The 10 Best Dog Brushes For Brushing Your Pup

iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

The best dog brushes are more than just accessories; they’re essential for your dog’s health. And with our list of the best dog brushes, you’ll find the perfect grooming tool you can regularly use to keep your pup looking and feeling their best. Well-made dog brushes will remove dead hair, untangle knots, and stimulate your dog’s skin—all while reducing the fuzzy tufts of fur floating around your living room. Having a good brush or two at the ready makes managing the dog hair storm a far easier task! 

However, not every brush is suitable for every breed of dog. Certain brushes and combs work better on long, thick fur, while others are designed for short coats. Dogs with sensitive skin may better benefit from soft-bristled brushes. Pups with wiry coats need stiffer bristles than dogs with silky fur. Ultimately, the type of dog grooming brush you’ll need depends on your dog.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Dog Brushes

Should you brush your dog before or after a bath?

It’s best to brush your dog’s hair before bathing if it’s tangled. When the fur becomes wet, it snarls even more tightly, making it challenging to remove mats and knots. Even if your dog’s hair is not matted, brushing before bathing can help remove stray hair, leaves, stickers, or burrs. And once bathtime is over, your pup needs a good brushing to help put their coat back in order after a good lather and towel dry! 

Do dogs like being brushed?

Brushing is a fun bonding exercise for many dogs, especially when it’s a routine established early in puppyhood. If your dog dislikes getting brushed, make positive connections with this vital task by rewarding them with delectable treats and compliments during brushing sessions. A good playtime before brushing can also help burn out some of your pup’s excess energy to make brushing a little easier. 

How do you get dog hair out of the brush?

A straight metal comb makes removing dog hair from the brush simple. Insert the comb at the brush’s base beneath the hair. Then, pull off the bristles in one giant clump.

What brush do groomers use?

Groomers use a variety of different brushes as their clients have a diverse range of fur! But generally, for medium-to-long coats, professional groomers use a slicker brush for dogs. However, this brush type can be too powerful for breeds with short, silky coats. And groomers will often use metal combs to help pick really snarly tangles from dog fur. If you currently have your dog groomed by a professional, ask them for dog brush recommendations. 

Consider These Factors When Choosing the Best Dog Brush

Brush Style

Dog brushes are available in a variety of forms for use on dogs with various coat types. Among the most frequent types of dog brushes are:

• Slicker brushes: These feature wire bristles that are very thin and densely placed. Choose a slicker brush with soft bristles that are neither harsh nor irritating on the skin.
• Brush bristles: These are constructed of soft nylon bristles for general brushing.
• Pin brushes: These feature metal pins that are widely spaced and inserted into a rubber cushion. To guarantee the brush is comfortable on your dog’s skin, look for pins with rounded tips.
• Combo brush: This type of dog brush has two brushes on one handle, generally a bristle brush on one side and a pin brush on the other. They’re a handy all-around tool. 
• Deshedding brush: These rake-like tools remove loose hair from your dog’s coat.
• Grooming gloves: These are rubber or silicone-coated gloves that you use on your hands to groom your dog by rubbing your hands over their body. Anxious dogs may benefit from grooming gloves. 
• Curry brush: Made of rubber or soft plastic, these brushes gently remove dirt and stray hair from the coat. They may also be used in the bath to massage shampoo into the coat and remove excess hair.

Coat Type

The brush you use will be determined by the type of hair your dog has. A soft bristle brush, rubber curry brush, or grooming glove is required for dogs with short, smooth coats. Slicker brushes and pin brushes can be used on dogs with medium-length coats. A pin brush or slicker brush is required for dogs with long coats. Double-coated dogs with shedding undercoats may benefit from a de-shedding tool or grooming rake in combination with an ordinary brush, such as a slicker brush or pin brush.

Quality

Dog brushes receive a lot of wear, so seek one built of high-quality materials and preferably comes with a manufacturer’s warranty or guarantee to assure it will last for years.

