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10 Best Dog Brushes For Short Hair

Written by Laura
Laura is passionate about all sorts of domesticated pets. They have written dozens of articles across the web.
Published on
Friday 26 November 2021
Last updated on
Monday 20 September 2021
short hair dog brushes
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Brushing is an important part of a dog’s grooming routine, and choosing the right brush for your dog is just as important! To help you make the right choice, we’ve devised a list of the ten best dog brushes for short hair currently on the market.

Before we take a look at the best brushes for dogs with short hair, let’s run through some brushing basics and our top tips for brushing dogs. Keep reading for everything you need to know and answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Basics Of Dog Brushing

Regular brushing is essential for a dog’s hygiene and overall health. Brushing removes loose fur and debris and prevents tangles and matting. Removing loose fur, particularly during shedding seasons, prevents discomfort and overheating. Removing debris ensures good hygiene and prevents bad smells and infection, and removing tangles is essential for preventing matting, which can be painful, lead to infection, and conceal other issues like parasites.

How Often Should I Brush My Dog?

How often you need to brush your dog depends on their coat type. Dogs with thin, short-medium coats with soft, straight, or less textured fur, such as Labradors, usually need brushing at least once a week. Dogs with longer, thicker, curly, or corded coats, such as Poodles or Pomeranians, can need brushing as often as once a day to remove debris and prevent tangles. Their fur traps dirt and debris far more easily than shorter and less textured coats, and it is also more likely to matt.

Seasonal shedders, whether short or long-coated, whatever the texture, will need brushing more often during the end of spring and fall to remove the loose hair and prevent it from getting all over your home. Similarly, dogs that shed heavily all year round, whatever their coat type, may need brushing every few days for the same reason. We already published a guide on the best brushes for shedding dogs.

How To Brush A Dog

Brushing can be confusing and even frightening for puppies and rescue dogs. To brush a dog for the first time, first, let them see and sniff the brush, and give them the treat to make a positive association with it. Then, ask them to sit or lie down in a comfortable place and try gently brushing a small part of their coat. If they let you do it, give them another treat and lots of praise.

If they don’t like it or react nervously, let them see you use it on somebody else; a family member’s hair, or another family dog if you have one. Then, repeat the first two steps until they are comfortable with being brushed. Once they are comfortable with it, brush their entire coat and remove loose hair from the brush as you go. Always reward your dog when you finish a brushing session, and keep up brushing on a regular basis!

Brushing top tips:

  • Always brush a dog’s hair following the direction it grows
  • Use a firm pressure and short strokes as to not rip hair out
  • Place your free hand on the base of the fur in longer areas as to not pull it
  • Only brush fur when dry – unless you have a wet brush!
short haired dogs grooming frequency
Unlike long-haired dogs, short-haired dogs don’t need to get haircuts and other grooming maintenance long-hair dogs require.

Types of Dog Brush

The type of brush you need depends on your dog’s coat. These are the four most common types of hairbrushes for dogs.

Pin Brushes

Pin brushes are the most commonly used type of dog brush. They have wire pins with a protective ball at the end to prevent scratching the skin. They are effective at removing tangles and debris and work best for dogs with short-medium-length coats of all hair textures.

Bristle Brushes

Bristle brushes are a good option for dogs with short, thin, soft, and smooth coats. They have soft bristles that can be made out of synthetic materials like nylon, or natural materials like boar hair. These kinds of brushes cause less breakage and spread the natural oils produced in hair to give the coat a nice, healthy shine. They also massage the hair follicles promoting hair growth and are gentle on sensitive skin.

Rake Brushes

Rake brushes have long, thick pins and rake-like handles that are designed to pull out dead fur gently and easily without damaging the coat. They’re great for dogs with thick, long coats and heavy shedders.

Slicker Brushes

Slicker brushes use lots of tiny, thin pins to untangle hair and remove debris. They are great for dogs with longer, coarser, or more textured coats.

Other things to consider

Other features you may want to consider when looking for a brush for your dog are the design and materials used. Dog brushes should be comfortable to hold, durable for long-term use, and easy to clean.

If you have a dog that hates being brushed, you could look for a brush with a non-conventional design that makes it less scary, like brush gloves or handle-free brushes that mimic petting when in use. There are also wet brushes for bath-time brushing and double-sided brushes for multipurpose use or use with different dogs!

10 Best Dog Brushes For Dogs With Short Hair

This is our list of the ten best short-hair dog brushes!

1. CONAIRPRO Dog & Cat Pet-It Boar Bristle Brush

ConairPro‘s yellow oval-shaped bristle brush is 4.76 x 3.94 inches in size and uses real boar hair bristles that move through the coat easily and help to give a beautiful shine to fur. It features a clear plastic palm-petting grip that fits comfortably in the hand and mimics a natural petting motion, which is perfect for dogs who hate being brushed.

The brush works for dogs, cats, horses, and smaller pets and is perfect for short-haired animals. Buyers call it fantastic value for money.

2. Clumsy Pets Bamboo Grooming Palm-Held Pets Brush

Clumsy Pets‘ handle-less oval-shaped bristle brush is 7.59 x 3.97 inches in size and features a band that fits over the back of the hand for a comfortable, natural hold. The head of the brush is a high-grade natural bamboo material and the boar bristles promote growth and cause less hair breakage. It is hand-crafted and comes with a free storage/travel bag made from eco-friendly cotton.

It is an Amazon’s Choice product and reviews are positive, with some buyers saying that the design is great for arthritic hands.

3. Home Of Paws Premium Short Hair Dog Brush

This Home Of Paws product is a classic brush shape with a bamboo handle and a double-sided round head. It features boar bristles on one side and rubber pins on the other. The rubber side is perfect for bathtime brushing and is gentle but effective at removing loose hair and debris. The boar bristles are great at untangling fur, removing loose hair and debris, stimulating hair follicles, and creating a healthy shine. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive and buyers love the multipurpose functionality.

