Dapper Dog: Choosing The Right Dog Grooming Tools

With all the different kinds of specialized dog grooming tools available, you may be wondering which dog brush or comb will work the best for your dog’s hair length and texture.  Each tool has a purpose depending on the results you want to achieve, similar to when people need one type of hair brush for blow drying their hair, and a different one for brushing dry hair.

Below is a quick-start guide to help you choose the best dog grooming tool for your dog.  Simply select the dog brush or comb that is suited to your dog’s breed and hair type.

Bristle Brush

A bristle brush usually has soft nylon or natural boar bristles and is very much like the bristle brushes that you and I would buy for ourselves.  Opt for the natural bristles, as they will generate less static electricity in your dog’s hair than the nylon bristles.  These brushes will smooth out your dog’s coat while distributing the natural oils in the hair.  This dog brush is perfect for any dog, especially ones with shorter hair.  And it is a good every day, all-purpose dog grooming  brush for removing surface dirt and dust.

Slicker Brush

The slicker brush has bent stainless steel “pins” mounted close together on a flat or curved brush head.  Ideal for curly and long-haired dogs, these brushes remove dead hair and can even remove mats when used properly.  The thicker and heavier your dog’s coat, the stiffer the pins should be.

This dog brush is also great for dogs that shed and it will easily and quickly remove the loose hair from your dog’s coat.

Rubber Curry Brush

A curry brush is an oval shaped dog brush made out of rubber and is perfect for short-haired breeds.  It will gently remove dead hair and add a natural sheen to your dog’s coat.

Pin Brush

A pin brush typically has an oval shaped head and straight metal “pins” set in a rubber base.  It does a great job of detangling long, curly, wavy or wiry coats.  You will want one with coated or polished pins so you don’t scratch your dog’s skin.

Standard Dog Comb

Look for a combination metal comb with wider spaced teeth on one end and closely spaced teeth on the other.  Comb your dog in the direction of the hair growth.  Begin with the wider spaced side of the dog comb until it is gliding through the hair easily, and then repeat with the closely spaced side of the dog comb.  This will get rid of any remaining tangles in your dog’s coat and can also help with flea dirt and even fleas.

Undercoat Rake, Dematting Comb, or Mat splitter

These tools are helpful when you have a curly or long-haired dog with tangles or mats.  Using a spray detangler in conjunction with the tool may help the process go smoother.

Hound Glove

Just like the name implies, this is a glove that you wear to brush your dog.  It has rubber bristles that loosen and remove dead hair while polishing his coat.  Your dog may prefer this to other brushes because of the feeling of being petted.

If you are not grooming your dog for a show, then you do not need to get too caught up in the particulars of finding just the right dog brush or comb.

You could substitute one type of dog brush for another and get the same results.  For example, you could use a hound glove instead of a curry comb, or a slicker brush instead of a pin brush, and essentially arrive at the same outcome.