10 Best Brushes for Dobermans — 2023 Reviews & Top Picks
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The Doberman has one of the easiest coats to manage in the dog world. Sometimes referred to as a “wash and wear,” the Doberman’s short, sleek, and close-lying coat only needs the most basic coat care and brushing to keep it looking sleek and shiny.
That’s not to say that the correct grooming tools don’t make all the difference in your grooming experience. Using tools adequately suited to the Doberman’s coat type will speed up the process for you and make it much more comfortable and enjoyable for your Dobie. Some tools and brushes can even give the skin beneath the coat a massage to promote good blood flow and rid the coat of any dead skin that may be sitting beneath it.
We gathered reviews and scoured the web for the 10 best brushes for your Doberman’s coat to make weekly grooming an enjoyable and ultimately satisfying experience for you both.
A Quick Look at Our Winners in 2023
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
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KONG Zoom Groom |
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Check Price |
Best Value
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Hartz Groomers Best Combo Dog Brush |
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Check Price |
Premium Choice
 |
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FURminator Short Hair Dog Deshedding Tool |
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Check Price |
| Best for Puppies |
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VETNIQUE Labs Furbliss Pet Brush |
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Check Price |
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HandsOn All-in-One Pet Bathing & Grooming Gloves |
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Check Price |
The 10 Best Brushes for Dobermans
1. KONG Zoom Groom– Best Overall
| Life stage: | Puppy, Adult |
| Material: | Silicone |
| Features: | 2-in-1 massage tool, used with or without shampoo |
KONG is synonymous with dog toys and dog care, which is for a good reason. The KONG Zoom Groom is a whole package of pet care rolled into one easy-to-use product that tops our charts as the best overall brush for Dobermans.
This brush is easy to grip and comfortable to use, and it provides a stimulating skin massage while removing loose hair. That and the fact that this brush comes in various colors and sizes suitable for your Doberman from puppyhood to adulthood means that it will last you a lifetime, and for the price, it cannot be beaten.
The only con is that the prices vary based on color and type.
- Comfortable to use
- Provides stimulating skin massage
- Removes dead hair and skin from the coat very effectively
- Prices for the same product vary according to color
2. Hartz Groomers Best Combo Dog Brush – Best Value
| Life stage: | Adult |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Features: | Dual-action brush for detangling, removing loose fur, and softening the coat |
The Hartz Groomers Best Combo Dog Brush uses a clever dual-sided design to incorporate two brush types into one product, essentially giving you two brushes for the price of one. The stainless-steel pins on one side gently massage and detangle any loose hair out of your Doberman’s smooth coat, while the nylon bristles work to re-distribute the natural oils on your Dobie’s fur.
The ergonomic handle ensures that it’s comfortable to use and is designed to be enjoyable for your dog. It features safety tips on each of the stainless-steel pins for extra comfort.
The excellent price point for this brush makes it our pick for the best brush for Dobermans for the money, as it’s essentially two for one at a great price. However, this brush isn’t suitable for puppies, as the hard pins may irritate a puppy’s delicate skin.
- Dual-action brush with two different sides
- Ergonomic handle and safety tips for comfort
- Excellent price
- Not suitable for Doberman Puppies
3. FURminator Short Hair Dog Deshedding Tool – Premium Choice
| Life stage | Adult |
| Material: | Stainless Steel, Metal |
| Features: | Curved edges that conform to the body, patented groomer technologies |
FURminator is another brand name known worldwide for its dog care products. The FURminator Short Hair De-Shedding Tool is the ultimate in fast and professional coat de-shedding, specially designed for dogs such as Dobermans with short, close coats.
The Stainless-steel edge is designed to reach under the coat to pull out any loose hair and collect neatly, gently de-shedding as it goes. It’s a sharp edge but, with proper use, isn’t a threat to your Dobies skin. The handle is easy to grip and has ergonomic comfort. This brush uses its patented groomer technologies to reduce loose hair in each shedding session.
Because of the stainless-steel edge, however, care must be taken when using it. Using the FURminator the wrong way may cause you to scratch your Doberman accidentally.