4. HERTZKO Bristle Brush for Dogs and Cats

Hertzko‘s purple and grey bristle brush has synthetic bristles made of nylon and a comfortable long plastic non-slip handle for easy use. It’s a classic hairbrush shape with a rectangular head. The synthetic bristles mimic boar bristles and are just as effective. It’s also gentle but effective for dogs with sensitive skin and great for owners who want a cruelty-free alternative to a boar brush. Reviews like the product and several remark on its sturdiness and durability.

5. Chris Christensen Soft Tufted Boar Brush

Chris Christensen‘s soft tufted boar brush has 8 rows of soft boar bristles and a lightweight beechwood handle. It has a long, rounded head and is effective at stimulating hair follicles and giving hair a healthy shine. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with several mentioning the high-quality feel of the product.

6. Petmate FurBuster 3-in-1 Dog Grooming Glove

Petmate‘s blue 3-in-1 dog grooming glove fits comfortably on the hand for anxious dogs that don’t like being brushed. It has adjustable inner straps and a wrist strap for a secure, universal fit. The glove has rubber pins on one side that are effective at removing loose fur and debris from both wet and dry fur. It’s also ideal for bathtime scrubbing and works best on shot-coated breeds.

The meshing on the outer layer of the product allows water to flow through the gloves for quicker drying during bathtime. The other side of the glove also features a special fabric that picks up loose hair. It is machine washable for easy cleaning and has a useful handle for hanging storage. Reviews are highly complimentary of the product, with several owners of short-coated dogs giving it five stars.

7. FUN LITTLE TOYS 5 -in-1 Dog & Cat Grooming Brush

This 5-in-1 green grooming tool by Fun Little Toys comes with a complete grooming kit. It has 5 interchangeable heads for multipurpose usage. It’s perfect for owners of multiple dogs or dogs with intense grooming needs. The kit contains a de-shedding comb, a de-matting comb, a bristle brush, a bath brush, and a pin brush.

The different brush heads secure and releases at the touch of a button, and the plastic handle is non-slip and comfortable to hold. It also comes with a worry-free 90-day warranty and there are no negative reviews of the product. Buyers say that they love the simple, convenient design.

8. Maxpower Planet Pet Grooming Rake Brush

Maxpower Planet’s rake brush is ideal for dogs with short but thick or coarse hair, like German Shepherds. It comes in four bright colors; pink, blue, yellow, and black, and is an Amazon best-seller. The double-sided design has a side with 9 teeth for stubborn mats and tangles and a side with 17 teeth for thinning and de-shedding.

All of the teeth have rounded edges for safety and comfort and the non-slip rubber handle is comfortable and lightweight. It’s also an Amazon’s Choice product and reviews are overwhelmingly positive.

9. Ruff ‘N Ruffus Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush

Ruff ‘N Ruffus’ aqua-colored slicker brush is great for short-coated dogs with textured hair. The tiny pins untangle knots and remove loose hair and debris with ease. The plastic handle is comfortable to hold and non-slip for safe, easy use. It’s also self-cleaning for convenience; all of the loose fur falls out of the brush head and into the trash can at the push of a button! It comes with a matching free pair of nail clippers, too!

The brush is an Amazon’s Choice product and comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Reviews highly recommend it and buyers love the nail clippers as well.

10. Vetnique Labs Furbliss Grooming Small Pets with Short Hair

Vetnique Labs’ double-sided blue silicone dog brush for short hair is multipurpose, as it can be used dry or wet for brushing and bathtime scrubbing. It’s also an effective de-shedder, promotes hair growth through skin stimulation, and comes in a green option for long-haired pets. It’s 4.5 x 2.5 inches in size and can also be used with cats.

The patented design features round rubber pins on one side, and “shampoo cells”, de-shedding teeth, and debris removers on the other. The brush is vet and groomer recommended and is designed to relax pets during brushing. It’s an Amazon’s Choice product and best-seller, and buyers absolutely love it. Several reviews mention how easy to use and effective it is, as well as how relaxing it is for pets.

shedding for short hair dogs
Short-haired dogs shed every season of the year.

Brush For Short-Haired Dogs: FAQ

How to clean a dog’s hairbrush?

To clean your dog’s hairbrush, remove all of the loose fur from the brush after each use. Depending on how often you use it, every few weeks or months, you should remove everything from the bristles or pins using a fine-tooth comb and swish it around some hot water mixed with dog shampoo. Alternatively, you could scrub it with a spare toothbrush.

Why do I need to brush my dog’s fur?

Brushing removes loose fur and debris and prevents tangles and matting. This prevents pain, discomfort, overheating, bad hygiene, bad smells, and infection. When a coat is in bad condition, it can also conceal other problems, such as parasites.

How often should I brush my dog?

Generally, dogs with thin, short coats with less textured fur need brushing at least once a week. Those with long, thick, curly, or corded coats can need brushing as often as every day to remove debris and prevent tangles.

That said, heavy shedders, whatever their coat type, need brushing more often during shedding seasons or every few days if they are all-year-round shedders.

What is the best kind of brush for my dog?

Pin brushes are good for medium-length coats of all textures. Bristle brushes are good for dogs with short, soft, thin, smooth, less textured coats. Rake and slicker brushes are good for longer, thicker, coarser, and more textured coats. You may also want to consider other features, such as non-traditional shapes that fit into the hand and mimic petting for pets that don’t like regular brushing.

Those were our ten favorite brushes for short-haired dogs! Brushing is an essential part of any dog’s grooming routine. Do you have any grooming tips you’d like to share with our readers? Let us know in the comments down below!

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