We love our dogs and their gorgeous coats. However, many long-haired dog owners often forget how necessary regular brushing is. It helps you detect skin conditions early, keeps your dog looking neat and tidy, and of course, reduces shedding—which your clothes and furniture surely appreciate!
When preparing for a new dog or updating their “essentials list,” don’t skip on a good brush because you’re going to need to use it several times a week. There are many different types of dog brushes on the market, but not all of them are suitable for long-haired breeds.
To help you keep things simple, we narrowed down your search to these reviews of the best brushes for long-haired dogs. We also explained what you should look for in a brush, so read on!
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A Glance at Our Winners in 2024
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush |
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Best Value | Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush |
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Premium Choice | FURminator Long Hair Dog Deshedding Tool |
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Best for Puppies | Li’l Pals Coated Tips Dog Slicker Brush |
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Safari Soft Slicker Brush for Dogs |
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The 9 Best Brushes for Long Hair Dogs
1. Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush — Best Overall
Brush Type: | Slicker Brush |
Size: | Regular |
Materials: | Stainless Steel, Metal |
Self-Cleaning: | Yes |
There’s little better than a product that serves both you and your dog well, and the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush does just that, which is why it’s the best overall brush for long hair dogs. The thin bristles are designed in such a way that they brush deep into the coat and remove loose hair and dander while also smoothing the coat out. The stainless-steel bristles are gentle on your dog’s skin and shouldn’t cause any irritation to it.
Owners love this brush because it has a self-cleaning button and an anti-slip handle, keeping your wrist pain-free, even when the brushing takes more time and effort due to difficult tangles and mats. That said, we found that the button can become finicky over time.
- Can be used on all pets
- Benefits dogs and their owners
- Brushes deep into the coat
- Gentle on the skin
- Self-cleaning button and anti-slip handle
- Button can become finicky over time
2. Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush — Best Value
Brush Type: | Combo Brush |
Size: | Large |
Materials: | Plastic |
Self-Cleaning: | No |
The Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush offers stainless-steel pins and nylon bristles for an affordable price, making it the best brush for long hair dogs for the money. The stainless-steel pins help brush through all the tangles, while the nylon bristles smooth out the coat and spread the natural oils across the body. The brush works well on long, curly, or wiry coats.
The bristles can tend to be a bit stiff, but the pins are gentle because of the safety tips. The handle is padded and comfortable to grip, making brushing your dog frequently less of a chore and far more enjoyable.
- Dual-sided
- Pins are gentle on your dog’s skin
- Handle is padded and comfortable to grip
- Affordable
- Bristles can be a bit stiff and uncomfortable
3. FURminator Long Hair Dog Deshedding Tool — Premium Choice
Brush Type: | Deshedding Brush |
Size: | Large |
Materials: | Stainless Steel, Metal |
Self-Cleaning: | Yes |
Many brushes can be used on a variety of pets, but the FURminator Long Hair Dog Deshedding Tool is specially designed for dogs to reduce their excessive shedding, which is especially useful in the summer months when they lose their winter coats. You won’t have to pull the loose hair out of the brush yourself because it has a button that releases the hair for you.
This product doesn’t cause damage to your dog’s top coat as it moves through it to the undercoat and is highly effective at removing loose hair. The brush is curved to move over your dog’s body naturally, and the skin guard prevents the skin from becoming irritated. However, you shouldn’t use it daily but rather one to two times a week.
- Removes loose hair and reduces shedding
- Specially designed for dogs
- Curve enables brush to naturally move over dog’s body
- Self-cleaning button
- Cannot be used as a daily-use brush
- Expensive
4. Li’l Pals Coated Tips Dog Slicker Brush — Best for Puppies
Brush Type: | Slicker Brush |
Size: | Small |
Materials: | Plastic |
Self-Cleaning: | No |
Even a little puppy can have a long coat, and that’s why the Li’l Pals Coated Tips Dog Slicker Brush is so useful. Its small size helps you brush through your puppy’s coat and easily reach places that a large brush would struggle to get to, such as the joint areas.
The wire pins are flexible and contour to the body, making brushing easy and gentle. The pins have plastic tips to prevent skin irritation while massaging it and detangling the hair. Although suitable for puppies, its small proportions also make it an excellent brush for small breeds. However, it would be incredibly time-consuming if it were to be used on a large breed, as you’d have a larger surface to cover and would need to remove the hair from the brush more frequently.
