Goldendoodles are perfect family pets, and their low-shedding coats make them a great choice for allergy sufferers. But the glorious curly coat that’s so characteristic of the breed can easily become matted and tangled if you don’t brush your pet every day.
There’s a huge range of grooming tools to choose from, so how do you choose the best brush for your Goldendoodle?
Read this guide to discover how to brush a Goldendoodle and what brushes you need to get the job done properly.
Quick Comparisons of The 8 Best Brushes for Goldendoodles
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BRAND
Andis Pet Steel Comb
DETAILS
- Features: Lightweight, coarse and fine teeth
- Coat type: Any
Pricing
BRAND
PetEd Slicker Brush
DETAILS
- Automatic cleaning feature
- Ergonomic comfort grip
- High-quality, non-break bristles
BRAND
Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
DETAILS
- Features: Lightweight, steel bristles, anti-slip grip, self-cleaning
- Coat type: Medium to thick
BRAND
Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush
DETAILS
- Features: Extra-long pins, ergonomic handle
- Coat Type: Medium to thick
BRAND
Safari by Coastal Pin & Bristle combination Brush
DETAILS
- Features: Bamboo handle, round-ended pins for comfort
- Coat type: Medium
BRAND
Pro Slicker Brush
DETAILS
- Features: Stainless steel pins, reasonably priced
- Coat type: All coat types, including cats!
BRAND
JW Pet Company GripSoft Slicker Brush
DETAILS
- Features: Anti-slip, ergonomic handle
- Coat type: All coat types
BRAND
Ruff ‘N Ruffus Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
DETAILS
- Features: Self-cleaning, extra-wide, non-slip handle
- Coat type: All coat types
Top 8 Goldendoodle Brush Reviews
Now, you’re ready to read our reviews of the best Goldendoodle brushes on the market today!
1. Andis Pet Steel Comb
Features: Lightweight, coarse and fine teeth
Coat type: Any
The Andis Steel Comb is undoubtedly an essential addition to any Goldendoodle grooming kit! The metal comb is suitable for all coat lengths and types. The comb’s coarse and fine teeth make it perfect for removing mats, dirt, loose hair, and tangles.
When brushing your Goldendoodle, use the wider side of the comb to untangle mats and to give the coat a fluffier appearance if desired. The finer side of the comb can be used effectively on the dog’s more sensitive areas, such as the paws, rear end, and face.
The comb is made using durable stainless steel that won’t rust or bend, and the design makes the comb comfortable to hold, even on the most time-consuming grooming sessions.
The Andis Steel Comb is the first choice of many professional dog groomers, offering excellent performance, a 12-month guarantee, and superb value for money.
PROS
- Wide and narrow teeth design
- Robust, water-resistant stainless steel
- 12-month warranty
CONS
- Not self-cleaning
2. PetEd Slicker Brush
Automatic cleaning feature
Ergonomic comfort grip
High-quality, non-break bristles
This excellent slicker brush from PetEd is designed with Doodles and other hybrid breeds in mind. The brush has an ergonomically designed, non-slip handle for ease of use, making this the perfect choice of grooming tool for pet parents with large, thick-coated dogs.
The fine, angled metal bristles glide easily through the coat, effectively removing debris and dirt after winter walks and detangling a curly coat. That helps to keep your dog’s coat tidy, free from mats, and looking great!
To clean the brush, simply push the button over a trash can!
PROS
- Automatic cleaning
- Ideal for Doodles
- Non-slip, easy-grip handle
CONS
- Might be too large to use on very small dogs
3. Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
Features: Lightweight, steel bristles, anti-slip grip, self-cleaning
Coat type: Medium to thick
The Hertzko Self-cleaning Slicker Brush gives you excellent grooming performance and the convenience of being self-cleaning too!
The brush has an ergonomically designed, anti-slip grip that won’t slip in your hand. The metal bristles are extremely well-made and smooth, gliding easily through your dog’s coat without the risk of snagging. Also, the bristles won’t become bent or broken, which can be the case with cheaper brushes. And, since the bristles retract into the brush when not in use, damage during storage is unlikely.
The brush handle is super-strong, so it won’t break, and there’s a neat thumb rest that makes holding the brush really comfortable, even during a marathon brushing session! There’s also a handy hole in the handle so that you can hang the tool up for safe, convenient storage if you want to.
The brush removes dead fur, detangles the coat, and helps to boost blood circulation. When you’re done grooming your Goldendoodle, simply hold the brush over a trash can and push the button. The bristles slide back inside the body of the tool, leaving all that dead hair safely in the trash. Genius!
PROS
- Self-cleaning at the push of a button
- Comfort grip handle
- Robust frame
- Gets right down to undercoat for thorough grooming
CONS
- Not suitable for thin-coated dogs
4. Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush
Features: Extra-long pins, ergonomic handle
Coat Type: Medium to thick
The Chris Christenson “coral brush” is the first choice of most pro groomers and Doodle enthusiasts. Although this is an expensive brush, its amazing performance easily justifies the cost.
The brush has extra-long pins that are super-robust yet very gentle on your dog’s skin, gliding easily through the thickest coat to get rid of loose underfur without pulling or tugging. The end result is a tangle-free, beautifully fluffed coat in record time! In fact, many users reckon that using the Chris Christenson Big G Slicker Brush has halved their typical brushing time.
The brush has an extra-long, ergonomically designed handle to prevent arm fatigue, even during the longest of grooming sessions.
PROS
- Extra-long pins
- Ergonomic handle
- Can greatly reduce grooming time
CONS
- Very expensive compared to other brands
5. Safari by Coastal Pin & Bristle combination Brush
Features: Bamboo handle, round-ended pins for comfort
Coat type: Medium
Safari by Coastal Pin and Bristle Combination brush is a handy combo that features a double-sided design with a soft bristle brush on one side and a pin brush on the other. So, you can save space and cash by purchasing one brush instead of two.
The brush does a great job on dogs with medium-length coats or a thick-coated Goldendoodle with a short clip. One downside of this brush is that it won’t get through very thick, dense coats. The wire pins have rounded ends that are designed to penetrate the fur without snagging or scratching the dog’s skin, loosening dead hair. The bristle brush element of the combo adds shine to the top layer of the coat and picks up floating loose hairs.
The brush handle is made from responsibly sourced, premium-quality bamboo that feels lovely in your hand and provides a luxury alternative to plastic or silicone. If you have a small Goldendoodle, try the medium-sized alternative, or go for the large brush if you have a big dog.
PROS
- Luxury bamboo handle
- Dual-purpose tool
- Round-ended pins for safety and comfort
CONS
- Not effective on dogs with very thick coats
6. Pro Slicker Brush
Features: Stainless steel pins, reasonably priced
Coat Type: All coat types, including cats!
This grooming tool has been designed with your pet’s comfort and enjoyment in mind, and this brush is kind to your pocket, too! The brush is an inexpensive yet very high-quality grooming tool that comes in three sizes to suit small, medium, and large dogs. You can even use the small version of the brush on your cat!
The stainless-steel pins are designed to be firm enough to rake out dead and loose undercoat without snagging or scratching the dog’s skin. This is a deceptively powerful grooming tool that even shifts tangles and tough mats with minimal effort on your part. And it’s ideal for every Goldendoodle, regardless of coat type and length.
As a bonus, you get a free dog grooming book when you buy one of these excellent brushes. The only real downside to this product is that it doesn’t have a self-cleaning feature, which is a shame, as everything else about the brush is great.
PROS
- Reasonably priced
- Suitable for all coat types
- