The best brush is the one that suits your dog's coat, so start with the coat and the brush follows. A thick double coat wants a slicker brush, a comb and an undercoat rake for the moult. Curls want a slicker worked down to the skin, a long silky coat wants a pin brush and a comb, and a short smooth coat wants a rubber brush or a grooming glove. For a puppy of any coat, begin with a soft brush and very short sessions, because the first job is making brushing feel safe.
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Which brush for your dog's coat
Find the coat first. The brush and the routine follow from what vets, charities and kennel clubs say about it.
| Coat | Brush with | How often, and who says so |
|---|---|---|
| Double coatGolden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Labradors, Huskies | A slicker brush, then a comb. An undercoat rake when they moult | The AKC: "Brush your dog with a slicker brush and follow-up with a comb at least once a week." RSPCA Australia says these dogs "should normally be groomed every day". |
| Curly or wool coatPoodles, doodles and other poodle crosses | A slicker brush, worked down to the skin | VCA: "Slicker brushes work well for dogs with curly, non-shedding coats, like poodles." VCA says curly coats need daily brushing; the PDSA says of poodle crosses, "Brushing them a few times a week should keep on top of things". |
| Wiry coatBorder Terriers, Schnauzers, wirehaired breeds | A pin brush, a comb, then a slicker | The AKC: "Once a week, brush the wire coat with the pin brush", then comb, then "go over the whole coat with a slicker brush". The PDSA says many people ask a professional groomer to strip a coat. |
| Long silky coatYorkshire Terriers, Maltese | A pin brush, a metal comb and a conditioning spray | The AKC's Yorkie groomer recommends "brushing several times a week, if not daily, to prevent tangling and matting". The PDSA says long haired breeds "will need brushing daily to keep their coat healthy". |
| Short smooth coatBoxers, Pugs, Staffies, pointers | A rubber brush or grooming glove, then a bristle brush | VCA: "Flexible grooming gloves or brushes with short bristles are ideal for smooth-coated dogs such as pointers or boxers." Blue Cross: "grooming should be done at least once a week". |
| Any puppyBefore the adult coat comes in | A soft brush | The AKC: "start brushing right away to get them used to being handled, and use a soft brush on that fluffy puppy coat". |
Not sure which coat your dog has? Each of Puplr's breed guides gives the coat type. Here are the 384 breed records sorted by coat, with the tools for each:
| Coat | Tools, and why |
|---|---|
| Double coat148 breeds | Undercoat rake, Slicker brush, Deshedding toolA double coat is two coats, a soft undercoat under a coarse topcoat, and the undercoat has to be raked out rather than brushed over. Source |
| Curly or wool coat48 breeds | Slicker brush, Metal grooming comb, Detangling sprayA curly coat mats close to the skin, so brush daily with a slicker and then check your work with a metal comb. Source |
| Wiry coat41 breeds | Stripping knife, Metal grooming comb, Slicker brushA wire coat keeps its texture and its colour if the dead hair is stripped out, and loses both if it is clipped off. Source |
| Long silky coat29 breeds | Pin brush, Metal grooming comb, Detangling sprayA long silky coat breaks if you brush it dry, so use a conditioning spray and work down to the skin in layers. Source |
| Short smooth coat114 breeds | Rubber curry brush, Grooming gloveA short smooth coat still sheds, it just does it quietly, and a rubber brush lifts the loose hair before the sofa does. Source |
| Hairless or very light coat4 breeds | Dog sunscreen, Sun shirt, Sensitive skin shampooBare skin burns, so use a sunscreen made for dogs, never a human one, and keep the hottest hours indoors. Source |
Breed counts from Puplr's 384 breed records, matched on each breed's published coat type. A breed can fall in more than one row.
The hairless row is about sun care, not brushing. For the rest, these are the breeds behind each count. First, 148 breeds with a double coat:
And 136 more in the breed guides.
Curly and wool coats, 48 breeds, the poodle crosses among them:
And 38 more in the breed guides.
Wiry coats, 41 breeds:
And 31 more in the breed guides.
Long silky coats, 29 breeds:
And 19 more in the breed guides.
Short smooth coats, 114 breeds:
And 104 more in the breed guides.
With a cross, go by the coat in front of you. A US survey of doodle owners noted that with mixes of more than one breed, "it is difficult for breeders to predict what the dog will look like as an adult". VCA's advice covers every case: "Your veterinary healthcare team, breeder, or groomer can give you specific recommendations for grooming tools that will work well for your dog."
What is measured, and what is advice
We could not find a trial of dog brushes. None of the sources read for this guide cites a study that measured how well any brush, rake or deshedding tool works, so every pick in the chart is professional guidance. A few things around the edges have been studied.
- How the coat is built. The MSD Veterinary Manual: "The hair follicles of dogs are compound, which means the follicles have a central hair surrounded by 3 to 15 smaller secondary hairs all exiting from one pore." In a double coat, the AKC says, under the coarse topcoat "sits a soft, dense undercoat made of shorter secondary hairs, sometimes called wool."
