the tips of the hair without tugging at your dog's skin. With more than 26,000 Amazon reviews, this product is incredibly popular for being able to brush away loose fur, dirt, and dander....

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For dogs who shed, consider purchasing the SleekEZ Deshedding Grooming Tool. The unique wave pattern of the blade might look like it won't do much, but it's able to grab at the tips of the hair without tugging at your dog's skin. With more than 26,000 Amazon reviews, this product is incredibly popular for being able to brush away loose fur, dirt, and dander. Reviewers noted how easy it was to remove mats and how they were shocked by the large amount of loose fur it removed.
More Info
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What Humans Love:
  • easy to use
  • effective
  • good on mats
What Dogs Love:
  • comfortable
  • doesn't pull hair
  • desheds quickly
Reviewers Say:

For dogs who shed, consider purchasing the SleekEZ Deshedding Grooming Tool. The unique wave pattern of the blade might ...

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+
For dogs who shed, consider purchasing the SleekEZ Deshedding Grooming Tool. The unique wave pattern of the blade might look like it won't do much, but it's able to grab at the tips of the hair without tugging at your dog's skin. With more than 26,000 Amazon reviews, this product is incredibly popular for being able to brush away loose fur, dirt, and dander. Reviewers noted how easy it was to remove mats and how they were shocked by the large amount of loose fur it removed.
Chewy
Four Paws Magic Coat Love Glove Dog Bath Massager
What Dogs Love:
  • easy to use
  • low cost
  • works for baths
Reviewers Say:

Looking for a dog brush that's perfect for bathtime? The Four Paws Magic Coat Low Glove Dog Bath Massager has an ergonomic design, making it easy and comfortable to massage shampoo into your dog's coat. While ideal for baths, you can still use it while dry to gently lift dirt, dust, and dead hair for your dog's coat. It has a 4.6-star rating on Chewy with re...

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Looking for a dog brush that's perfect for bathtime? The Four Paws Magic Coat Low Glove Dog Bath Massager has an ergonomic design, making it easy and comfortable to massage shampoo into your dog's coat. While ideal for baths, you can still use it while dry to gently lift dirt, dust, and dead hair for your dog's coat. It has a 4.6-star rating on Chewy with reviewers loving how it helps them remove excess fur while bathing their dogs.
More Info
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What Dogs Love:
  • easy to use
  • low cost
  • works for baths
Reviewers Say:

Looking for a dog brush that's perfect for bathtime? The Four Paws Magic Coat Low Glove Dog Bath Massager has an ergonom...

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Looking for a dog brush that's perfect for bathtime? The Four Paws Magic Coat Low Glove Dog Bath Massager has an ergonomic design, making it easy and comfortable to massage shampoo into your dog's coat. While ideal for baths, you can still use it while dry to gently lift dirt, dust, and dead hair for your dog's coat. It has a 4.6-star rating on Chewy with reviewers loving how it helps them remove excess fur while bathing their dogs.
Chewy
FURminator Dual Dog Brush, Gray
What Dogs Love:
  • gentle
  • effective
  • leaves coat shiny
What Humans Love:
  • easy to use
  • two brushes in one
  • gets out snarls fast
Reviewers Say:

Get professional grooming results at home with the FURminator Dual Dog Brush. The brush follows the natural contours of your dog's body and removes tangles and mats. It also has two sides — a pin brush and a bristle brush — making it incredibly versatile. Chewy customers love this product and say it's effective but gentle.

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Get professional grooming results at home with the FURminator Dual Dog Brush. The brush follows the natural contours of your dog's body and removes tangles and mats. It also has two sides — a pin brush and a bristle brush — making it incredibly versatile. Chewy customers love this product and say it's effective but gentle.
More Info
+
What Humans Love:
  • easy to use
  • two brushes in one
  • gets out snarls fast
What Dogs Love:
  • gentle
  • effective
  • leaves coat shiny
Reviewers Say:

Get professional grooming results at home with the FURminator Dual Dog Brush. The brush follows the natural contours of ...

Read More
+
Get professional grooming results at home with the FURminator Dual Dog Brush. The brush follows the natural contours of your dog's body and removes tangles and mats. It also has two sides — a pin brush and a bristle brush — making it incredibly versatile. Chewy customers love this product and say it's effective but gentle.
Chewy
ConairPRO Pet-It Dog Metal Pin Brush
What Dogs Love:
  • feels like being pet
  • doesn't harm skin
  • ideal for long coats
What Humans Love:
  • fits in the palm of hands
  • easy to use
  • ergonomic
Reviewers Say:

With a handle-free design, this brush was created to mimic the familiar motion of petting to make grooming easy and enjoyable. While the stainless steel pins penetrate deep into your pet's coat, it doesn't harm their skin thanks to the comfort tips. Additionally, reviewers claim this brush fits right in the palm of their hands and that the bristles get down ...

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With a handle-free design, this brush was created to mimic the familiar motion of petting to make grooming easy and enjoyable. While the stainless steel pins penetrate deep into your pet's coat, it doesn't harm their skin thanks to the comfort tips. Additionally, reviewers claim this brush fits right in the palm of their hands and that the bristles get down into the undercoat.
More Info
+
What Humans Love:
  • fits in the palm of hands
  • easy to use
  • ergonomic
What Dogs Love:
  • feels like being pet
  • doesn't harm skin
  • ideal for long coats
Reviewers Say:

With a handle-free design, this brush was created to mimic the familiar motion of petting to make grooming easy and enjo...

