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10 Best Dog Brushes for Long-Haired Dogs — 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Kathryn Copeland

By Kathryn Copeland

woman brushing the fur of akita inu dog

All dogs need to be brushed, whether they have long or short hair. But there’s no question that long-haired dogs in particular need frequent brushing. Mats can occur quickly, which can be uncomfortable.

As a dog owner, you’ll need to invest in the right kind of brushes for your dog’s coat. We know how challenging it can be to find the perfect brush, so we did the research and developed reviews of 10 of the best brushes for your long-haired pup. Hopefully, this will lead you to the perfect grooming tool for your dog.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush
  • Retractable pins make cleaning the brush simple
  • Stainless-steel bristles
  • Penetrates the coat but won’t scratch the skin
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Frisco Metal Dog & Cat Comb Frisco Metal Dog & Cat Comb
  • Affordable
  • Stainless-steel comb
  • Dual sided
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Chris Christensen Dog Brush Chris Christensen Dog Brush
  • Made with birch wood
  • Sturdy stainless-steel pins
  • Long and smooth pins
  • Best for Puppies
    Li’l Pals Coated Tips Dog Slicker Brush Li’l Pals Coated Tips Dog Slicker Brush
  • Small enough for puppies
  • Tips of the pins are coated, so they won’t scratch the skin
  • Affordable
  • FURminator Dog Grooming Rake FURminator Dog Grooming Rake
  • Works at detangling undercoats
  • Stainless-steel pins rotate to prevent tugging on mats
  • Made with antimicrobial plastic
  • The 10 Best Dog Brushes for Long-Haired Dogs

    1. Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush — Best Overall

    Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush 2024

    Brush type: Slicker
    Sizes: Small or regular
    Material: Plastic and stainless steel

    The best overall dog brush for long-haired dogs is the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush. This is a slicker, which works effectively on long-haired coats and has the advantage of a button that retracts the pins when pressed, making it easy to clean! The bristles are stainless steel and designed to penetrate the coat but not scratch the skin.

    The handle is anti-slip and ergonomic, so it should be comfortable while you’re in the middle of a long grooming session. This issue might not affect every brush, but the retractable button can stop working.

    Pros
    • Retractable pins make cleaning the brush simple
    • Stainless-steel bristles
    • Penetrates the coat but won’t scratch the skin
    • Comfortable handle: anti-slip and ergonomic
    Cons
    • Retractable button might stop working

    2. Frisco Metal Dog & Cat Comb — Best Value

    Frisco Metal Dog Comb

    Brush type: Comb
    Size: 7.5 x 1.4 inches
    Material: Stainless steel

    The best dog brush for long-haired dogs for the money is the Frisco Metal Dog & Cat Comb. While not exactly a brush, combs are important tools for long-haired dogs. This one is dual-sided stainless steel, so it has wide teeth on one side and narrow teeth on the other.

    The teeth are quite smooth and rounded, so you don’t have to worry about scratching your dog’s skin. The only problem is that it might be too big and heavy for small breeds.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Stainless-steel comb
    • Dual sided
    • Smooth and rounded teeth won’t scratch
    Cons
    • Might be too big for small breeds

    3. Chris Christensen Dog Brush — Premium Choice

    Chris Christensen Dog Brush

    Brush type: Pin
    Sizes: 20 mm, 27 mm, or 35 mm
    Material: Birch wood and stainless steel

    The Chris Christensen Dog Brush is our pick for premium choice because while it’s expensive, it’s made with premium materials and works incredibly well! The handle is made with birch wood, and the sturdy, stainless-steel pins are long enough to reach the skin on the thickest coats and are quite smooth.

    There are also 30% more pins than what you find on most other pin brushes. However, it does come at a high price, and it won’t necessarily work on all long-haired coats.

    Pros
    • Made with birch wood
    • Sturdy stainless-steel pins
    • Long and smooth pins
    • 30% more pins than on most other brushes
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Won’t work on all coats

    4. Li’l Pals Coated Tips Dog Slicker Brush — Best for Puppies

    Li’l Pals Coated Tips Cat Slicker Brush

    Brush type: Slicker
    Size: 4.9 inches long
    Material: Plastic and stainless steel

    The Li’l Pals Coated Tips Dog Slicker Brush is a great option for long-haired puppies. It’s small enough to be good for puppies, and the ends of the stainless-steel pins are coated with plastic so they won’t scratch sensitive skin. It’s affordable, and the pad that holds the pins is flexible, so it should fit the contours of your puppy easily.

