Comparing Pet Brushes

Slicker brushes (1) have fine metal bristles spaced closely together, often with little bobbles at the end to protect the skin. They work great for detangling, removing dead fur, and preventing mats in long, medium and/or curly fur. We don’t recommend them for dogs with short hair as you could scratch the skin.

Breeds: Retrievers, Westies, Huskies, Poodles

The Pin brush (2) is the most similar to human hair brushes and is used on medium to long fur to prevent tangles, and can be used for light detangling. The wider tooth setting compared to a slicker brush means it won’t frizz up curly hair, so it’s also a good option for regular grooming on curly dogs.

Breeds:, Poodle, Yorkie, Schnauzer

Bristle brushes (3) are used to remove loose hair, so they are great to use after other brushes, or just for short haired dogs. Many bristle brushes are double-sided and include pin brushes.

Breeds: Pugs, Beagles, Greyhounds

Undercoat rakes (4) have wide set teeth and sort of look like, well, a tiny rake. They pull out dead fur in the undercoat, and are especially useful during high shedding seasons.

Breeds: Samoyed, Pomeranian, Huskies

Deshedding tools (5) remove dead hair from the undercoat without damaging the top coat. This is especially helpful for double coated dogs, and is a lifesaver during heavy shedding months. The FURminator is a common brand, as well as the Shed Magic.

Mat rippers (6) have one sided blades which will cut and rip through mats. These are best for long haired dogs with thick mats, and shouldn’t be used on short coated dogs as you’re likely to hurt the skin.

Breeds: Duck Toller, Retriever, Australian Shepherd