Find the Perfect Slicker Brush for Dogs & Puppies
Find the Perfect Dog Slicker for Your Pup
Want your dog to look as slick as possible? Then you need a dog slicker. Despite the name though, dog slickers aren’t just about aesthetics. These are actually very important tools for ensuring your dog will be healthy and happy. A slicker is a brush that uses lots of very small pins in order to help comb through a dog’s fur, remove tangles and loose hair, and even help them to shed dead skin and improve their resistance to infection as a result.
Not sure where to start with such a device? First, determine if your dog is small, medium, or large based on DogGear standards:
Now, read on to get our top recommendations for the best dog slickers for small, medium, and large dogs.
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To find the best dog slicker brush, select to begin by breed or by size
Best Perfect Slicker Brush for Dogs
Slicker Brushes for Small Dogs
Our top picks by your dog’s needs
The Scoop
Pros and cons
Expert Choice
The Pet Portal
The Scoop
This pin brush is appropriate for any fur type, whether long, short, wiry, or thick. The device is small, easy to hold and use, and something that most dogs really enjoy the sensation of.
Pros and cons
This product is ergonomic, it’s comfortable for your pet, and users also comment on how easy it is to clean. What really makes this a winner is the very easy process for removing the trapped fur – just press the button and wipe the fur off! It also has a wide head for getting a large surface area easily. Some dogs, especially those with shorter fur, might not like how rigid the edges are.
Contender
Miracle Care
The Scoop
This pet slicker brush is a small, compact, and very simple pin brush. It doesn't have any frills, but it does the job!
Pros and cons
Those who use this brush love how easily it gets through tangled fur, and even find that their dogs love being brushed when they haven’t in the past. The round head is great for reaching awkward angles, though it doesn’t have an easy clean feature. On the downside, the ends might be too sharp for pups with shorter fur.
Bargain
LilPals
The Scoop
This is another great little brush for removing mats, tangles, and loose hairs. It has a square head and a colorful paint job.
Pros and cons
This one is nice and gentle against your pooch’s skin, and most dog owners comment that their dog loves being brushed with this! The pins are a little larger with small plastic balls on the end to ensure it is comfortable and kind to your little pooch. The square shape can be a little tougher to maneuver, and some folks would like a longer handle.
*The DogGear team did not stop with small slicker brushes, we also researched the best options for medium dogs. Read on to gain knowledge and save time.
Slicker Brushes for Medium Dogs
Our top picks by your dog’s needs
The Scoop
Pros and cons
Expert Choice
Pet Portal Pro Quality
The Scoop
This is a fantastic dog slicker/pin brush that has many features and design choices that put it on top of the competition. It has thin teeth, enough to easily comb through hair and remove tangles.
Pros and cons
Folks who have purchased this brush rave about it. They are impressed with the self- cleaning design that works better than many other options out there, and those whose dogs have thick fur love how well it tugs loose fur from the undercoat. The moveable head makes this brush easier to steer so that you can reach those awkward spots – even with a wriggling dog. Finally, this one is also self-cleaning. Like the small dog variety, you just have to press the button and wipe away the fur. It is another option that might not be the best for dogs with shorter fur.
Contender
Hertzko
The Scoop
Our runner up in this category is a similar slicker brush from Hertzko. This one is incredibly comfortable for dogs and great for dog owners who prefer ergonomically designed handles.
Pros and cons
Dog owners comment that while this brush might not be as effective as some more high-end slicker brushes, it’s just more comfortable for their dog. It comes in an attractive purple and black color and it’s a brush that dogs seem to really love. They also love the self-cleaning feature, and dogs love being brushed with this option. On the downside, some research indicates that the brush might break easily.
Bargain
Glendan
The Scoop
This option from Glendan is another slicker and dog grooming brush that makes life easy thanks to a curved angle so that you don’t have to dislocate your arm to reach under your dog's belly!