Read More
+
With a handle-free design, this brush was created to mimic the familiar motion of petting to make grooming easy and enjoyable. While the stainless steel pins penetrate deep into your pet's coat, it doesn't harm their skin thanks to the comfort tips. Additionally, reviewers claim this brush fits right in the palm of their hands and that the bristles get down into the undercoat.

What is a Dog Brush?

Dogs need consistent grooming, and a dog brush makes it easy to keep their coats healthy and clean. These tools remove mats, tangles, loose fur, and dirt without damaging your dog's skin. Additionally, brushing your dog regularly helps with deshedding and removing any uncomfortable, matted tufts of fur. Some brushes are designed with deshedding in mind, while others massage simultaneously, making the brushing process more enjoyable for the dog.

Choosing the Right Dog Brushes

Picking out the correct dog brushes to use on your canine companion can seem baffling. The correct brush can have a big impact on the health, condition, and comfort of your dog’s skin and coat, especially if you have a long-coated or double-coated dog whose coat is prone to matting.

Whatever type of coat your dog has, brushing helps remove dirt and dead hair, serves as a time to bond with your pup, and gives you the opportunity to notice anything unusual -- such as cuts or sore spots. Remember to brush the undercoat, as well as the top coat, if your dog is double-coated. If you have a puppy, start brushing right away to get him used to being handled, and use a soft brush on that fluffy puppy coat, so he’ll learn to enjoy it.

Whether you're new to dog grooming or have simply never gotten a handle on which brushes are best to use, keep reading and we'll teach you how to choose the right dog brushes.

Types of Dog Brushes

You may find the large number of available dog brushes to be a barrier when trying to figure out which to use. We've listed the most common types and what they're used for. Choose based on the size of your dog, his breed, and coat type.

Slicker Brushes

Slicker brushes consist of brush heads covered with short, tightly-packed wire pins angled to go through the coat and avoid the skin. Use them on medium-coated, long-coated, wire-coated, and curly-coated dogs to remove mats and prevent mats from forming by removing loose hair. Maintain a light touch when using slicker brushes, as pressing down hard could cause discomfort.

Bristle Brushes

Bristle brushes have a large number of natural or synthetic bristles. They're best used on short-coated dogs, including dogs with short silky coats, to remove loose hair and dander and stimulate the skin. You can use them on double-coated breeds as a finishing brush to smooth the coat and add shine.

Pinhead Brushes

Pinhead brushes look a lot like human hairbrushes, with medium-spaced wire pins all over the brush head, often with rubber tips to prevent scratching the skin. Although commonly used, these aren't the most versatile of brushes. They're best used as finishing brushes for long-coated breeds to smooth the hair and remove dirt, and to work through tangles on wire-coated dogs. You can often find double-sided dog brushes that combine pinhead brushes with bristle brushes.

Undercoat Rakes

Undercoat rakes have one or two rows of metal pins designed to penetrate through to the undercoat to remove loose fur, and remove and prevent mats. You can use undercoat rakes on double-coated breeds of all fur lengths. However, you must choose the correct pin length for your dog's coat length. Wide-toothed combs can also help remove mats and tangles.

Rubber Brushes

Rubber brushes have short, flexible rubber bristles. They're mostly suited to use on short-coated dogs, since the bristles won't penetrate through long or thick coats. They massage the skin and bring dirt and loose hair to the surface, where you can remove it with a bristle brush. A soft, rubber grooming mitt that fits on your hand will also remove dead hair and dirt from your dog’s coat.

Other Factors to Consider

Once you've decided which brushes you'll need to groom your dog, there are more factors to consider.
Brush size: You can't expect to use the same size brush on a Chihuahua and a Saint Bernard. Choose an appropriate brush size for the size of your dog.

Ergonomic grip: You'll thank yourself for buying dog brushes with comfortable, ergonomic handles after a long grooming session -- especially if you have multiple dogs or long-coated dogs that take time to groom.

Self-cleaning function: Some types of brushes, particularly slicker brushes, have a self-cleaning function. This consists of pins that retract at the press of a button, so you can easily remove hair and dirt.

Wet/dry use: You can use most rubber brushes wet, as well as dry, making them ideal for massaging shampoo into dogs' coats when bathing them or brushing out dead hair and tangles when they’re slippery from shampoo.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the right brush for my dog?

There are two main types of dog brushes: pin brushes and bristle brushes. The former features long, thin stainless steel pins and are ideal for dogs with long-haired dogs, while the latter has pins with soft caps on them and work better with short-, medium-, and some long-haired breeds.

Do dog brushes hurt?

Most dog brushes are designed to not irritate dogs' skin. However, if you apply too much pressure or yank too hard while attempting to get out a knot, it could be painful for your dog. Remember to be gentle and to cut out mats if they are too thick to brush out.

What is a dog slicker brush?

Slicker brushes have fine, short wires close together. They're ideal for removing mats, but they can also be used to brush away loose fur.

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