- What mats do. A 2022 report by ASPCA staff in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, which calls its own data preliminary, says "Chronically matted hair can contribute to and cause medical conditions such as skin irritation and infection", and that long haired breeds and mixes such as the Maltese, Shih Tzu and Poodle "are particularly vulnerable to severe hair matting".
- What doodle owners found. A 2022 survey of 2,191 US dog owners, 689 of them doodle owners, recruited through Facebook and Reddit groups: "Twenty-four percent of doodle owners indicated that their dog's maintenance levels were worse than they expected, compared to only 11.0% of purebred owners and 10.1% of mixed-breed owners". Of the 479 doodle owners who answered an optional free text question, 87 (18.2%) complained about the cost and frequency of grooming, and "32 (6.7%) complained specifically about how much daily brushing was required".
- The caveats on that survey. The answers are owners' own reports, and the authors name recruiting through social media groups as a possible source of bias. A comment published in the same journal in 2025 asks for "a note of caution when interpreting responses to this free-form and optional question", while agreeing that the results show "the significant grooming requirements associated with a longer, low-shedding coat."
What to look for
- A slicker in the right strength. The AKC's groomer: "Use a soft slicker brush on a puppy and a medium strength slicker brush on an adult dog." Blue Cross says to "look out for any pins sticking out at the wrong angle".
- A rake with pins that match the coat. The AKC says undercoat rakes suit "double-coated breeds of all fur lengths", but "you must choose the correct pin length for your dog's coat length."
- Rounded tips on a pin brush. The AKC describes pin brushes as having wire pins, "often with rubber tips to prevent scratching the skin". Blue Cross: "The longer the pins on the brush, the better it is for dogs with longer, thicker coats."
- A steel comb with straight teeth. The AKC: "Use a wide-tooth steel comb to work through tangles gently", and "Avoid combs with bent teeth, which can snag or damage the coat."
- A size that fits the dog. The AKC: "You can't expect to use the same size brush on a Chihuahua and a Saint Bernard."
- More than a glove for longer coats. Blue Cross calls grooming mitts "a useful tool for removing dirt and dead hair from short-coated breeds, but not recommended for dogs with medium to long-haired coats." RSPCA Australia says a soft massage brush or mitten "will often not be sufficient on its own to remove knots, matts, and loose hair".
Claims that do not hold up
"A deshedding tool removes most of the loose hair." We could not trace any figure for how much hair these tools remove to a study. The sources that recommend these tools do it without numbers: the AKC says a coat rake or deshedding tool "can help remove large amounts of loose undercoat hair", and Blue Cross calls them "particularly useful for dogs that moult frequently". Treat any percentage on a pack as the maker's claim.
"Shave a double coat and the shedding stops." The AKC's groomer: "Shaving doesn't eliminate shedding, but it does damage the topcoat and can increase the chances of skin issues or sunburn." The AKC also says the undercoat can grow back faster than the topcoat, which "can change the texture and color of a dog's coat". VCA warns of "a rare complication called post-clipping alopecia", and the MSD Veterinary Manual lists "postclipping alopecia in Spitz-type breeds" among conditions of uncertain cause.
"Shaving keeps a double coated dog cool." The AKC says shaving "really has no big impact on cooling them down", because dogs rely on panting. That is expert opinion: none of the sources cites a trial comparing shaved and unshaved dogs in the heat. Clipping is treated differently. The PDSA's heatstroke advice says "Consider having your dog clipped", and VCA says some long haired dogs may be more comfortable cut short for summer, leaving "at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of haircoat". Ask a groomer before clipping a double coat, and never shave to the skin.
"Doodles do not shed, so they are low maintenance." The PDSA: "These crossbreeds do shed less, but their curled coat type makes them more prone to knotting and tangling, especially if they get wet." In the 2022 survey, about a quarter of doodle owners said the upkeep was worse than they expected.
"Short coats do not need brushing." VCA: "Many short-haired breeds lack a distinctive undercoat, and these breeds often shed hair at low levels all year round."
"Double coats shed twice a year." Often, but not always. The AKC's groomer says a dog in a colder place may shed their undercoat only in spring and autumn, but "they could shed four times a year or all the time, if they live where temperatures are warmer".
"Cut a mat out with scissors." VCA: "Only use clippers to remove mats", never scissors. The ASPCA's vet explains why: "Your pet can unexpectedly move or jerk resulting in a severe laceration or puncture." RSPCA Australia does allow blunt nosed safety scissors for a stubborn tangle, with great care not to touch the skin.
"Clipping a wire coat is the same as stripping." The AKC says clipping "will eventually soften the dog's coat". The same page is relaxed about pets, though. Its groomer says "Most pet dogs can maintain a healthy coat that looks fabulous" with a clipper trim plus carding to remove the dead undercoat.
The kit
Linked to search results for your country, so you compare current products yourself. Nothing is named, because we have not tested any of it.
How to get a puppy used to the brush
- Start the day they come home. The AKC's groomer: "A puppy should be groomed from the day you bring them home". The Royal Kennel Club: "Do this little and often to get them used to it".
- Touch, treat, repeat. Dogs Trust: "Start by placing the brush onto your dog's body for a moment, then removing it and giving them a treat."