The 10 Best Dog Brushes for Grooming Your Furry Best Friend

#1 – Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush

This is an excellent everyday brush because it’s effective, affordable, and adaptable. It has two sides: one with stainless steel pins to assist in untangling knots and collecting loose hair, which is especially useful for dogs with long, curly, or wiry fur, and the other with soft nylon bristles for finishing and short coats. The bristles distribute the coat’s natural oils throughout the fur, resulting in lustrous, silky hair. 

While an ideal brush for most types of dog fur, the Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Brush might not be the best tool for taming thick undercoats. But, the pinheads have rounded tips, making the brush exceedingly soft. And a soft rubber handle offers an easy-to-hold grip. This is great when you have a large or hairy dog. And while it’s not as easy to clean as most pin and bristle brushes, that’s not so much a deal breaker, given the price and flexibility.

Pros:

• Won’t irritate the skin or pull hair 
• Ergonomic handle for good grip 
• Less expensive than other options

Cons:

• Doesn’t work as well on dogs with shorter coat lengths

#2 – FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool

One of the best dog brushes for shedding, the FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool is more effective and sturdier than any other brush on the market. The stainless steel-teeth glide through the top coat, grabbing any loose undercoat hair. To keep the blade from getting too close to the skin, it features a curved guard. However, some sensitive dogs become agitated when using this brush, so use caution near sensitive areas or spots with thinner fur, such as the legs. Because the blade might be irritating next to the skin, it should only be used on dogs with double coats.

The first couple of times you use the deshedder, don’t be surprised to see the hair just keep coming. And that’s the reason this handy grooming tool has so many devotees. Plus, it’s simple to clean, thanks to an ejector button that forces hair and dandruff out of the edges. With various size options, you can find the perfect one for your pup. 

Pros:

• Amazing for undercoat grooming
• Easy to clean with an ejector button 
• Effective and sturdy
• Comes with a money-back guarantee

Cons:

• Can be irritating to dogs with sensitive skin

#3 – KONG Zoom Groom Brush

This adorable rubber dog brush works wonders in the bathtub. Wet your dog, shampoo, then massage in circular strokes to remove hair. Pups love it because they get a massage while being lathered and brushed all at once! It works well on all hair types but might cause knots if you scrub fine, long hair too vigorously. The brush becomes a little slick in the tub and can be difficult to grip. The ZoomGroom can be used outside of the bath too. To remove loose hair, brush in circles rather than straight strokes. Then, with a bristle brush, remove everything you’ve gathered. Because this brush contains bristles rather than blades, pup parents and inexperienced groomers are less likely to cut, scrape, or irritate the dog’s skin.

While dog hair is widely thought to be the leading cause of allergies, the real culprit is dander, the dead skin cells buried beneath the coat. Brushing using the ZoomGroom stimulates the hair follicles, removes dandruff, and removes any knots or mats concealed beneath the fur. And because it’s made in the USA by Kong, it’s a brush that will last. 

Pros:

• Massages while it brushes
• Works in and out of the bathtub
• Less expensive than other options 

Cons:

• Slippery when soapy

#4 – SleekEZ Original Deshedding Grooming Tool

This de-shedding brush consists of a simple oval wooden handle housing a stainless steel comb. The Patented Wave Pattern Blade makes short work of grooming, brushing away loose fur, dirt, and dander without snagging. And with no harsh teeth or tingly tines, there’ll be no irritation. To use, you’ll simply apply minimal pressure as you rake through your dog’s coat, collecting fur balls as you go. Make sure to avoid sensitive areas such as the legs and face.

A longtime favorite among pet parents, the SleekEZ is quite popular because it can be used to remove loose hair from dogs, cats, horses, and other pets, as well as bedding, garments, and upholstery. And it’s American-made with quality stainless steel and poplar wood. 

