Dog Brushing Tools for Long Hair Dogs

Brushing your dog is not only an important health care practice but it also provides a chance to bond. Dogs with long fur are prone to tangles and mats. Regular brushing reduces shedding and distributes natural oils while removing tangles. Additionally, brushing massages the skin and helps eliminate dandruff, fleas and other skin irritants. Before choosing a brush it is important to understand your dog's fur and what you want to achieve with brushing.

  1. Bristle Brush

    • A bristle brush uses varying amounts of short stiff hairs to remove loose hair and distribute oils from the skin, making hair appear shiny. Dogs with long coats require a brush with widely spaced, long bristles. Bristles are typically made from boar hair or synthetic materials. Boar hair is stiffer and works well with dogs with coarse fur, synthetic bristles are more gentle and work well with softer fur.

    Wire Pin Brush

    • Wire pin brushes are made with short, evenly spaced wire and can be tipped with plastic. Wire pin brushes are made for dogs with medium to long, curly or wavy fur. Brushing straight down helps to reveal the natural wave in the dog's fur, while brushing up or fluffing creates shine and adds volume. Owners of dogs with gentle or sensitive skin should choose a wire pin with plastic coated tips.

    Slicker Brush

    • A slicker brush is made with many fine wire bristles. Slicker brushes are best for dogs with long, thick or coarse fur. Slicker brushes help to remove tangles from the topcoat and loose hair from the undercoat; the softer coat found below the top coat of many long haired breeds. Undercoat hair can get trapped between the topcoat after shedding and cause mats. The gentle slicker bristles also help remove dander and massage the dog's skin.

    Shedding Brush

    • A shedding brush is made from one length of closely grouped steel teeth and is best for dogs that shed heavily. The teeth remove much of the fur trapped in the undercoat and reveal a softer, shinier topcoat. Owners of dogs with long hair should choose a shedding brush with longer teeth, typically 1/4 inch.