“Which brush should I use on my dog?”
Before you buy a brush for your dog, it’s important to identify what kind of coat your dog has. If you gently tug a sample tuft of your dog’s fur between your thumb and index finger and examine the fur strands in your hand, what do they look like? If they are all the same length and are short and straight in appearance, then your dog has a top coat that can be kept free of loose, shedding hair with a rubber brush such as a “Zoom Groom” commonly found in pet stores. If you also notice fine, whispy or crinkley strands, then your dog also has an undercoat that can be managed with a specialized undercoat brush such as a Furminator. For smaller dogs with drop coats or long, human-like hair a pin brush and comb are good tools for keeping their coats tangle free.

Top Coat–Zoom Groom
Dogs like pitbulls and labs have a top coat that is best managed with a rubber brush. My favorite is called a Zoom Groom because it works well at dislodging loose fur while massaging at the same time. It is made entirely of soft rubber, and it pulls loose hair as it is rubbed over your dog’s coat by massaging free the loosened hairs.

Under coat–Furminator
The undercoat is comprised of silky strands that are designed to keep your dog warm. A top coat typically covers the undercoat, so the undercoat can go unnoticed and ungroomed in some breeds with short fur like labs and golden retrievers. Zoom Groom brushes succeed in removing *some* of the loose undercoat, but they are not designed to penetrate the top coat to reach the undercoat. So, if your dog also has an undercoat, shedding can continue. Traditionally, groomers “card” these types of dogs by modifying a grooming blade into a specialized undercoat brush. We do this by removing and setting aside the razor of a #40 blade and raking the teeth of the modified blade over the coat to penetrate the top coat and remove undercoat. The problem is, unless you are trained to use the blade properly, you can easily irritate your pet’s skin and cause great strain to your hand. A brush called the Furminator is essentially the same thing as a carding blade but it’s larger (to cover more hair) and it has a handle to makek brushing easier. You still need to keep a close eye on your pet’s skin as you brush though. If it becomes red, stop immediately. Also, this brush is not designed to work only on loose hair. If you continue to brush an area, you can literally remove all the undercoat and end up with a balled spot (and irritated skin). But if you are careful to watch the skin and coat as you brush, this tool will prove invaluable in stopping shedding.

Brushing your pet in between professional grooming visits is a great way to maintain a shedless coat, but if your dog has undercoat falling out in large clumps, extensive brushing can be avoided with a professional grooming appointment so the skin can be washed free of accumulated dander and so the excess fur can be quickly and painlessly blown out with a high velocity dryer. 

Drop Coat–Slicker Brush or Pin Brush & Comb
If you have a shihtzu, maltese, lahsa apso, yorkshire terrier, or a dog with long flowing hair that is similar to straight, human hair, all you need is a slicker or pin brush and a comb to remove knots. A slicker brush is a great tool for removing little knots but not all pet owners find it as easy to use as a pin brush. Slicker brush bristles are scratchy and should not touch the skin if used correctly. For the safest and easiest brush to use, I recommend a pin brush because it has little balls on the tips of the bristles which makes it a great brush for maintaining an already tangle free coat in between grooms. A comb should be used to test for unseen knots by gliding it through the coat.

Curly Coats–Comb & Slicker Brush
Dogs like poodles and bichons look their best when their fur is “fluffed” with a comb daily. Slicker brushes are useful for removing tangles, but fluffing (running a comb through the fur) on a daily basis keeps the hairs separated and prevents knots from forming. The comb should glide through the coat without resistance.