The Best Dog Brushes

With so many grooming products to choose from, it can be frustrating to work out which type of brush is the right one. Longhairs may need a slicker brush, short-hairs a pin brush. Meanwhile, bony dogs may need something with soft bristles. Brushing will remove loose hair, debris, tangles and matting, and it spreads the natural skin oils through the dog's coat, giving it a healthy sheen.

  1. Slicker Brush

    • Slickers are an ideal brush for removing loose hair and matting on curly haired dogs. They are also used to brush off hair during shedding and have fine wire pins secured to a flat base. The pins are bent at an angle halfway down the pin. They come in a various sizes and degrees of pin stiffness. Heavier coated dogs will benefit most from stiff-pinned brushes. According to the Dog Supplies Advisor website, Chris Christensen oval pin brushes are of good quality and available in different pin lengths for a variety of coat lengths, textures and fullness.

    Pin Brush

    • Pin brushes are oval and have metal bristles in a flexible rubber base. They are the best choice for dogs with wavy, curly, wiry or long fur, says the Dog Supplies Advisor. These are the best dog brushes for matting and are great for untangling knots. Buy a brush that has polished or coated pins so it doesn't scratch or irritate your dog's skin.

    Bristle Brush

    • This brush is ideal for short-coated dogs for daily grooming and removing dust and dirt. On long-coated dogs, the bristle brush is good for finishing the grooming after using your slicker brush to bring out the natural luster and shine of the dog's coat.

    Porcupine Brush

    • The porcupine, as the name suggests, is a combination of long quill-like bristles with short bristles. Dog Supplies Advisor suggests using a porcupine brush to remove loose hair and debris from medium to long-coated dogs. It can also be used on of wiry-coated breeds.

    Zoom Groom Brush

    • This brush is waterproof and collects hair like a magnet. It can be used on wet or dry coats and is perfect for bath time, says Dog Supplies Advisor. It's easy to empty and clean, too.