- Begin where they enjoy being touched. RSPCA Australia: "Start with the areas your dog likes to be groomed and groom them in these areas for short periods."
- Stop at the first sign of worry. Dogs Trust: "If your dog shows any signs of worry, then stop and give them a break." The PDSA: "Make the grooming a positive experience, using treats and praise during and afterwards."
- Brush the hair, not the skin. The AKC's groomer: "Be sure to brush the hair, not the skin, like you would brush your own hair".
- Work in sections, down to the skin. For a long double coat, RSPCA Australia says "it helps to divide the coat into sections and brush out each section one by one". The AKC calls this line combing: "Line combing involves working through the coat section by section, lifting away loose hair while minimizing stress on the coat."
- Check the hidden places. VCA says to make sure "there are no tangles or clumps under the armpits, in the groin, or behind the ears."
- Brush before the bath. VCA: "tangles can become impossible to remove after a bath."
- Expect the coat to change. In Yorkshire Terriers, the AKC says the coat changes between 6 and 18 months, and "Their puppy coat will likely be more susceptible to matting." Puplr's puppy month by month guide covers what else changes, and what to buy shows the grooming tools for your breed's adult coat.
When to hand a matted coat to a groomer or vet
Small, fresh tangles are yours to brush out. The ASPCA's vet: "Early mild mats can be brushed out. Mats which have progressed require clipping the hair." And: "If you notice a mat which cannot be easily brushed out, your pet should visit a groomer or veterinarian."
VCA draws the same line: "When tangles are severe or extensive, it is strongly recommended that you seek professional care from a dog groomer or your veterinarian." Go to the vet, not the groomer, when the skin is involved: "If a mat has caused any skin irritation, take your dog to your veterinarian so the appropriate treatment can be prescribed." The PDSA is the bluntest of all: "Don't try to tackle matts at home."
Left too long, the ASPCA says, "If a pet is severely matted he may require sedation and full body clipping."
Common questions
What is the best brush for a Golden Retriever or German Shepherd?
Both have double coats, in Puplr's records and on the AKC's list of double coated dogs. That means a slicker brush and a comb at least weekly, and an undercoat rake when the undercoat comes out. VCA takes a slightly different line for retrievers: "Combs or stiff bristle brushes are suitable for dogs with medium-length hair that sheds, such as retrievers."
What is the best brush for short hair dogs?
A rubber brush or grooming glove to lift the loose hair, and a bristle brush to finish. The AKC says of short coats, "Natural-bristle brushes and grooming gloves are good options." A short coat with an undercoat is different: the Royal Kennel Club says heavy shedders such as Labrador Retrievers "may need going over with a shedding rake".
What is the best brush for a doodle?
A slicker brush, used down to the skin and often. The AKC's poodle groomer says to "brush all the way down to your puppy's skin", taking care not to scratch.
How often should I brush my dog?
It depends on the coat, and the sources give ranges. Short smooth coats: about weekly. Double coats: weekly at least, and daily according to RSPCA Australia. Long, silky and curly coats: daily, VCA says. During a moult, the AKC says heavy shedders "may need brushing several times a week or even daily".
Do deshedding tools work?
The AKC, Blue Cross and RSPCA Australia all suggest them for a moulting undercoat, but we found no published measurement of what they remove. Go gently: the AKC says to "Use gentle pressure, especially with tools that have blades."
How we worked this out
We did not test any brushes, combs or sprays. This guide is built from two kennel clubs and the groomers and vet they quote, a veterinary hospital group, the MSD Veterinary Manual, welfare charities in the UK, Australia and the US, and three journal papers, all opened and read on 14 October 2026 and quoted word for word where they are quoted. Every source is listed below.
The evidence is thin. We found no controlled study of any grooming tool, so the chart rests on professional advice, much of it from working groomers quoted by the AKC. The doodle survey is self reported, recruited online and has a published comment against parts of it; the matting paper describes one charity's caseload and calls its data preliminary. The breed counts and lists come from Puplr's 384 breed records, matched on each breed's published coat type, and a breed can fall under more than one coat.
Where the sources disagree, we have said so. The main differences:
- How often to brush a double coat. The AKC says at least once a week, and elsewhere two to three times weekly to prevent mats; the PDSA says a few times a week for medium haired breeds such as German Shepherds; RSPCA Australia says every day.
- How often to brush a short coat. Blue Cross and the PDSA say about once a week; the Royal Kennel Club says two or three times a week.
- What a pin brush is for. Blue Cross says pin brushes are good for removing dead fur from both the coat and undercoat; the AKC says they are best as finishing brushes.
- Scissors on mats. VCA and the ASPCA say never; RSPCA Australia allows blunt nosed safety scissors with care; the PDSA says not to tackle mats at home at all.
- Clipping for summer. The AKC advises against shaving a double coat; the PDSA suggests considering a clip for a heavy coat in warm months; VCA says to leave at least an inch.
- Which coats count as double. The AKC lists the Beagle as a short double coat; Puplr's record for the Beagle says short smooth. Go by the coat you can feel.
This guide was drafted with an AI writing tool and checked against every source listed. Read more about how we write buying guides.