Last Updated: 03/06/2025
Vet Picks: Best Dog Brushes
Does your dog shed? Discover the best brush for their coat—slicker, deshedding, or bristle!
Author: Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 21 minutes - medium read
Dogs come in a wide variety of coat types, each with its own unique grooming needs. A brush that's ideal for a Beagle's short, smooth coat might not be suitable for a Malamute's thick, double coat.
Selecting the appropriate brush can make a significant difference in your dog's grooming experience.Using the wrong brush can lead to discomfort, pain, and even hair breakage. It's essential to choose a brush that's compatible with your dog's specific coat type to ensure a positive grooming experience.
Four reasons why it's important to choose the right dog brush are:
- Coat Type: Dogs have a huge variety of different types of coat so it is vital to choose a brush that is suitable for your dog's coat.
- Design: An incorrect style of brush can cause irritation and even pain, making grooming a very unpleasant experience for your dog.
- Purpose: A brush will be ineffective if it is not designed for the purpose you require e.g removing dead undercoat requires an undercoat rake
- Size: Using a small brush for a large dog can turn a grooming session into a long and boring ordeal, so make sure the brush is the correct size for your dog.
How We Review Our Products
Our Pet Circle Vet Squad comprises 5 vets with over 75 years of collective, independent veterinary expertise. Our Vet team use their health and husbandry knowledge, along with their own personal and clinical experiences to evaluate each product and provide detailed, informative reviews, free of any commercial bias. We then collate this information into our 'best of' recommendations.
Top Dog Brushes in Australia
Best Brush for Cavoodles: Paws for Life Combo Brush
Pros
- Double sided - pins on one side and bristles on the other
- Available in two different sizes
Cons
- Bristles may not be effective for thick curly coats
- Care must be taken when using pin side so as not to pull knots
Cavoodles can have three different types of coat, straight, fleece or woollen, and need regular grooming to stop the formation of matts and remove any loose hairs. Wire pin brushes are great for removing tangles in thick, curly or woolly Cavoodle coats.
The Paws for Life Pin and Bristle Combo Brush's dual design allows for double the grooming ability, with a knot-busting pin brush on one side and a bristle brush on the other. The gentle pin brush is ideal for removing tangles, dirt, dandruff and loose hair. The soft bristle brush on the other side helps give the coat an even shine and distributes natural hair oils.
What our customers say: "Good quality brush doing a good job removing excess hair."
Best Brush for Deshedding: Furminator
Pros
- Available in 6 different types to suit small, medium and large dogs with long or short hair
- Curved edges to glide over the skin and conform to the dog's body shape
- Ergonomic handle
- Furjector button removes loose hair from the tool with one push
Cons
- More expensive than other deshedding tools
- Some dogs don't like the sensation of this tool on their skin
The Furminator is the leader of the pack when it comes to deshedding tools. Deshedding tools work by using a bristle-blade combination that selectively desheds the undercoat without cutting or damaging the top coat on double-coated breeds. They are perfect for double coated breeds that shed a lot of hair.
It is recommended to use the Furminator once a week to remove undercoat and it reduces loose hair up to 90% when used regularly. The Furminator is specially designed to reach through the topcoat to safely and easily remove loose hair and undercoat without damaging the coat or cutting the skin.
What our customers say: "It is such a great product for my 2 cavaliers. They lose so much fur and it gets matted very easily. This product is easy to use and keeps their fur feeling nice and soft."
What our vets say: "The Furminator is my go-to deshedding brush. It's easy to use and clean, and there are a range of options available to suit different sizes and coat lengths. These different designs mean that its perfectly tailored for your dog, which makes brushing easier, more effective and less stressful for everyone involved! It's a great way to reduce loose fur and thick undercoat in the warmer months." - Dr. Katelyn
Best for Short Hair: Kong Zoom Groom
Pros
- Removes loose hair and stimulates capillaries for natural oil production
- Makes shampooing more effective with its wide rubber fingers
- Massages dog during grooming
Cons
- Dogs love to chew this rubber brush so don't leave them unattended with it
Rubber or 'curry' brushes are perfect for short haired dogs and have the added bonus of being able to be used at bath time as well. Most dogs love being groomed with this soft rubber brush and it is great as an introductory brush to get them used to grooming. The rubber pegs stimulate the capillaries promoting blood flow for a healthier skin and coat. Ideally this brush works best on smooth, short haired dogs but it can be helpful in loosening up undercoat hair for easier brushing. Its best to do this outside or in the bath when wet as it can end up being a little messy.
What our customers say: "Purchased this for our whippet and was amazed how much hair it gathered, and so quickly! Efficient, effective, nice to use and easy to clean; our girl loves it and so do we! I used it wet during a bath (to lather the shampoo) and used it dry as a brush/massager. Dry hair goes everywhere, so I do suggest doing this outside. A great purchase for us."
Best Slicker Brush: Pakeway T9 Slicker Brush
Pros
- The stainless steel filaments prevent static electricity
- Ergonomically designed handle for comfort and anti-slip hold
- Pins have covered ends to guard against skin damage
- Self-cleaning mechanism
Cons
- Hair release mechanism can jam if the button is pressed too quickly and too often
- Pins may bend with prolonged use
Slicker brushes like the Pakeway T19 effectively prevent and remove matts from medium, long and curly coats.