Pros:

• Ergonomic and easy to use
• No pulling
• Stainless steel blade
• Also removes fur from bedding
• Classic, wooden aesthetic
• 100% USA made

Cons:

• Quite expensive when compared to other de-shedding brushes

#5 – Bissell Furget It Cat and Dog Grooming Brush

One of the best dog grooming brushes available, the Bissell Furget It Grooming Brush is a sturdy and reliable tool that’ll help keep your dog’s coat neatly groomed all the time. It glides effortlessly through a coat yet collects an incredible amount of hair. And rounded teeth make grooming with this comb a gentle experience. Use the side with nine teeth for stubborn mats and tangles and the seventeen-toothed side for de-shedding. Dead hair and tangles are no match for these metal teeth! Made specifically for long-haired coats.

Pros:

• No pulling
• Rounded teeth provide comfortable grooming 
• Dual-side for double duty 
• Effective and sturdy
• Great for long hair

Cons:

• Doesn’t work as well on dogs with shorter coats.

#6 – FURminator Grooming Rake

Pros:

• Works on small mats and tangles
• Rounded pins protect the skin
• Inexpensive option
• Excellent choice for dogs with dense coats
• Ergonomic nonslip handle

Cons:

• Doesn’t work as well on dogs with shorter coats

#7 – Chris Christensen Dog Brush

This is an excellent choice if you’re looking to invest in a reliable, effective, and attractive grooming brush for your dog. The handle is made of lovely beech wood, and the pins have non-irritating polished tips that have been ground to perfect softness. Try this high-quality dog brush on your arm to see how it feels before using it on your dog. On top of its gentleness, it’s incredibly lightweight and glides smoothly through your dog’s fur. Dogs who don’t care for grooming might change their mind if you present them with this best dog brush option. 

Pros:

• Works well even on coats of all lengths 
• Various pin lengths
• High-quality and sturdy
• Very gentle tips
• Made from beech wood

Cons:

• Expensive when compared to other options

#8 – HandsOn Pet Grooming Gloves

Some dogs despise being groomed, but these dog grooming gloves are a brilliant method to trick your pup into thinking they’re receiving a massage while you’re busy removing excess hair. The gloves, which come in four sizes, feature rubber ridges around the fingers and palm. The bumps adhere to loose fur as you stroke your furry friend. When the glove nubs fill with fluff, simply shake your hands, and the majority of the hair sloughs right off. For dogs with sensitivities, these gloves provide more comfort than brushes, not to mention they’re gentler on the skin.

Pros:

• Can be used wet or dry
• Creates positive grooming experience for nervous dogs
• Comes in several sizes and colors 
• Machine washable

Cons:

• More expensive than other dog grooming gloves 

#9 – Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Dogs

Slicker brushes can be useful on many different coats, but they’re notoriously tricky to clean because hair gets caught deep in the bristles. The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush, like other slickers, is designed to remove loose hair and tangles by utilizing a brush of tightly spaced, slightly bent wire bristles. When you’ve accumulated a good wad of fur while brushing, press the release button to retract the pins, allowing the discarded hair to fall free and right into your trash can.

Pros:

• Easy to clean
• Retractable head keeps bristles from bending
• Works on a variety of coat types

Cons:

• Bristles can be sharp with too much pressure

#10 – JW Pet Gripsoft Soft Slicker Brush

JW Pet’s Gripsoft Soft Slicker Brush makes our list of the best dog brushes since it easily detangles the coat and removes stray hair. It’s firm enough to detangle while remaining soft on the skin. The flexible stainless steel bristles are angled 90 degrees away from the skin, reducing the “raking” feel to bring your dog a more enjoyable experience. The 5.5-inch bristle area makes this grooming brush suitable for small to large breeds. Quite versatile, it can be used on both a miniature poodle with a long, curly coat and a Labrador retriever with medium-length hair. 

Pros:

• Made for pets with sensitive skin
• Angled stainless steel bristles minimize irritation
• Rubberized grips and curved handle provide comfort and control

Cons:

• Might be too big for toy breeds

Brushing your dog is about more than making your cute pup camera ready. Grooming keeps dogs clean, healthy, and happy, and frequent brushing is integral to the process. But choosing the right tools can be time-consuming. With our list of the best dog brushes, you can quickly select the best brush for your furry best friend. And with the time saved from scrolling through all the options, you can spend those precious moments with your dog! 

iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.