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Groom Your Canine With Ease With The Best Dog Slickers

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By Jarett Gilpin
Last updated: 5 Jan 2023

Dogs are many things to us, our best friends, companions, and family. They are with us through the good and bad, always and forever. They are responsible for some of our fondest memories; they are magical creatures, bundles of eternal energy and fun. Asides from all of these, they are also very high maintenance. Anyone who has tried their hands at dog raising would know that raising a dog isn't that different from raising a child. Sure, dogs are remarkably intelligent and intuitive creatures, but they also depend on you for so much. You need to feed them, walk them, groom them, play with them. These can get overwhelming if you aren't ready or properly equipped. One of the tools you'd definitely need to raise a dog properly is the dog slicker. Here, we review 5 of the best dog slickers in 2023.

Show contents
Top Dog Slicker Reviewed
  • 1 HERTZKO Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
  • 2 Ruff ‘N Ruffus Dog Slicker
  • 3 Paw Brothers Pet Grooming Brush
  • 4 Chris Christensen Dog Slicker Brush
  • 5 GM Pet Supplies Self Cleaning Slicker Brush

Favored Dog Slicker Buying Guide

Dog grooming can be such a chore. Let’s face it; it’s not one of our favorite parts of being a dog parent. It’s tedious, and we’d frankly much rather play a game of fetch or something. But it is a necessary part of owning a dog or any pet. And contrary to what you might think, it’s not solely about aesthetics. Running a good dog slicker through your pup’s coat does more than just untangling its fur, removing loose hair, dander, and dirt. Brushing massages your dog’s skin, causing the release of natural oils that lubricate its skin and coat, giving it a vibrant appearance. Brushing makes it so you have to worry less about pet hair on your clothing and furniture. It helps your dog shed dead skin, improving infection resistance. It improves blood flow and reduces stress. So you see, the advantages of this relatively simple procedure are immense. And this is why you need to get one of the very best dog slickers. 

What Is a Dog Slicker?

A dog slicker is a type of dog brush. It is a pet grooming tool used for ridding your dog or other pet’s fur coat of debris, loose hair, and mats or knots. Dog Slickers usually have fine, short wires (also called bristles) closely packed on a flat surface. The wires are usually angled to protect your pet’s skin from scratches and other injuries. The bristles can be retractable or non-retractable.

What Are the Advantages of Using a Slicker on Your Dog?

  • A dog slicker removes loose hair, tangles, knots, dander, and dirt from your pet’s fur. This prevents your furniture, clothing, and other belongings from being covered with pet hair.
  • Usually, a dog slicker promotes blood flow and reduces stress for your dog.
  • It helps remove dead skin cells keeping your dog’s skin fresh and healthy and protecting against infections.
  • Brushing your dog’s fur promotes the secretion of natural oils resulting in lubrication of your dog’s skin and fur coat.

How Do I Use a Dog Slicker Brush?

A dog slicker brush is remarkably simple to use. 

  • First, you need to spray a small amount of conditioning spray or water on your pet’s coat. This is to prepare the fur coat for the brush and protect against damage. 
  • Next, run the brush gently down your dog’s fur, from the neck to the tail. This removes any loose hair or dirt.
  • As you brush your pet, you may notice areas of tangling and knots. Be sure to be gentle so as not to cause any discomfort to your pet. To untangle these you can use your finger or a metal comb. 
  • Once you have loosened the knot, run over that area with the slicker in different directions until you can move through it as easily as you would over normal areas.
  • Do this for the dog’s back, body, legs, and neck.
  • Finally, use a soft bristle brush on the face and ears, and brush again over the whole body to get rid of those bits of hair and debris you missed the first time.

What Are Those Features To Consider Before Choosing a Dog Slicker?

On the market today, one can find a host of different iterations and versions of pretty much anything. So much so that choosing just one can present a real challenge. To help you make this choice, we have compiled a list of some of the most important considerations to make before choosing a dog slicker. 

Bristles

Your slicker’s bristles are probably the most important factors to consider. They determine how deeply and easily you can penetrate your dog’s coat as well as how likely the brush is to scratch your pup’s skin. You should pay attention to how flexible the bristles are and their orientation, amongst other things. 

  • Bristle Flexibility: Flexible bristles are much less likely to scratch your pet’s skin than non-flexible ones. They can remove knots from your dog’s coat without causing discomfort to your dog, and as such, they are the preferred options.
  • Orientation: Most of the best dog slickers come with angled bristles these days. This makes it so the slicker can reach far into your pet’s coat without putting too much pressure on its skin. This protects against scratching and other forms of injury.
  • Compactness: Closely packed bristles mean that your brush is more likely to catch tangles than brushes with bristles that are farther apart.
  • Length: The length of the bristles is another factor to consider. Longer bristles are better suited to dogs with thicker fur, while shorter bristles are likely to work better with less hairy breeds.

Ease of cleaning 

Pulling dog hair out of your dog slicker’s bristles can be a very tedious experience. These days, many of the best dog brushes come with features to make this chore more palatable. The most common of these is the retractable bristles function. With these, you can tuck the brush’s bristles in at the push of a button and remove the trapped fur very easily.

Dog slicker size

Dog slickers come in many different sizes and shapes. To determine what size you need, you should consider the size of your dog. A larger brush is better suited to larger dogs but may be awkward to use with smaller breeds. While a smaller brush on a large dog would mean you have to spend longer to get the job done.

