The Best Brushes For Dogs With Long Hair
Say goodbye to tangles 👋
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If your pup has long hair, you know how easily it gets tangles and knots — not to mention the random stuff that gets stuck in her fur every once in a while.
So regularly brushing your long-haired dog’s super important. And with the right dog brush, it doesn’t have to be a pain (and your dog might even enjoy it).
The Dodo spoke to Dr. Gabrielle Fadl, medical director of Bond Vet, to find out how to choose the best long hair dog brush for your dog.
Slicker Brushes
Pin Brushes
Combo Brushes
Deshedding
Types of brushes for long-haired dogs
There are a few different types of brushes that are good for long-haired dogs: slicker brushes, pin brushes and deshedding brushes.
- Slicker brushes have short plastic or wire bristles and are good for detangling and removing dead hair and loose fur. They’re useful for dogs with thick or curly fur or an undercoat (basically, dogs who are prone to knots and matting).
- Pin brushes have widely spaced metal pin bristles in a cushion (they look kind of like a human brush) and gently remove loose, dead hair from long fur. These brushes are useful for dogs whose fur can become frizzy or staticky because slicker brushes can cause static.
- Deshedding brushes or combs remove a lot of fur to prevent shedding. They’re useful during periods of high shedding (fall and spring) and for dogs who shed a lot.
- Combo brushes with a bristle brush on one side and a pin brush on the other can be good, too, since they’ll get out any tough tangles while making her coat shiny. Bristle brushes stimulate oil production in your dog’s skin, which can also help reduce shedding.
Bristle brushes can also be used on dogs with long fur to smooth their hair and distribute oils through their coats, but they won’t reach all the way through to the undercoat or detangle matted hair. So bristle brushes can be used to make your pup’s fur look shiny, but brushes with harder wire, metal or plastic pins (like the brushes listed above) are better for regular brushing.
How to find the best long hair dog brush
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a brush for your long-haired dog:
- Type of coat — Check the packaging when selecting a brush for your dog, since it’ll usually tell you the coat type the brush will work best for. “Many [brushes] are labeled for specific breeds or fur types/length,” Dr. Fadl told The Dodo. “Different breeds of long-haired dogs have different types of hair coats.”
- Type of bristles — “Look for [a brush] with tips long enough to get through your dog’s fur,” Dr. Fadl said.
- Function — “Some [dogs] may simply need detangling, while others may need a brush that will help with shedding,” Dr. Fadl said. “Look for the features that your dog needs.”
- Ease of cleaning — You might want to look for a brush that’s easy to clean to help you out, like one with retractable bristles or one that’s waterproof.
- Comfort — The brush should be comfortable for your dog and not irritate her skin, and it should be easy for you to hold while brushing.
You may have to try out a few different brushes on your pup to see what she likes, too. “It may be necessary to experiment with different kinds of brushes to see which ones get the most agreeable response from your pet (while still positively contributing to coat health or helping with deshedding),” Dr. Fadl said.
How to brush long-haired dogs
Here are some tips for brushing long-haired dogs:
- Dogs with long hair need to be brushed frequently — every few days and sometimes every day for dogs who are prone to matting, like doodles. “Dogs with a long coat are more prone to tangles or mats in the fur and may need to be brushed much more often than dogs with short fur,” Dr. Fadl said.
- Brush in the direction of the hair growth.
- Don’t press down too hard, or you could hurt your pup.
Best long hair dog brushes
Slicker Brushes
This slicker brush is so effective that it earned The Dodo’s Paw of Approval. It detangles knots and removes loose hair, dirt and dander. The wire bristles get deep into your dog’s coat, making it great for dogs with double coats or dogs with long fur that tangles easily. The retractable bristles make it super easy to clean. They just go back into the brush to let you remove all the fur when you’re done brushing. The brush also has an anti-slip handle to make brushing comfortable for you.
Pin Brushes
This pin brush is made of durable and lightweight wood that won’t tire out your arm during long brushing sessions. It has 30 percent more pins than the average pin brush, so it’s super effective at detangling tight knots.
You can brush your pup and be environmentally friendly at the same time with this brush that’s sustainably made with plant-based materials. The brush features spiral flex technology that gently conforms to your dog’s body as your brush. It has a wide handle that’s easy to grip, too.
The stainless steel pins in this brush are set in a rubber pad for flexibility to easily get knots out of your dog’s fur.
Combo Brushes
You can remove tangles and make your pup’s fur shiny with this combo brush. One side has dense nylon bristles to distribute oils through your dog’s coat, and the other has stainless steel pins to remove knots and loose fur. The handle is ergonomically designed for extra control when brushing.
This is a two-in-one dog brush. One side is a bristle brush, and the other is a pin brush. You can detangle your dog’s fur first, then use the bristle side to make your pup’s coat look shiny and healthy. The brush also has a grooved, anti-slip handle that’s easy to hold.
Deshedding Tools
This deshedding tool earned The Dodo’s Paw of Approval for being so amazing. It works as a deshedder and a comb, so you get two brushes in one. The deshedder has fine comb teeth to remove loose fur, and the comb detangles knots. And it has a flexible neck to make it easy to get to the hard-to-reach areas of your dog’s body.
“The Furminator is a popular brand, especially for dogs with a thick undercoat who shed a lot,” Dr. Fadl said. “Look for one labeled for long-haired dogs.” This deshedding tool is made specifically for dogs with long hair. The stainless steel edge removes loose hair from your dog’s undercoat, and it’s curved to fit her body, so it won’t irritate her skin. The ergonomic handle will be easy for you to use, too.