Dog Brushes by Coat Type: What Reviewers and Groomers Recommend
Ask three review sites for the best dog brush and you get three different winners. NBC Select, which consulted a groomer and other experts, picks the Maxpower Planet grooming rake. Kinship’s editors choose the FURminator deshedding tool. Hepper’s reviewers name the Safari self-cleaning slicker. That spread tells you something: the type of brush matters more than the model, and the right type depends on the coat. So this page starts with the coat and then lists the brushes that reviewers name for each type.
How these picks were chosen: they are researched from NBC Select, Kinship, Hepper, Dogster, American Kennel Club guidance and the makers’ instructions. We have not tested these brushes, so nothing here is a hands-on review. For other kit, browse Gear and Supplies.
Match the brush to the coat
| Coat or job | Brush type | Brushes reviewers name |
|---|---|---|
| Short coat | Bristle brush, grooming glove or rubber curry | FURminator Short Hair Deshedding Tool and the KONG ZoomGroom (NBC Select), Le Salon Essentials rubber curry (NBC Select) |
| Long coat | Slicker or pin brush | Artero Dematting Slicker (NBC Select), Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker (Dogster, Hepper), Andis Premium Large Pin Brush (Hepper), Chris Christensen Oval Pin Brush (NBC Select) |
| Curly coat | Curved slicker | Chris Christensen Mark VII Curved Slicker (NBC Select) |
| Mats and tangles | Rake or dematting brush, then a comb | Maxpower Planet grooming rake (NBC Select, Kinship), Les Poochs Pro Brush (NBC Select), Chris Christensen 7.5-inch Greyhound-style comb (NBC Select) |
| Heavy shedding | Deshedding tool or slicker | FURminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool (Kinship), Andis Deshedding Tool (Dogster) |
| Budget all-rounder | Slicker or pin-and-bristle combo | Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo (Hepper, Dogster, Kinship) |
The AKC gives the same coat logic. It points to a natural-bristle brush or a bristle grooming glove for short coats such as Beagles, Pugs and German Shorthaired Pointers, a pin brush for long and curly coats, and a slicker for double coats and heavy shedders. It also says a slicker brush can remove shed hair from any coat, which makes it the safest first purchase, and that a wide-toothed comb helps with mats and tangles. Sources: AKC on shedding, brush types and basic grooming tools.
Slicker brushes: the most-recommended type
NBC Select’s experts say the slicker is their top favorite type, and a groomer at VCA Mountain View Animal Hospital told NBC that longer-haired breeds do better with a firm, extra-long-pin slicker. The slickers named most often are the Safari Self-Cleaning (Hepper’s best overall), the Hertzko Self-Cleaning (Dogster’s best overall for long hair, Hepper’s premium choice), the Pet Republique Self-Cleaning (Dogster’s best overall in its general list), the Dog by Dr. Lisa slicker (NBC Select) and the Chris Christensen Big G (Kinship’s specialty pick). The Hertzko’s retail listing describes fine bristles and a push-button that retracts them so the hair comes off easily. Hepper adds a caution: some dogs dislike the feel of a slicker, so watch how your dog reacts.
The AKC advises going over a longer or double coat in both directions a few times, until you pull out less and less hair, and brushing the undercoat as well as the topcoat. If your dog has itchy skin, our flea shampoo guide covers one common cause, and the AKC notes a comb can help pick out fleas as well as tangles.
Pin and bristle brushes
NBC Select’s experts use pin brushes to detangle long hair, and its pick is the Chris Christensen Oval Pin Brush. Hepper names the Andis Premium Large Pin Brush and Dogster rates the Bass Brushes Hybrid, a combined pin-and-bristle brush, as its premium choice. The AKC describes pin brushes as having medium-spaced wire pins that are often rubber tipped, and advises matching the pin length to the dog’s coat length. For a short coat, it suggests brushing against the direction of growth first to lift dead hair, then with the growth to remove it.
Deshedding tools: popular, with rules
The FURminator is the name that appears most across lists: Kinship’s best overall, NBC Select’s best for short-haired dogs, and a premium pick at Dogster. The maker’s FAQ claims it reduces shedding by up to 90% and recommends 1 to 2 sessions a week of 10 to 20 minutes. That is the maker’s claim and we did not test it. The maker’s product instructions set limits that reviews often skip:
- Do not use it on non-shedding breeds or on pets with particularly sensitive skin.
- Using it on matted or tangled fur can bend or break the teeth and be uncomfortable for the dog, so remove tangles with a dematting tool or rake first. This is why the Maxpower Planet rake and a comb appear in the mats row above.
- Use it on dry hair, and do not press hard. The AKC says the same about all blade tools.
- Stop if you see redness or irritation.
How often to brush
The AKC says dogs that shed often may need brushing weekly, a few times a week, or daily during heavy shedding, and that dogs who shed little still benefit from regular brushing. It also suggests checking with a groomer, breeder or vet about which tools you need before you buy. Setting up for a new puppy? Add grooming tools to the puppy checklist.
Brush questions, answered
A slicker brush is the nearest thing. The AKC says it can remove shed hair from any kind of coat, but short, long and double coats each have a tool that suits them better, as the coat table above shows.
No. FURminator says using its tool on matted or tangled fur can bend or break the teeth and be uncomfortable for the pet. Remove tangles first with a dematting tool or a grooming rake.
The AKC says it depends on the coat. Dogs that shed often may need brushing weekly, a few times a week, or daily during heavy shedding, while dogs that shed little still benefit from regular brushing.
NBC Select’s experts recommend a regular comb to catch any tangles left after the first brush, and the AKC says wide-toothed combs can help remove mats and tangles.