The What’s and How’s of Dog Brushes

Every dog deserves a well-brushed coat. Regular brushing not only keeps your dog’s coat free from mats and tangles, but it also prevents discomfort and potential health issues. To achieve this, you need the right brush for your dog’s coat type. With many options available, it’s important to choose one that suits your dog’s specific needs.

Types of Dog Brushes

Slicker Brush

Slicker brushes are among the most popular and widely used grooming tools. They are excellent for maintaining your dog’s coat by removing dead hair and fixing the coat’s appearance. Typically, these brushes are rectangular with a slight curve, allowing them to glide smoothly over the coat.

Slicker brushes are covered with numerous short, angled wire pins that penetrate the coat, reaching close to the skin to pull away excess dead hair. They also effectively remove mats and loosen tangles. If your dog has a rough or unkempt coat, this type of practical pet brush can work wonders. Despite the intimidating sound of the wire pins, they are designed not to hurt your dog.

A gentle brushing motion is usually sufficient to get the job done—no need to apply excessive pressure. Be sure to choose a brush with coated tips, as uncoated ends can irritate your dog’s skin. Also, consider the handle’s design; an ergonomic handle will make brushing more comfortable for you.

Pin Brush

Pin brushes are easily recognisable by their oval-shaped heads filled with widely spaced pins attached to a cushioned pad, which provides flexibility. These typically have coated tips to prevent irritation and damage to your dog’s hair.

While pin brushes are popular, they are not as efficient as slicker types. They do remove hair, but they tend to pull more than necessary. However, pin brushes can still be beneficial. The rubber tips massage the body, stimulating blood circulation and promoting overall skin health. These are an excellent tool for finishing the grooming process.

Bristle Brush

Bristle brushes are designed to give your dog’s coat a polished, finished look. While they’re not suitable for removing mats and tangles, they are perfect for adding shine and removing debris from the coat. Bristles can be made of nylon or natural fibres and help distribute your dog’s natural oils, giving the coat a smooth and shiny finish. These are ideal for short-haired breeds such as pugs, dachshunds, and greyhounds.

Shedding Blade

The shedding blade is a special tool that has a horseshoe design. It has fine teeth on one or both of its edges. Because of the shape, you can make the grooming process much more effective from multiple hand positions. Its handle can split and create a long blade that takes care of bigger, broader hair sections. This is not a standard pet brush and it may look intimidating to use. However, it’s very effective because the teeth are of different sizes.

Undercoat Rakes

Undercoat rakes are grooming brushes shaped like a shaving razor, with one or two rows of pins. They are ideal for removing tangles and dead undercoat from dogs with thick, dense coats. Similar to a razor, undercoat rakes should be used gently, without applying too much pressure.

Breeds such as Malamutes, German Shepherds, and Chow Chows benefit the most from undercoat rakes, especially during shedding season when their undercoat builds up and traps debris. When choosing an undercoat rake, select the pin length according to your dog’s hair length. Pins that are too short won’t do the job effectively, while pins that are too long could irritate the skin.

Rubber Brush

These are best suited for short-coated breeds, as they have soft, flexible rubber bristles. They gently massage the skin, bringing up trapped dirt and spreading natural oils, which smooth the coat and promote healthy blood circulation. They are also a good option for dogs with sensitive skin. Although rubber brushes may not remove dead hair as effectively as other options, they can help reduce shedding. Additionally, they can be used during bathtime to evenly distribute shampoo.

Combs

Combs are made to clean up what’s left behind after using a grooming brush. They’re the finishing touch to make the coat nice, shiny and smooth. There are several combs to choose from, general use, de-matting and flea combs. Choose the one that’s most suitable to your dog’s coat.

What to Consider When Buying

Choosing the right brush is not a complicated task. There are several simple things to consider. Start with the size. This is usually determined by the dog’s size because you can’t use the same brush for a German Shepherd and a Chihuahua. Next is the ergonomic grip. This is something that should suit you.

You’ll be using it a lot and if it doesn’t have a comfortable grip, you’ll get tired very fast. Also, consider if you need a self-cleaning feature. This is a common feature with slicker brushes. And last but not least, will you use it in wet or dry conditions? Some of them work better in the bath and some are good for dry brushing.

How to Clean Brushes Properly

You should always keep the brushes clean and ready for the next use. This is done in several simple steps that don’t require a lot of time. First, remove all the hair that’s trapped inside them. Second, soak them in hot water with antibacterial soap for around 10-20 minutes. And third, after soaking remove them from the water and place them on a soft cloth to dry.