09/02/2026
🪮🐾 GROOMER TIP WEDNESDAY: WHAT KIND OF BRUSH SHOULD I USE FOR MY DOG?
This week’s Groomer Tip Wednesday question actually came from one of my customers after seeing one of our previous Groomer Tip posts! And I thought it was such a good question that I wanted to answer it here:
“What brush should I actually be using at home?” 👀
The answer depends A LOT on your pup’s coat! So here are the three coat groups I see most often and the tools I personally recommend:
🐩 LONG & CURLY COATS
Think: Doodles, Poodles, Shih Tzus & Bichons
My go-to is a wire/pin brush, followed by a metal comb.
When using your wire brush, try to part the coat down toward the skin (or as far as you comfortably can) and brush in sections. This helps make sure you’re actually brushing through the entire coat instead of only getting the fluffy hair on top.
When choosing a wire brush, be careful with how stiff the pins are! Some brushes have pins that are extremely rigid and can be uncomfortable—or even hurt your pup if too much pressure is used. Look for pins that have a little “give” or flexibility when you brush rather than pins that are completely stiff.
Then finish with a metal comb. If the comb catches or gets stuck anywhere, you may still have a tangle or mat hiding in the coat! 🪮
🐶 SHORT COATS
Think: Beagles, Boxers, Labs & Pugs
For these coats, I like to start with a fine-tooth deshedding rake to pull out that loose undercoat.
When using a deshedding rake, keep the rake parallel to the body rather than digging it into the coat. This helps you remove the loose undercoat without unnecessarily pulling on healthy topcoat or irritating the skin.
Then I use a Zoom Groom to help lift and remove loose topcoat.
Finally, I go over the coat with a metal comb to catch any little clumps of loose fur that may still be hiding in the coat.
🐺 LONG DOUBLE COATS
Think: German Shepherds, Huskies, Golden Retrievers & Great Pyrenees
For these big, fluffy coats, I start with a wire/pin brush to work through the coat and remove loose hair.
Then I use a wide-tooth undercoat rake to work through that deeper undercoat.
Just like with a fine-tooth rake, keep your rake parallel to the body and let it do the work. You don’t want to dig the rake into the skin or repeatedly work the same area, as this can cause irritation and unnecessary pulling on the coat.
After raking, I go back over the coat with the wire brush, and finally finish with a metal comb to make sure there aren’t any tangles, snags, or leftover clumps of undercoat.
✨ AND HERE’S THE BIGGEST TIP:
Don’t just brush the top of the coat!
You want to make sure you’re actually getting through the coat and down toward the skin. A fluffy coat can look beautifully brushed on the outside while still hiding tangles underneath.
And remember: every dog and coat is a little different, so these are my go-to tools and techniques, not a one-size-fits-all rule!
🐾 What kind of coat does your pup have? Drop their breed below and let’s see which group they fall into! 👇