    However, this brush is small and might not work for large-breed puppies. It might also be uncomfortable if you have large hands.

    Pros
    • Small enough for puppies
    • Tips of the pins are coated, so they won’t scratch the skin
    • Affordable
    • Pad holding the pins is flexible
    Cons
    • Tiny

    5. FURminator Dog Grooming Rake

    FURminator Dog Grooming Rake

    Brush type: Rake
    Size: 9.65 x 6.5 inches
    Material: Plastic and stainless steel

    The FURminator Dog Grooming Rake is not technically a brush, but it’s an important tool for long-haired dogs, particularly double-coated breeds. The stainless-steel pins rotate 360 degrees, which helps prevent pulling painfully on mats, and the plastic is antimicrobial to prevent the buildup of bacteria and germs.

    The handle is ergonomically designed, so it should be comfortable to hold. However, the pins are close together toward the middle and might pull on some dogs’ coats.

    Pros
    • Works at detangling undercoats
    • Stainless-steel pins rotate to prevent tugging on mats
    • Made with antimicrobial plastic
    • Ergonomic handle
    Cons
    • Pins might pull due to being close together

    6. Safari Soft Slicker Brush for Dogs

    Safari Soft Slicker Brush for Dogs

    Brush type: Slicker
    Size: Large
    Material: Plastic and stainless steel

    The Safari Soft Slicker Brush for Dogs has stainless-steel pins with coated tips that work to remove mats and tangles without scratching the skin. It also has an ergonomic handle and a no-slip grip, which will come in handy if grooming takes a while.

    The issues with this brush are that the pins are flexible, which won’t work on thick coats, and that it’s challenging to clean.

    Pros
    • Coated stainless-steel pins
    • Won’t scratch the skin
    • Ergonomic handle
    • No-slip handle
    Cons
    • Pins too flexible for thick coats
    • Difficult to clean properly

    7. JW Pet Gripsoft Double Row Undercoat Rake

    JW Pet Gripsoft Double Row Undercoat Rake

    Brush type: Rake
    Size: 8.5 x 5.5 inches
    Material: Rubber and stainless steel

    The JW Pet Gripsoft Double Row Undercoat Rake has an ergonomic and rubber handle, so it should be easy to hold and won’t slip out of your hands. The rake has two rows of smooth pins with rounded tips, so there are no worries about scratching, and the pins are angled, further protecting your dog’s skin.

    It will effectively remove mats and tangles from the undercoat, and it’s reasonably priced. There are two issues with this rake, though. One problem is that the fur doesn’t stick to the rake, so fur might fly everywhere while you’re raking. The second issue is that some rakes might have a few pins that are sharper than the others, so you’ll need to double-check your rake before using it on your dog.

    Pros
    • Ergonomic and rubber handle
    • Two rows of stainless-steel pins
    • Angled and rounded pins won’t scratch the skin
    • Affordable
    Cons
    • Doesn’t “grab” loose hair
    • Some pins might be sharp

    8. Babyliss Pro Pet Long Pin Slicker Pet Brush

    Babyliss Pro Pet Long Pin Slicker Pet Brush

    Brush type: Slicker
    Sizes: Small, medium, or large
    Material: Plastic and stainless steel

    Babyliss Pro Pet’s Long Pin Slicker Pet Brush has a comfortable gel-grip handle that is also anti-slip. The stainless-steel pins are long and flexible, so they can reach through thick fur, but they are gentle and shouldn’t scratch the skin. This brush is available in large (11.25 x 6.25 inches), medium (11 x 5.75 inches), and small (10.25 x 5.5 inches).

    But some brushes are prone to breaking, and since the handle contains a gel, you must ensure that you don’t leave it alone with your dog if they tend to be chewers.

    Pros
    • Comfy and anti-slip gel-grip handle
    • Long and flexible stainless-steel pins
    • Gentle on skin
    • Available in small, medium, and large
    Cons
    • Some brushes might break
    • Gel handle might be a hazard for dogs that chew

    9. FURminator Finishing Comb for Dogs, Large

    FURminator Finishing Comb for Dogs, Large

    Brush type: Comb
    Size: 10.63 x 5 inches
    Material: Plastic and stainless steel

    The FURminator Finishing Comb for Dogs is a comb that will help remove small tangles and mats on your dog’s long coat, and the stainless-steel pins rotate 360 degrees and have rounded ends, which will help make your dog more comfortable.

