The affection that some people feel for their dogs is immense. People that love their dogs will go to great lengths to provide the best care so that their fur babies can live their best lives. Brushing and grooming your pup’s coat is an instrumental part of maintaining good health for a dog. Our list of the top five best dog brushes is a useful resource for pet parents looking to pamper their pooch.
Some dogs develop empathy with their owners beginning as early as puppies. New research out of Hungary finds that puppies instinctively imitate human actions, even without any training or a food reward. Puppies may imitate what people do as a way of navigating new situations. They could also mimic others to learn new skills or information. An alternative explanation is that imitation breeds flattery. Impersonating another creature could be an evolutionary tactic to get into someone’s good graces and up their social standing.
Is your dog the smartest pup on the block? Then it’s likely they have a lot less wolf in them than their other furry friends. According to a new study, modern dog breeds which are more genetically distant from their wolf cousins have larger brains than other canines. While this might sound like a normal step in evolution, it’s actually a shocking revelation to animal scientists. Until now, scientists have believed that the brains of domesticated animals are generally smaller than their wild ancestors. Researchers at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) say the explanation is simple — household pets have a lot less to think about! Compared to animals in the wild, like the wolves dogs evolved from, pet dogs living in a safe home don’t have to think about fighting off predators or hunting through the woods for food. The team notes that thinking and cognitive processes require a lot of energy, and maintaining a larger brain can be costly.
As any canine lover will tell you, doggos can be quite clever and expressive of their emotions. When humans put in the effort to bond with and train a dog, the results can often be amazing. For people that want to give their dog a long and healthy life, nutrition, exercise, and grooming are key. Our list of the top five best dog brushes aims to offer some insight into the most popular brands amongst pet experts. Let us know your favorite doggie brushes in the comments below!
The List: Best Dog Brushes, According to Dog Experts
1. Chris Christensen Original Series Oval Brush
Sometimes simplicity is the best design. “A pin-style brush is a reliable go-to that the majority of dog parents should have on hand. The Chris Christensen Original Series Oval Brush has stainless steel pins with polished tips to gently and effectively pass through a variety of dog coats. The versatile dog brush is easy to clean and made with a lightweight yet durable beechwood,” details The Spruce Pets.
This versatile brush is appropriate for many types of dogs: “For dogs with medium to long hair, a pin brush is a good option for removing loose hair and detangling. This type of brush consists of metal pins that are more widely spaced than the bristles of a slicker brush, which helps prevent hair breakage. The pins are also set into a rubber cushion, and a high-quality brush will have pins with rounded ends to prevent scratches on the skin,” writes Insider.
One source writes that, “We found this brush very effective at not only detangling but also collecting excess fur. While there’s no release button, the fur comes off really easily when it’s time to clean it. The price is slightly steep for a dog brush, but in the end, we think it’s a good value,” according to People.
2. KONG ZoomGroom Grooming Brush
The Kong brush has an unusual design and is easy to find online. “This KONG brush has a bit of a cult following, with some reviewers on Amazon declaring it the best way to stop shedding—even for super-furry and big dogs. It easily removes loose hair, stimulates blood flow, and encourages natural oil production that makes pet coats shiny and healthy,” claims The Dog People.
“Massaging your pet’s coat and fur is just as important as giving it a thorough rake, which is why this beloved multi-use brush has many positive reviews. The brush is great for when you’re washing and shampooing your dog’s fur, but it can also be used as a massaging dry brush to loosen up stray hairs and promote circulation,” raves Spy.
Kong ZoomGroom is very well reviewed and inexpensive, “The KONG Dog ZoomGroom Multi-Use Brush is as functional as it is cute. It takes grooming to the next level. You can use it to brush your pup, give your pet a massage, or even clean its teeth with it. The product works as advertised. It does an excellent job of removing the dead hair. Unfortunately, you still must handle it, which can make grooming a bit messy,” adds Pet Keen.
3. FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool
The FURminator is another brush with a distinctly unique design. “Of all the dog brushes we tested, the FURminator deShedding Tool was an overall favorite. It feels well-made, with a grippy ergonomic handle and durable stainless steel teeth. The teeth removed a substantial amount of loose hair from the undercoat of the dog we tested it on. They moved smoothly without tugging on the skin and got all the way down to the roots of the hair,” explains People.
Shedding can be a major issue for some dog parents, “Hands (paws) down, the best dog brush for shedding! As well as collecting dirt and debris, this tool is specifically designed to remove loose fur from the undercoat without damaging the top coat. Getting to the fur before it ends up on the sofa is key during shedding season, and this tool claims to reduce shedding by up to 90%!” exclaims Trusted Housesitters.
The innovative design of the FURminator seems to have earned approval from owners and dogs alike, “There are lots of imitators, and our testers tried a bunch of them, but the FURminator Original deShedding Tool is more effective and sturdier than other de-shedding tools we tested. For dogs with dense undercoats, this tool can help to collect loose hair and skin flakes before they have the chance to stick to your sofa. The stainless steel toothy edge moves through the dog’s topcoat to pull any loose undercoat hair. There’s a curved guard around the blade to keep it from getting too close to the skin,” as explained by The Spruce Pets.
4. Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Dogs
A very highly rated brush amongst many of our sources, “The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Dogs shows up on every dog brush review list as one of the best. It is very affordable with a 4.3-star rating on Chewy. This high-quality pet grooming brush is durable with stainless steel bristles, easy to use, easy to clean, and works as a detangling grooming tool for all coat types. But it is especially helpful to use on long-haired dogs with thick coats or curly hair,” posits Pumpkin.
The ease of use is also emphasized by our sources, “A few glides over the coat are enough to get rid of fallen fur to prevent the build-up of tough tangles that may be painful to remove when they get stuck. The other top selling point for this grooming tool has to be the self-cleaning feature. You don’t need to remove the fallen fur from the bristles with your hand,” as stated by Furs n Paws.
The efficacy of the brush is another major selling point for this brand: “This brush features fine, bent wires that really get deep into the undercoat to remove mats and tangles for your pet. Gentle enough that they won’t irritate your pet’s skin, these bristles massage the skin, encourage blood circulation, and lead to shiny, shiny coats,” explains The Dog People.
5. Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush
This double-sided brush is a great multi-tool for grooming. “The Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush is both a pin and bristle type. The former has coated pins and the latter nylon bristles. It has an ergonomic handle that makes using it easier. It’s a decent value to get two products for the price of one. However, like many cheaper bristle brushes, it’s only effective on pets with shorter coats,” according to Pet Keen.
Although this product has many benefits, it also has some small drawbacks. One of our sources adds some critical feedback, “The nylon bristles also help distribute natural oils through your pet’s fur, making it soft and shiny. It’s an excellent choice for curly, wiry, or otherwise tricky coats. It isn’t necessarily going to do the job of de-shedding, but it does take care of dead hair buildup. This option isn’t self-cleaning, so you’ll have to pull out the hair from the bristles manually after every use. But for the price, it’s hard to complain,” writes Hepper.
Simply put, “We tested the Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush on dogs with a variety of coats, including long, fine hair and long, matted hair—the brush performed exceptionally well with both. It worked best on our border collie test subject. One tester even noted that it worked well on her dog’s thick butt hair. The Hartz brush was less effective for dogs with short hair and also isn’t the right tool if you’re looking to tame your dog’s undercoat,” says The Spruce Pets.
You might also be interested in:
Sources
- The Spruce Pets
- The Dog People
- Insider
- People
- Trusted Housesitters
- Pumpkin
- FursnPaws
- Spy
- Pet Keen
- Hepper
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
