5 Best Dog Brushes for Short Hair Dogs: Our 2024 Guide
Quick Guide
- What is the Best Dog Brush for Short Hair?
- Different Types of Popular Dog Brushes
- What Type of Brush Should I Use for a Short-Haired Dog?
- Overall Best Brush for Short-Haired Dogs
- Best Shedding Brush for Short-Haired Dogs
- Best Slicker Brush for Short-Haired Dogs
- Two More Top-Rated Dog Brushes for Dogs with Short Hair
- FAQ
- Brushes for Short-Haired Dogs: The Bottom Line
With so many different options available, picking out the right brush for your short-haired dog can be difficult. Each type of brush has different advantages and disadvantages, and not all dog brushes work well with dogs that have short hair. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the different types of short-haired dog brushes that are available and walk you through the pros and cons of five of the best brushes for dogs with short hair.
What is the Best Dog Brush for Short Hair?
Different Types of Popular Dog Brushes
While there are hundreds of different dog brushes to choose from, each of these brush models can be sorted into one of four categories:
- Slicker Brushes – A slicker brush consists of thin wires that are attached to a wide, rectangular surface. In most cases, this surface is flat, but some slicker brushes may have curved bases. Flexible handles make slicker brushes easier to control, and these types of brushes are generally used to remove mats from a dog’s hair.
While slicker brushes are most commonly used with long-haired dogs, certain slicker brushes have been specifically made with short-haired dogs in mind. When you use a slicker brush on your dog, remember to be gentle since the metal wires attached to these brushes can cause discomfort if they are used incorrectly. - Rake Brushes – Rake brushes are like slicker brushes in that they have metal attachments, but they take things one step further by having long teeth that sink deep into a dog’s fur to deal with tangles and remove dead parts of the undercoat. These types of brushes work best with dogs with thick coats that can become dirty and oppressive during the summer months.It’s important to use minimal pressure when brushing a dog with a rake brush since these metal brushes can be painful if they are applied too forcefully. You should also make sure to select a rake brush that matches the length of your dog’s hair.
- Bristle Brushes – These brushes have tightly-packed bristles that are usually made from natural fibers. Bristle brushes are ideal for short-haired dogs, and they also help remove hair from dogs that shed a lot.
In some cases, it may be possible to find a two-sided bristle brush that has a pin brush on the opposite side. It’s common to see bristle brushes for dogs that have wooden bases, but some of these brushes may have plastic or metal bases. - Pin Brushes – These types of dog brushes most closely resemble the types of brushes that humans use on their hair. Pin brushes are usually oval, and they are equipped with flexible wires that have tiny balls on their ends.
While these types of brushes are great for picking up shed hair before it becomes a nuisance, they don’t remove your dog’s undercoat or help clear up mats. Many owners of short-haired dogs use pin brushes to follow up after a thorough grooming session with a bristle brush.
What Type of Brush Should I Use for a Short-Haired Dog?
In general, a short-haired dog’s coat doesn’t benefit from the use of a rake or a slicker brush. Some slicker brushes may be appropriate for short-haired dogs, but it’s important to buy a slicker brush that’s specifically designed to work with dogs that have short hair to avoid harming your dog.
Bristle brushes, however, are indispensable tools if you own a short-haired dog. These types of brushes will save you from the enormous headache that shedding causes, and they will also keep your dog’s hair and skin healthy. You may want to experiment with a few types of bristle brushes as you determine which shape and bristle strength is best for your pet.
Now that you know which types of brushes are right for your short-haired dog, you know what not to buy, but we’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to picking out the ideal brush for your pet.
Overall Best Brush for Short-Haired Dogs
Our 2024 Picks: Best Short Hair Dog Brushes | |||
Rank | Brush | Price | Rating |
Overall Best |
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A+
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#2 |
$$$ |
A+
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#3 |
$ |
A
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#4 |
$ |
A
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#5 |
$$ |
A
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Safari Combo Brush for Dogs
Our overall top pick for the best brush for short-haired dogs is the Safari Combo Brush for Dogs. This combination brush features a bristle brush on one side and a pin brush on the other side, which makes it easy to give your short-haired pooch a thorough brushing that will eliminate excess shedding.
This brush is available in two different sizes, which makes brushing equally easy whether you have a Jack Russel or a Greyhound. Plus, the Safari Combo Brush has a wooden handle for enhanced durability, and this handle features ergonomic padding to make brushing easy.
- The low price of the Safari Combo Brush makes it accessible for all short-haired dog owners
- The double-sided design of this brush makes it easy to give your dog a thorough brushing with a single tool
- This brush is lightweight, and its ergonomic handle keeps the daily brushing process comfortable
- Safari has indicated that it is phasing out the wooden design, which means that customers may receive the new plastic version
- Since it has brushes on both sides, the Safari Combo Brush isn’t as portable as offerings that only have brushes on one side
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Best Shedding Brush for Short-Haired Dogs
FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush
If you want to make sure that your short-haired dog’s fur never reaches your clothes or upholstery, the FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush is the only way to go. If you use this brush regularly, you can reduce shedding by up to 90 percent.
The FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush comes in small, medium, or large, and options for short-haired and long-haired dogs are both available. This brush consists of a row of short, sharp teeth that grab freshly shed hair before it has a chance to leave your dog’s coat, and this hair then accumulates on the end of the brush. With the touch of a button, this accumulated hair can be dropped into the trash, and the FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush has plastic guards that prevent its teeth from harming your dog.