    The handle is ergonomic and made with antimicrobial plastic to help keep germs and bacteria away. But the comb tends to break, and the handle might feel awkward and bulky to some people.

    Pros
    • Helps remove small tangles and mats
    • Stainless-steel pins with rounded ends
    • Pins rotate 360°, making for less pulling
    • Ergonomic and antimicrobial handle
    Cons
    • Comb might break
    • Handle might feel awkward to hold

    10. Safari Wire Pin Brush for Dogs

    Safari Combo Brush for Dogs

    Brush type: Pin
    Size: Small and large
    Material: Wood and stainless steel

    Safari Wire Pin Brush for Dogs is available in large and small and is made with a solid one-piece plastic handle and base. The handle is also ergonomic and non-slip, and the stainless-steel pins are long and have rounded tips. The pins are embedded in a flexible pad, which should conform to your dog’s body and is gentle on the coat and skin.

    However, some dogs don’t seem to like being brushed with this, and the pins are sharper than what might be comfortable. Additionally, it can be difficult to remove hair from the brush.

    Pros
    • Solid one-piece plastic handle and base
    • Ergonomic and non-slip handle
    • Rounded and long stainless-steel pins
    • Pins in a flexible pad
    Cons
    • Pins might be too sharp for some dogs
    • Some dogs dislike being brushed with it
    • Difficult to remove hair

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    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Brushes for Long-Haired Dogs

    Now that you’ve had a look at the options, let’s cover a few points about brushing long-haired dogs, which can help you figure out what kind of brush will work best for your dog’s needs.

    Different Grooming Tools

    Rakes are not meant to take the place of a brush. They help loosen or remove mats and tangles, particularly in the undercoat. Once that’s done, you’ll need to go over the coat with a slicker or pin brush. The kind of brush that you need entirely depends on your dog’s coat.

    Some coats are single coated and silky, while others are double or even triple coated and incredibly dense. You can ask your vet or consult a groomer about the best grooming tools for your dog.

    Types of Brushes for Long-Haired Dogs

    The following equipment is commonly used for long-haired dogs. What you should purchase depends on your dog’s coat.

    Slicker Brush

    The slicker brush has short wire bristles that work to detangle and remove loose and dead fur. They are particularly good for dogs with curly and thick fur and an undercoat.

    Pin Brush

    The pin brush has pin bristles, which are more widely spaced than those on the slicker. They work well at removing shedding hair from long coats. They are also ideal for dogs with fur that tends to become staticky or frizzy.

    Female,Groomer,Hand,Brushing,White,Dog.,Care,For,A,Dog's
    Image By: Elena Sineglazova, Shutterstock

    Deshedder

    Deshedders come in handy for dogs that shed excessively. They can work well on short-haired dogs and dogs with undercoats and will come in handy during the shedding seasons of spring and fall.

    Rake

    Rakes are designed to remove dead hair without doing any damage to the top coat. They are not to be confused with undercoat rakes, which use blades to remove dead hair from the undercoat. The issue is that with heavy-coated dogs, an undercoat rake will cut the top coat in addition to the double coat.

    Comb

    Combs are quite good at smoothing hair and removing tangles. It can also help to use a detangling spray while working on your dog.

    Size

    The smaller the dog, the smaller the brush should be, and large brushes should be for large dogs. Always look at the measurements before you purchase a brush. Even if it’s labeled as large, it might not be as big as you were hoping.

    If the brush doesn’t have measurements, contact the seller, or ask other dog owners through the review section (most websites give you the opportunity to ask questions about the product).

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    Final Thoughts

    The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush is our favorite because it’s effective on long-haired coats, and we love the button that retracts the pins, so cleaning is a breeze! The Frisco Metal Dog & Cat Comb is a top-quality comb for a low price. It’s stainless steel, and the teeth are smooth and round and should glide nicely through your dog’s coat.

    The Chris Christensen Dog Brush is the premium choice due to birch wood handle and the long, smooth, sturdy stainless-steel pins.

    We hope that these reviews have led you toward the brush that will work best for you and your dog. After all, you have to do the grooming too!


    Featured Image Credit: MilaVista, Shutterstock

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