Brushing Your Dog: Choosing the Right Brush for the Coat

The wrong brush either does nothing or hurts. Match the tool to the coat, not to the price.

Short smooth coats

A rubber curry brush or bristle brush. Labradors, Beagles, Indies, Dobermans.

Double coats

An undercoat rake reaches the dense layer a slicker cannot. Essential for Huskies, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers, especially during heavy shedding.

Long or curly coats

A slicker followed by a metal comb. The comb is the test — if it will not pass through, there is a mat the slicker skipped.

Technique

Brush in sections down to the skin, not over the top of the coat. Surface brushing leaves mats forming underneath.