How to Choose the Best Dog Grooming Brush

Unless your dog is one of the hairless varieties, chances are here's going to need regular grooming to maintain a clean and smooth coat. Even if you plan on taking your dog to a professional groomer for bathing and clipping, your dog still needs daily or weekly brushing to remove excess hair that can mar his appearance and your freshly vacuumed carpeting. To do the job, you're going to need the best dog brush for grooming your furry friend. Here's how to select among the many types of grooming brushes for dogs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Dogs with thin coats:
   
   Examples of dogs with thin coats are the Maltese and the Yorkshire Terrier. These dogs are singled coated meaning they don't have an undercoat and their fur tends to be more delicate than that found on most other dogs, almost like human hair in some respects. For dogs with thin coats, a pin brush is ideal. These brushes have metal pins attached to a soft metal base. Be sure to choose a brush with coated pins to avoid scratching your dog's delicate skin. Follow up by combing with a metal comb to remove any tangles. Dogs with thin, delicate hair should be brushed dry. A wet coat makes the fur weaker and even more delicate which can result in hair loss and damage.

2. Dogs with long, flowing coats
   
   This group would include the Golden Retriever and the Afghan. The top coat of these dogs is best brushed with a high quality bristle brush. These brushes when used regularly can give the coat a polished shine. To reduce shedding, brush the undercoat with an undercoat rake on a regular basis.

3. Dogs with wiry coats:
   
   The Airdale Terrier and the Schnauzer are the best examples of a wiry coated dog breeds. A high quality, firm pin brush is ideal for regular grooming of these dogs. Select a brush with bristles that are closely spaced for best performance. A daily brushing will help to keep a wiry coat from matting.

4. Dogs with rough outer coats and soft undercoats:
   
   The classic breed with this type of hair pattern is the collie. For the dog with a rough outer coat, pin brush can be used to remove loose fur. If small mats or tangles are present, follow up with a slicker brush to remove tangles. Because these dogs have undercoats, it's essential to follow up by brushing with an undercoat rake to remove loose hair that collects in that region. Don't apply too much pressure when using an undercoat brush or you could scratch your dog's skin.

5. Dogs with smooth, short coats:
   
   This type of dog is probably the easiest to care for from a grooming standpoint. Brushing twice a week with a firm bristle brush to remove excess fur and prevent shedding is usually sufficient.