- This brush can remove nearly all of your short-haired dog’s hair before it falls onto your carpet or upholstery
- Special technologies protect your dog from getting scratched by the sharp teeth on this brush
- The FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush has an ergonomic plastic handle, and it comes in multiple sizes
- This high-end de-shedding brush is relatively pricey
- The FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush isn’t an all-in-one brush, and you’ll need to supplement your brushing routine with a bristle brush
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Best Slicker Brush for Short-Haired Dogs
Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Dogs
While a slicker brush certainly won’t be everything you need to keep your short-haired dog’s coat healthy and prevent it from shedding, you might want to have a Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Dogs on hand to help out with the grooming effort. This inexpensive brush features a rounded base that conforms with your dog’s body shape, and it includes ergonomic rubber grips to make brushing easy on your hands.
The Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Dogs has gentle pins that penetrate deep into your dog’s coat, and it stimulates your canine’s skin to remove dead cells. Best, of all, this brush features a simple button that you can press when you’re done brushing to push all of the accumulated hair directly into the trash.
- The Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Dogs has a lightweight, ergonomic design
- This brush is inexpensive, and it is gentle on your dog’s skin
- You can press a small button on the back of the Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Dogs to push any hair that has accumulated on the brush into the trash
- If you already have a bristle brush and a pin brush, you may find the Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Dogs to be redundant
- The tiny metal pins on this brush might be uncomfortable for short-haired dogs
Two More Top-Rated Dog Brushes for Dogs with Short Hair
ConairPRO Pet-It Boar Bristle Brush
Before we wrap up this list, we should mention two more brushes that you might want to use to give your short-haired dog a perfect coat. First, consider the ConairPRO Pet-It Boar Bristle Brush: This affordable brush is appropriate for both short-haired and long-haired dogs, and unlike most dog brushes, the ConairPRO Pet-It Boar Bristle Brush is held in the palm of your hand.
Therefore, the motion you use with this brush is more similar to petting than brushing, which might put your pet at ease. The ConairPRO Pet-It Boar Bristle Brush is composed of 50 percent boar hairs and 50 percent synthetic bristles, which helps keep your dog’s hair smooth and properly distributes hair and skin oils.
- If your dog is resistant to grooming, the natural petting motion used with this brush might make things easier for both parties
- A mixture of boar bristles and synthetic fibers keeps things natural without any discomfort
- The handle of this brush might be too small for some hands, and the hard plastic of the base of this brush might be uncomfortable
- The ConairPRO Pet-It Boar Bristle Brush might not be effective for grooming larger dogs
Glandex Furbliss Multi-Use Deshedding and Massaging Short Hair Dog Brush
You should also consider the potential benefits of the Glandex Furbliss Multi-Use Deshedding and Massaging Short Hair Dog Brush. This 100 percent silicone dog brush is about as ergonomic as it gets; every surface of this brush molds to your touch, and your dog won’t have to worry about any uncomfortable bristles.
At the same time, the silicone teeth on this brush pick up hair with ease, and the Glandex Furbliss Multi-Use Deshedding and Massaging Short Hair Dog Brush even has a lint-removing tool on its opposite side. While it might not be enough to give your dog a deep, thorough brushing, this brush can serve as a beneficial addition to your grooming toolkit.
- This soft brush is one of the gentlest options on the market for both you and your dog
- Your dog’s hairs will stick to the teeth on this brush, which makes cleaning the Glandex Furbliss Multi-Use Deshedding and Massaging Short Hair Dog Brush
- This brush is dishwasher and washing machine safe
- This brush might be too small for big dogs
FAQ
Here are the answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions regarding brushes for short-haired dogs:
How do you de-shed a short-haired dog? – De-shedding is a process that’s usually done by professional dog groomers. If you want to take on this effort at home, you’ll need to start by thoroughly brushing your dog’s entire coat.
Next, you’ll want to give your canine friend a bath with a de-shed shampoo. Some companies also make de-shed conditioners that reduce shedding even further. Next, dry off your dog with a hair dryer, and brush him or her one more time to remove any excess hair that was dislodged during the drying process.
How often should I brush my short-haired dog? – No matter the length of its coat, every dog should be brushed every 1-2 days. Ideally, you should brush your dog every day, and never go more than three days without a brushing. You may want to break up the workload by doing one super-thorough brushing every week and supplementing with casual brushing sessions every couple of days.
How do I prevent my short-haired dog from shedding too much? – If you have a breed of dog that sheds its hair, there’s nothing you can do to make the shedding stop. However, there are a few ways that you can reduce the amount of hair your dog sheds and avoid getting this hair all over your furniture.
First, it’s important to brush your dog frequently. Doing so will remove hair that has already fallen off, which means that this hair won’t have a chance to get on your couch or easy chair.
Dogs that are bathed frequently have healthier skin, and healthy dog skin doesn’t let go of hair very easily. Make sure to give your short-haired canine a bath every week or so, and blow dry their coat when you’re done.
The better health your pet is in, the less they will shed. Consider whether or not the cheap kibble you’re currently feeding your dog is worth the price you pay in the form of hair getting everywhere. You may also want to give your dog supplements to improve his or her skin and hair health.
Brushes for Short-Haired Dogs: The Bottom Line
Just picking out the right brush isn’t enough to take care of your dog’s hair and skin health; you’ll also need to make sure that you use your new brush effectively. A brush isn’t the only answer to shedding, and if you want to keep your carpets and upholstery clean, you’ll need to consider whether or not any other factors might be negatively impacting your short-haired dog’s skin and hair health.
Above all, keep your dog’s comfort in mind as you pick out a new brush. The ideal situation you want to create with your purchase is one in which both you and your canine companion are happier and more comfortable.