Pros and cons
Dogs love it because it creates a nice sensation when combing through their fur, and the bright blue color is easy to find. Dog owners love that this is a gentle option and find that it works well even for dogs with thick, curly fur. Some dogs with shorter fur might not like this brush.
*Last, and certainly not least, the DogGear team did not forget about slicker brushes for large dogs.
Slicker Brushes for Large Dogs
Our top picks by your dog’s needs
The Scoop
Pros and cons
Expert Choice
Pro Slicker Brush
The Scoop
Our top choice for larger dogs is a brush with a big head that easily covers large surfaces. It is is ergonomic and durable, making the gentle bristles comfortable and very pleasurable for your pup.
Pros and cons
There's no self cleaning on this brush, but otherwise users find that it is a very effective brush that will clean your pup quickly. They also like that it is lightweight. It's also very effective at removing the hair – even with larger dogs that build up more quickly. Pull it away and it will be covered in thick fur! On the downside, some brushes have broken off at the handle, so remember to be gentle!
Contender
Pro Quality Self Cleaning Slicker
The Scoop
This is a strong contender that is suitable for larger dogs with both long and short fur. It’s also self cleaning, meaning you don’t need to spend ages picking individual hairs out of the teeth.
Pros and cons
Self cleaning is the feature we love to see on slicker brushes, and users love that the design that keeps the bristles from getting bent. It’s a great option that many dog owners love for their pups who need brushed a lot. The fact that the head can swivel is also a big advantage, making it much easier to reach all those tricky spots on your pup. Some users caution that you need to go slow with this brush so it doesn’t get stuck in your dog’s fur.
Bargain
Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
The Scoop
Finally, our bargain option is the Hertzko brush. This is a very durable brush with a very sturdy design, an ergonomic handle, and a bright color that’s stylish and easy to find if you misplace it.
Pros and cons
Dogs love being brushed with this option and their owners are impressed with how much fur it is able to pull from the undercoat. On the downside, some of the brushes’ self-cleaning functions have broken after a few months.
DogGear Philosophy
While any of these dog slickers will do the job nicely, our favorites are invariably those with self-cleaning action. They save a lot of time and effort! We hope you’ve found something that will fit your dog’s needs. Try our quiz if you’d like a personalized recommendation.
Read on to learn more about slicker brushes.
Time to groom your dog? A dog slicker brush is one of the essential grooming tools every dog owner should have, especially if they want their dogs to be able to brag with an incredible and shining coat.
A dog slicker brush can be great for getting rid of loose, trapped fur and restoring the healthy shine to your dog’s coat.
Over time, loose fur can trigger allergies and skin conditions, or just get all over the place and leave you to remove it from your couch. But this is much less likely to happen if you manage to get rid of the loose fur by regularly brushing your dog.
Here’s more about dog slicker brushes and how to best use them to take care of your dog’s fur for the future.
What’s a Slicker Brush?
A slicker brush is usually rectangular in shape, somewhat resembles a human hairbrush, and has plenty of wiry bristles.
It’s designed specifically to remove loose hairs and dead skin cells from your dog’s coat, and it’s an essential part of their grooming routine that’s ideally used together with a regular dog brush – and sometimes dog grooming scissors.
How to Use a Slicker Brush
The best way to use a slicker brush is carefully. If you press down too hard with the brush, there’s a chance that you could hurt your dog’s skin – so go slowly and lightly over their fur, and remember to make regular stops to clean the brush as you go.
It’s a myth that a slicker brush will hurt your dog, but it’s not a myth that it can when used in the wrong way. If your dog shows any sign of pain or discomfort while brushing, stop.
Go slowly and gradually, working with the grain of their fur growth and going through bits of their fur at a time – especially if you have a more furry pup to brush.
Slicker Brushing Tips
If you want to get the best possible use out of your slicker brush, you should clean it properly after every use. Make sure that you get all of the loose hairs out from the bristles – using a toothpick can make it a lot easier.
It’s also best to brush your dog with a regular brush before the slicker brush, especially if they happen to have thicker fur – this prevents the slicker brush from getting snagged.
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