This slicker brush differs from most by having a round rather than a square brush head for greater comfort. The ergonomically designed, anti slip handle makes it easy to control and reduces fatigue during grooming sessions. With an easy to use cleaning feature, this brush is the most user friendly slicker available.
What our customers say: "I have been buying brush after brush and finally a good one! My babies love it and it works well and so easy to clean afterwards."
Best Brush for Golden Retriever: Kazoo Grooming Rake
Pros
- Ergonomic handle makes it easy to grip and hold
- Metal teeth to detangle knots and matts
Cons
- If the coat is heavily matted, a dematting tool must be used first.
- Must be used on small sections of the coat at a time to avoid pulling if knots or matts are present
The Kazoo Grooming Rake grooms the undercoat without damaging your Golden's top coat and effectively removes loose or dead hair. Golden Retrievers have a thick double coat that repels water and needs regular grooming to avoid matts and remove shedded hair. Matts can cause serious discomfort and lead to painful skin conditions like hot spots. Undercoat rakes are designed for double coated breeds like Golden Retrievers and are wonderful for shedding dogs.
What our customers say: "My golden retriever sees the rake appear and runs to have his coat groomed. Works well. Is easy to use and is strong. Have had mine for 4 years. No problems."
What our vets say: "Double coated dogs like retrievers must be regularly groomed to avoid skin problems like hot spots. The Kazoo Grooming Rake is perfect for removing dead undercoat, tangles and matts." - Dr. Maree Monaghan
Best Brush for French Bulldog: Kazoo Grooming Glove
Pros
- Manufactured from high quality rubber and mesh style fabric
- All purpose grooming and washing aid
Cons
- Only available in one size so may not fit your hand
- Only available in right hand glove
Frenchies' short, low maintenance coats are one of the many reasons for their popularity, however, they still benefit from regular grooming to keep their coats clean and shiny. Weekly grooming sessions will remove any dead hair, distribute the natural oils throughout their coat and strengthen the bond between you and your Frenchie. Grooming gloves are ideal for massaging the skin and removing loose hair from short coats during grooming and you can also use them at bath time!
The Kazoo Grooming Glove allows you to gently stroke your Frenchies coat and the unique rubber nodes will help to dislodge debris and trap loose hair before a bath. During a bath, you can also use the grooming glove to lather shampoo for a deep down clean.
What our customers say: "Best grooming product I have ever used, my dog loves his bath now, it's a massage and a bath."
What our vets say: "Dogs will love getting brushed with the Kazoo grooming glove. It makes grooming a comfortable and relaxing experience. Best of all, it is an easy and convenient tool to use at home. You can use this soft glove to massage in shampoos during baths, working it into a lather, and then brushing out all the tangled knots with a conditioner." - Dr. Michelle
What to look for in a dog brush
As mentioned above, choosing the right dog brush is important to match your dog's coat and size, and the purpose for which you're using it.
Bristle brushes can be used for most coat types and there are many variations in size, shape, bristle proximity and toughness. Bristle brushes are perfect for breeds with short, smooth coats. Long haired breeds also benefit from the bristle brush but the proximity between bristles should be greater and the bristle length longer. Smooth and silky coats only need a soft to medium bristle brush whereas breeds with coarse, wiry hair will need a brush with sturdier bristles. Bristle brushes often come in combination with pin brushes - bristles on one side and wire pins on the other.
Ideal for medium to long haired dogs, wire pin brushes are great for removing tangles. Wire pin brushes are best for thick, curly or woolly coats and are usually ineffective on short haired breeds. Dogs with delicate hair like Yorkies are best suited to a wire pin style brush.
Slicker brushes are used for dogs with long hair, curly hair and double coats. They are great for defusing tangles and matted hair. They can be used on long and curly haired dogs after a wire pin brush to smooth the coat. The pins on slicker brushes are quite sharp, so brushing should be gentle as not to scratch the skin and they should not be used on the face, especially near the eyes.
Deshedding brushes are excellent for reducing bulk hair without comprimising on length. They work by using a bristle-blade combination that selectively de-sheds the undercoat and loose hair without cutting or damaging the top coat on double-coated breeds. These are excellent for double coated breeds who shed a lot of fur.
Undercoat rakes are designed for double coated breeds and are wonderful for shedding dogs. The rake catches the dead undercoat hairs to reduce shedding. When choosing an undercoat rake, try to match the length of the rake pins to your dog's hair length.
Rubber or 'curry' brushes are the ultimate beginner's tools. Virtually all dogs love being brushed by the soft rubber or silicon brushes and it is great as an introductory brush to get them used to grooming. The rubber pegs stimulate the capillaries promoting blood flow for a healthier skin and coat. Ideally this brush works best on smooth, short haired dogs but it can be helpful in loosening up the undercoat fur for easier brushing. It's best to do this outside or in the bath when wet as it can end up being a little messy.
Dog combs are a useful tool to have in your grooming kit. Being smaller, combs allow you greater feel and control for tidying up around the eyes, ears and snout. Deshedding combs are great for removing matts and tangles.With their tightly spaced teeth, flea combs are great for removing fleas, dirt and debris from your dogs coat.