- Professional tool
- De-sheds and reaches deep into the fur
- May reduce amount of loose fur in the future
- Pricey
- Can cause harm if used incorrectly
4.VETNIQUE Labs Furbliss Pet Brush- Best for Puppies
| Life stage: | All |
| Material: | Silicone, plastic |
| Features: | Patented double-sided design, can be used when bathing for a greater lather and massage, can remove pet hair from clothes or bedding |
The VETNIQUE Labs Furbliss Pet Brush uses a two-sided design to massage the skin and coat when brushing. The silicone in this product makes it comfortable for everyone, and the recessed areas around the brush can hold shampoo, making it very useful when bathing your mucky pup! This brush was engineered to be a perfect fit for dogs with short hair, and the Doberman is no exception. Although not specifically marketed for puppies this gentle brush is an all rounder and can be used into adulthood.
As this is made of medical grade silicon, despite being durable, this brush might break and pose a choking risk if it’s chewed. So keep it away from your pup when not in use.
- Double-sided design for massage and hair stripping
- Great for a massage and lather in the bath
- Engineered for short-haired breeds
- Silicone is easily ripped if bitten
5. HandsOn All-in-One Pet Bathing & Grooming Gloves
| Life stage: | Adult |
| Material: | Rubber |
| Features: | Dual bathing and grooming, lightweight and stimulating |
While not technically a brush, these grooming gloves are so good that we couldn’t ignore them. The HandsOn All-in-One Pet Bathing and Grooming Gloves combine the ease of wearing a pair of gloves with the stimulating massage of shampoo and thorough de-shedding.
The rubber nodules spaced out on the gloves strip the coat of shed fur (the fur sticks to the rubber easily) while stimulating the skin underneath to promote good blood flow and healthy coat growth. These gloves can gather more hair than a traditional brush, and with the Doberman’s sleek and muscular body, the gloves can make it so much easier to smooth down the coat and pick up any loose hair.
However, the gloves can be tricky to get on, especially if your hands are wet. They are also more susceptible to being chewed and destroyed than a traditional, stiff plastic brush.
- Excellent at removing fur
- Glove design makes them comfortable and easy to use
- Nodules on the fingers massage the skin
- Can be difficult to get on if hands are wet
- Susceptible to chewing
6. Frisco Rubber Duckie Dog & Cat Curry Brush
| Life stage | Adult |
| Material: | Rubber |
| Features: | Cute design, long rubber tips to scrub dirt, fur, and dead skin from the coat without pulling on the other hair |
Despite its strange name, the Frisco Rubber Duckie Dog and Cat Curry Brush is an excellent tool for Dobermans. The long rubber tips on this adorable ducky brush help to penetrate the Dobies sleek coat and brush out any loose hair while giving your Dobie a relaxing massage at the same time. This brush is made of rubber, so it holds onto dead hair very well, and it can be used in the bath for a soapy, deep clean.
The softness of this brush, in particular, makes it a good choice for Dobermans with sensitive skin since the long tips are spaced further apart than some other brushes on this list. The design of the ducky may prove too tempting for some Dobies, and the head on the duck is quite large and may pose a choking hazard. It’s best to store it in a drawer or cabinet your dog cannot access.
- Cute design
- Long, soft tips give a great massage along with grabbing loose hair
- Good for dogs with sensitive skin
- Head of the duck is large and may pose a choking hazard if bitten off
7. FURminator Dual Dog Brush
| Life stage: | Adult |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Features: | Easy to use, dual-sided with pins and bristles |
This is another of the FURminator’s line of grooming tools, which promise a professional grooming finish from the comfort of your home. The FURminator Dual Dog Brush has pins on a flexible base on one side and soft nylon bristles on the other.
The pins are used to de-shed and massage the coat, but you have to be careful not to press down too hard on your Dobie’s skin. The real appeal for Dobies is held in the nylon bristle side, as these smooth bristles will not only take out any loose fur but will also work to spread the natural oils your Dobie’s coat produces to keep their whole body looking shiny and lustrous. Some customers mentioned that the pin side could sometimes pop out of the holder, so keep this in mind if you have a Dobie who is more fidgety during their grooming.
- Double-sided
- Pinned side massages the coat
- Nylon bristles pull any remaining loose hair from the coat
- Some reports of the pinned side popping out of the handle
8. FURminator Firm Slicker Brush
| Life stage: | Adult |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Features: | Straight and curved bristles, antimicrobial plastic, dual flex head design |
The last of our FURminator mentions on this list, the FURminator Firm Slicker Brush, is a classic. Slicker brushes are easy to use, and the FURminator features a double-sided brush head, one with straight bristles and one with bent bristles.