How Much Will It Cost for Me To Own a Dog Slicker?

Dog slickers come in many different styles, with each offering different features. The price of a particular slicker depends on the material it is made from, its size, and the features offered. On the market today, you can buy a dog brush for less than $5 or as much as $100.

Top Dog Slicker Reviewed

1

HERTZKO Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush

– Best Overall
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THE SCOOP

The HERTZKO Pet Grooming and De-matting Brush is the perfect solution to getting loose hair, tangles, knots, dander, and trapped dirt out of your dog’s fur. This slicker brush is designed with a comfortable, slip-resistant grip for easy and precise handling. The slicker also features retractable bristles for ease of cleaning. The bristles feature an angled design that lets them penetrate deep into your pup’s coat and groom its undercoat without injuring your pet’s skin. The brush is suitable for canines and felines of all sizes and breeds.

Pros
  • Features retractable bristles so you can remove trapped hair easily
  • Comfortable anti-slip handle
  • The slicker’s bristles are designed to penetrate your pet’s coat deeply without scratching its skin
Cons
  • You can’t lock the bristles in place, so you have to hold a button while using
2

Ruff ‘N Ruffus Dog Slicker

– Best Grooming Set
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THE SCOOP

With this self-cleaning slicker brush and nail clipper set from Ruff ‘N Ruffus, you can groom your pet easily and conveniently. The slicker brush has fine bent wire bristles to remove knots, dander, and loose hair from your pet’s fur without scratching their skin. And when you’re done, you can retract the bristles at the push of a button and watch the trapped hair fall away from the brush. The set comes with a nail clipper made from premium-grade stainless steel; it features a safety stop to stop you from trimming the nails too short. 

Pros
  • Features a comfortable, anti-slip grip for precise handling and to prevent hand and wrist strain
  • Has retractable bristles for easy cleaning
  • The set comes with a sharp and durable nail clipper
Cons
  • The slicker is awkward to use with smaller dogs
3

Paw Brothers Pet Grooming Brush

– Most Durable
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THE SCOOP

The Paw Brothers Pet Grooming Brush from Ryan’s Pet Supplies features extra-long, hard stainless steel pins for penetrating deeply into your dog’s coat. It is best suited to medium to large dog breeds with long and thick or double-coated fur. The grips on this brush are designed for comfort and slip resistance. You can use this brush continuously for hours without worrying about aching hands or wrists. And best of all, this brush will not scratch your pet’s skin and is guaranteed to stand up well to use.

Pros
  • Has extra long and hard bristles made from stainless steel that will penetrate your pet’s fur deeply and make grooming easy
  • Features comfortable, anti-slip handles
Cons
  • Thus dog slicker is suitable for use only with medium to large dogs with thick, long fur.
4

Chris Christensen Dog Slicker Brush

– Most Comfortable
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THE SCOOP

This premium dog slicker has a unique rubber-coated, anti-slip grip that promotes comfortable and precise grooming. Made for professional groomers, the Chris Christensen Dog Slicker Bush features retractable extra-long pins that can reach deeply into your dog’s fur coat and will not scratch its skin. The brush is designed for fluffing curly, cottony coats and is well suited to poodles, Goldendoodles, and Labradoodles.

Pros
  • Features an ergonomically designed grip that promotes comfortable and precise handling
  • Has retractable, long, and soft bristles that reach deep into your dog’s coat and will not injure your pet
  • Available in different sizes to fit differently sized dogs
Cons
  • Several users report the handle breaking off after a few uses
5

GM Pet Supplies Self Cleaning Slicker Brush

– Also Consider
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Buy on Amazon
THE SCOOP

This 2-in-1 dog brush & cat brush from GM Pet Supplies is the perfect tool for grooming your furry friend. It is designed to glide over their fur effortlessly, removing loose hair, tangles, knots, dander, and dirt. The pet brush is designed for use with pets of all sizes regardless of the length and thickness of their coat. It features retractable bristles for ease of cleaning. With this brush’s comfortable, slip-free handle, your wrists and hands are protected from strains and aches. GM Pet Supplies offers you a 90-day warranty on this product; if you’re not 100% satisfied, make a report within 90 days of purchase and get a full refund!

Pros
  • Has retractable pins for ease of cleaning
  • Has an ergonomic handle for comfortable and slip-free handling
Cons
  • It may be awkward to use with smaller pets

People Also Asked

Q: What does a dog slicker do?

A: Dog slickers are grooming tools used to remove loose hair and other debris from your pet's fur coat. They prevent tangling/matting of your dog's fur, promote blood circulation, promote the secretion and spread of natural oils, remove dead skin cells and relax your pet.

Q: Can my dog slicker injure my dog?

A: Yes, if it is possible. But the best dog slickers these days have features put in place (such as flexible or angled bristles that prevent this from happening.

Q: How can I make grooming pleasant for my dog?

A: You should ensure that whatever brush you use is gentle on your dog's skin. To do this, you can test the brush by running it against your forearm. Also, you can break the grooming into mini-sessions and reward your dog with treats to make the session more palatable.

author-image
By Jarett Gilpin

Jarett and his vapor wake dog, Toxi, help keep the students and public safe on the University of Notre Dame’s campus. Jarett knows what equipment, food and toys to keep Toxi safe, productive and still able to have fun.

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