The best dog brushes for all coat types, according to experts
Brushing your dog regularly can keep their coat soft, shiny and clean — these are the best brushes our experts recommend.
Dog by Dr. Lisa Slicker Brush
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When shopping for the best dog brush, our experts recommend keeping the following factors in mind:
Below, we compiled expert-recommended and NBC Select staff-favorite dog brushes, combs and deshedding tools for all coat types, including long-haired, short-haired and tangle-prone dogs. Each of the following products are also highly rated and in line with our experts’ guidance.
If your pet has very thick fur that gets matted easily, this grooming brush — an NBC Select Pet Awards winner — has sharpened, fine-rounded teeth that help to de-shed and untangle their coat. I use this brush on my 6-year-old havanese and bichon frise mix, Bella, several times a week to help prevent her tangles from getting out of control. Though Bella’s breed doesn’t shed, some loose hair will almost always show up on my dark clothes. I’ve noticed significantly less fur on my black leggings and T-shirts after using this brush, too.
One side of this brush has nine teeth that’ll help comb out tangles, while the other side has 17 teeth that trap and remove loose pet hair from your companion’s coat, according to the brand. The tool also weighs 3.5 ounces and has a non-slip rubber handle.
A slicker brush — the most popular type among our experts — comes with tightly-packed wire pins angled to brush through your dog’s coat without touching too much of the skin. They remove any tangles or mats on long-haired dogs before and after a bath, according to Allie Akhmarova, owner of New York City-based grooming business Posh Groomer. I regularly brush through Bella’s coat using this Dog by Dr. Lisa brush, and it easily glides through her coat to reduce tangles. Since Bella weighs 15 pounds, the small version succeeds at giving her a quick, thorough brushing and fits comfortably in my hand. It’s also available in a larger size for bigger dogs.
The stainless steel edge of the Furminator — recommended by Lynch for short-haired breeds — reaches beneath your dog’s short topcoat (the layer of stiff, thick hair that protects their skin and repels dirt) to remove any loose hair from their undercoat (the soft hair underneath the topcoat that helps regulate their body temperature), according to the brand. It also has a curved edge to prevent it from cutting or scratching your dog’s skin, and an ergonomic handle for comfort, according to the brand.
This Artero slicker brush is Akhmarova’s favorite everyday brush for long-haired dogs. The metal pins can easily smooth and detangle knots, and its double-sided design helps save time while brushing, according to the brand. It also has a rubber handle to help you get a better grip, according to Artero.
Chris Christensen is a favorite brand among our experts, and the Mark VII slicker brush is one that Los Angeles-based dog groomer Jess Rona uses regularly on her curly-haired clients, specifically Goldendoodles. “The key is to push the fluff up, then use gentle strokes and brush down while you’re lifting up with one hand so you can see the [under]coat,” she says. The slicker brush is made of lightweight Beech wood and has stainless steel pins with polished tips to prevent it from scratching your dog’s skin, according to the brand.
This rubber brush from Kong has soft, wide bristles that can not only brush through your dog’s dry coat, but also thoroughly clean and gently massage the hair during bathtime, says Allie Akhmarova, owner of New York City-based grooming business Posh Groomer. Akhmarova uses this tool on short-haired breeds that shed easily.
This durable slicker brush from Les Poochs is Akhmarova’s favorite to use on long-haired, double-coated dogs with lots of matting. The head of the brush gently glides through your pet’s fur and the curved bristles let you get closer to the skin where most mats form, according to the brand. The brush is designed for short, soft, curly and wavy hair breeds with coats measuring up to 3 inches.
Combs are best used on long-haired breeds after brushing them out with a slicker brush to get any leftover tangles, says Rona. This Chris Christensen option, a favorite of both Rona and Akhmarova, has wide teeth that smoothly comb through your dog’s hair without snagging it. “After brushing with a slicker brush, I always go through the coat [again] with a Greyhound-style comb,” says Akhmarova. The comb also has rounded corners to prevent friction and reduce breakage, according to the brand.
Curry combs are great for short- and smooth-haired dogs because they act like a primer to help remove any loose hair, says Jun Takama, founder and CEO of DOGMA, a dog daycare and grooming service based in New York City. This highly rated option from Le Salon, which has a 4.5-star average rating from over 5,100 reviews on Amazon, is made of rubber, which attracts shedding like a magnet and is easy to clean, according to the brand. Keep in mind that most rubber curry brushes aren’t recommended for long hair, and won’t help matted or tangled fur, our experts say.
Pin brushes, which have long, spaced out bristles on a rubber base, are great for removing loose hair and tangles on long-haired breeds, experts say. This is another Chris Christensen favorite among our experts, this pin brush has thick stainless steel pins that glide through your dog’s coat, according to the brand.
Massage this flexible, slip-on grooming glove over your pet and the loose hair and fuzz sticks directly onto it, according to Alison Chamberland, a professional dog groomer and owner of Best in Coat Grooming Salon. One of our favorite dog grooming tools, the glove is made of soft rubber, so your pet feels more comfortable and relaxed while they’re getting brushed, Chamberland says. It’s also one size fits all with an adjustable wrist strap to provide a more comfortable fit.
There are a few types of dog brushes to consider, each with their own unique benefits.
Overall, regular brushing and combing is an essential part of at-home grooming, according to our experts. You should try to brush your dog every day to help keep their coat healthy, stimulate oils and reduce shedding. This is especially important for dogs with longer coats that measure more than 1-inch-long to prevent matting and tangles, says Takama. Short-haired dogs with coats under 1 inch in length, on the other hand, can benefit from brushing every other day, she says.
If you don’t have time to brush your dog every day, most dogs will benefit from a groom once a week, though you should be brushing long-haired breeds that are prone to matting at least three times a week to prevent tangles, experts say.
“When brushing, make sure you are going down to the skin and pulling gently up,” says Lynch.
You should always brush your dog both before and after bathing them, according to our experts. “If you bathe your animal with matting, the water will tighten them, making them impossible for removal,” says Lynch.
Pro tip: use a dog-safe conditioner while you bathe your dog to help detangle and soften their fur, which makes it easier to brush their hair afterward and reduces the risk of matting, specifically for long-haired breeds, experts told us in our guide to the best dog shampoos.
You should avoid brushing your dog when their coat is wet because you can accidentally scratch them with the bristles of the brush, says Rona. Brushing your pup once their coat is clean and dry makes removing any leftover tangles easier, says Lynch.
Like bathing and blow drying, brushing your dog’s fur can be stressful for them, especially if they’re prone to tangles. It’s important to get them comfortable with your grooming tools and start off slow.
Always start with low stress brushing by turning the brush upside down to the bristles face away from your dog's coat, then pairing that with a high value reward like chicken or beef treats, says Robert Haussmann, a certified dog trainer and co-founder of Dogboy NYC. “This helps to desensitize your dog to the activity and view it as an asset, not a threat,” he says.
Afterward, slowly increase the activity until you’re actually brushing your dog. Remember to give them choice and control: “If they back away, let them take a break before re-engaging in the activity,” says Haussmann.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Mili Godio is an editor at NBC Select who covers a variety of pet essentials, including dog food, travel carriers and beds. For this article, Godio spoke to five dog groomers about how to shop for the best brushes for all coat types. She also compiled their recommendations for the best dog brushes to consider, as well as Select staff favorites.
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