- Small brush size enables you to reach hard-to-access areas
- Flexible wire pins that contour
- Affordable
- Not appropriate for large breeds
5. Safari Soft Slicker Brush for Dogs
Brush Type: | Slicker Brush |
Size: | Large |
Materials: | Plastic |
Self-Cleaning: | No |
The Safari Soft Slicker Brush for Dogs is suitable for a variety of hair lengths. It’s useful to have a brush for your large dogs, regardless of their hair length, to avoid wasting money on a separate brush for each one. This brush not only removes mats and tangles from your dog’s coat, but it also aids in reducing hair from your home, clothes, and furniture.
You can use this brush on a daily basis, and since the stainless-steel pins have coated tips, it won’t irritate their skin. The pins may be a bit too closely spaced for some thicker hair types, though, preventing them from easily going through the hair.
- Suitable for various dog hair lengths
- Removes mats and tangles and reduces shedding
- Can be used daily
- Some owners report that the pins are too close together
6. ConairPRO Pet-It Dog Metal Pin Brush
Brush Type: | Pin Brush |
Size: | Regular |
Materials: | Steel, Metal |
Self-Cleaning: | No |
Some dogs don’t enjoy being brushed as much as other dogs do. If your dog is one of these, the ConairPRO Pet-It Dog Metal Pin Brush may be a good option for you. This brush fits in your palm and comfortably slips through your fingers to secure itself (there is no handle), which gives your dog the impression that you’re petting them instead of brushing them. They’ll feel loved while receiving the maintenance that they need.
The capped tips are gentle on the skin while the pins move through the coat and remove knots and dirt. You can use this brush daily but may struggle with its size if you have large hands.
- Great alternative to standard brushes
- Pins are capped and gentle on the skin
- Can be used daily
- May not fit comfortably if you have large hands
- Unconventional design may not appeal to everyone
7. Safari Flexible Slicker Dog Brush
Brush Type: | Slicker Brush |
Size: | Medium |
Materials: | Plastic |
Self-Cleaning: | No |
The Safari Flexible Slicker Dog Brush is medium in size and offers two curved pin types, with one side softer than the other, for more variety and freedom in your brushing. The brush works well at removing loose hair, and the flexible head follows the contours of your dog’s body.
The pins don’t have coated tips, so they aren’t ideal for dogs with sensitive skin. However, the brush goes through and untangles fur with only a few strokes. It is well-made and long-lasting. It has a comfortable handle with a non-slip grip for your convenience and can be used on different pets.
- Dual-sided head
- Flexible head
- Gets the job done quickly and easily
- Well-made
- Non-slip grip handle
- Pins aren’t coated and may irritate sensitive skin
- Pricey
8. Bass Brushes Style & Detangle Dog Oval Brush
Brush Type: | Detangle Brush |
Size: | Medium |
Materials: | Wood |
Self-Cleaning: | No |
For a brush with a premium look, the Bass Brushes Style & Detangle Dog Oval Brush is a great option. It has a natural bamboo handle, making it eco-friendly, durable, and sturdy. Suitable for medium- to long-haired coats, the pins work well at getting knots out and can be used to style your dog’s coat. The brush also massages your dog’s skin and helps remove dander.
This product is easy to handle because it’s lightweight and comfortable to hold. It’s an excellent choice for cats and dogs and is a brilliant gift for any pet owner. Unfortunately, it’s not self-cleaning, and you’ll have to pull the hair out of the pins yourself.
- Natural bamboo handle
- Eco-friendly, durable, and sturdy
- Lightweight and comfortable to use
- Not self-cleaning
9. Safari Wire Pin Brush for Dogs
Brush Type: | Pin Brush |
Size: | Small |
Materials: | Plastic |
Self-Cleaning: | No |
This Safari Wire Pin Brush for Dogs is small in size and a great choice for small- to medium-sized breeds. However, it’s also available in a large size if needed. Unlike some other brushes that can damage your dog’s hair while untangling, this brush is gentle and gets out the knots without pulling hair out in the process.
The pins are firm and can easily get through thick coats. The brush moves deep into the coat and can reach tangles that brushes with shorter pins can easily miss. It doesn’t have coated tips, though, which is great for friction prevention but can be a bit harsh on your dog’s skin. The brush is affordable and can even be used in water.
- Available in small and large sizes
- Detangles without pulling out hair
- Pins are firm and move deep into the coat
- Affordable
- Pins can be a bit harsh on your dog’s skin if you’re not being gentle
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Brush for Long Hair Dogs
There are several different brush types on the market, each designed for a specific purpose, so what may work on one type of hair length may not work as well on another. It’s important to get the brush that’s right for your dog. Here, we discuss the brushes to look out for regarding your long-haired pup.