These bristles are designed to gently pull any shed hair from your dog’s coat without scratching the skin, and the flexible head design paired with the ergonomic handle of this brush makes it comfortable for you and your Dobie.
The antimicrobial plastic material is featured on the handle to help protect you and your dog from extra mucky grooming sessions. The bristles (if used gently) can gently tease out any dried mud on the coat before bathing.
The bristles are soft, which is great for babies with sensitive skin, but they may not be the best for getting deeper into the coat during shedding season.
- Double-sided bristles, one side straight, one side angled
- Antimicrobial plastic on the handle
- Soft bristles, good for sensitive skin
- Not suitable for shedding season
9. Paws & Pals Best In Show Deshedding Brush
| Life stage: | Adult |
| Material: | Plastic, Stainless Steel |
| Features: | Steel blade penetrates the coat, comfort grip handle. |
This Paws & Pals Deshedding Brush is a good choice for those who want to groom their Doberman top-to-bottom as quickly as possible. The stainless-steel blades on this brush penetrate the coat and help to pull out any loose fur from underneath, leaving your Dobie more comfortable and looking sleek and shiny. Regular brushing of your Doberman with this brush will not only keep them sleek, but it can also reduce odors from pet hair and potentially reduce the amount of hair shed.
The blades stimulate the coat as they’re brushed through, promoting good blood flow and spreading coat-conditioning oils along the Dobie’s body. As with the other bladed tool, only use it very gently and sparingly. Otherwise, your Doberman could get dry skin or hurt by the blade.
- Removes extra hair quickly and effectively
- Good Price
- Promotes coat and skin health
- It can be dangerous if used roughly or too often
10. Frisco Deshedding Brush
| Life stage: | Adult |
| Material: | Plastic, Rubber, Steel, Metal |
| Features: | Stainless steel blade effective at grabbing loose hair, angled teeth to hold the maximum amount of loose fur |
The Frisco De-Shedding Brush works like others we’ve seen on this list. The stainless-steel blade is angled, making this brush excellent for penetrating under the Dobies flat coat and reaching any dead skin and loose fur hiding there. The handle is ergonomic and features a non-slip grip. However, the brush should not be used in water or on a wet pet, as the fur can be pulled more. Gently using the brush (brushing with the grain) can help to keep your Dobies coat in tip-top shape.
- The stainless-steel blade is effective at catching any loose hairs
- Ergonomic handle with no-slip grip makes grooming comfortable
- Angled teeth help to pull hair from deeper in the coat
- Shouldn’t be used when wet or in water
Buyer’s Guide — Choosing the Best Brushes for Dobermans
Now that we’ve identified and learned a little about the best brushes for your Doberman, the question arises of what exactly a Dobie owner should look for when shopping for a new brush. Are there specific features that are more or less important? We explore the answers in our buyer’s guide below:
Essential Features of a Doberman’s Brush
The first important feature you want to look out for in a brush is its size. A tiny brush will be good for brushing around the ears and face, but it will take too long and likely stress the dog if it’s used constantly. A medium-sized brush will suffice, particularly if grooming a couple of times a week. Looking for positive reviews is also important, as these often tell you if there is anything you should know before going ahead with your purchase.
What Kind of Options Are There?
If your Doberman hasn’t been groomed in a while and you’ve had experience with grooming a Dobie before, the metal-toothed brushes (or tools) are the best to use. However, they require some skill, and if you’re more of a novice or want to ease your Doberman into being groomed, a rubber mitt/brush is the best choice for you.
Conclusion
Our roundup of the best brushes for the Doberman was conquered by the Kong Zoom Groom, whose ingenious design, durable composition, and gentle massaging effects earned them the top spot as the best overall Doberman brush. The Hartz Groomers Best brush was also at the top of our list, as it offers a lot of features (including a dual-action brush) for a great price, earning it the best brush for Dobermans for the money title.
The FURminator is one of the most trusted grooming tools in the world, and it was our premium pick. The steel blades effectively remove loose fur and give your dog’s coat a professional look.
Featured Image Credit: DragoNika, Shutterstock