The Best Brush Types for Your Long-Haired Dog
Slicker Brushes
Slicker brushes are ideal for dogs with hair that has tangles and mats, due to the short bristles. They’re available with plastic or wire bristles and perform well with thick, curly, and long hair. Most of these brushes are self-cleaning, which benefits the owner by making removing the hair from the brush much easier. They also come in various head shapes.
Pin Brushes
The pin brush is similar to human brushes. Instead of having bristles that are close together, as with the slicker brush, it has bristles that are more widely spaced. It also helps remove loose hair and debris and distributes the natural oils throughout your dog’s coat.
Deshedding Brushes
These brushes shouldn’t be used as frequently as the other brushes listed, as the hard bristles can irritate your dog’s skin if used frequently. These bristles move through the topcoat and undercoat layers to remove loose hairs and reduce shedding.
Combo Brushes
Two-in-ones are always handy. Combo brushes are double-sided, typically with one side having soft bristles and the other being a pin brush. Although soft bristles aren’t that effective at brushing through and detangling a long-haired coat, they are good at bringing out the shine.
What to Look Out For
Size: If you have a small breed, a large brush size is going to be uncomfortable to use, and you won’t be able to reach certain areas well. If your brush is too small, you’ll have to remove hair much more frequently than if you had an appropriately sized brush.
Material: There are brushes with nylon or stainless-steel bristles and ones with rubber or plastic tips. If your long-haired dog has a thick coat, the stainless-steel bristles may work better at removing loose hair.
Convenience: It makes a big difference if the brush you have is easy and comfortable to use and simple to clean. Self-cleaning brushes aren’t a requirement, but they make the process much more pleasant. Handles with padding also prevent your hand from getting sore.
Why Should You Brush Your Dog’s Long Hair Regularly?
Regular brushing benefits both you and your dog. Not only does it help you stay on top of your dog’s skin health because you can observe its condition during brushing, but it also helps you spot fleas, prevent tangling and matting, spread natural oils, remove dirt and debris, reduce shedding, and increase circulation in the skin.
If you’re regularly brushing your dog, you can notice things that need attention. If your pet’s skin is red, inflamed, or flaky, you may need to change their shampoo, as it could be drying out their skin. The problem may even be their diet, as they might not be receiving certain nutrients needed for good skin health, or they may have a sensitivity to something. Take them to the veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
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If you notice fleas, you’re able to get a tick and flea collar to rid them from your dog before they cause further discomfort. You’re also able to act quickly and take the necessary measures in your house before the fleas get out of control.
Lastly, don’t see brushing your dog as a chore, but rather something to look forward to. It’s a lovely opportunity to bond with your best friend!
How Often Should You Brush Your Long-Haired Dog?
The general rule is that you should brush your long-haired dog at least once a week. However, there is nothing wrong with brushing them more regularly or even daily. More importantly, you should brush your dog when you can see that they need it.
Other factors that affect how often you should brush your dog are based on the length of their coat, their coat type, and their activities.
If your dog’s long hair is curly and prone to tangling and matting, such as with the Poodle, you’ll need to brush them daily. Dogs with long, straight hair, such as the Border Collie, should be brushed around three times a week. If your dog mostly lies around the house, they’ll need less brushing than dogs that enjoy running around outside in the wind and dirt. You’ll need to brush their hair to remove the tangles and debris from their coats.
Long hair is more prone to matting and tangling than short hair and requires more grooming. Brush gently in sections to brush out knots without hurting your dog.
Our Selection Process For Brushes for Long Hair Dogs
To create this buyer’s guide, our writing team and editorial staff checked customer reviews, brand reputation, and veterinary approval ratings to present the dog brushes we think should be highlighted for our readers. In some cases, we conducted hands-on testing along with seeing how much our dogs liked the dog brushes. All these factors were considered when selecting these listed dog brushes to help you make the best purchase for your furry friends.
Why Trust Dogster?
Since 2004, Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online, which means we have a lot of experience with dog brushes. We take pride in promoting the well-being of all dogs—from toy breeds to giant canines. Our in-house veterinarians, writers, and editors examine each product on our lists, ensuring its quality and reputation. As pet owners ourselves, we only want the best for our furry companions. At Dogster, we are transparent about the products we promote. The nutritional information, overall brand reputation, and customer reviews are all considered for these lists. We inform you how we want to be informed.
Final Thoughts
With so many different brushes available, we picked the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush as our best overall option because it serves both you and your dog well with its gentle bristles and convenient self-cleaning feature. The Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush offers more than one bristle type for an affordable price, and the FURminator Long Hair Dog Deshedding Tool is specially designed for canines and the reduction of shedding.
We hope that these reviews of brush options for long-haired dogs help you find the perfect one for your pet.
Featured Image Credit: Jennie Book, Shutterstock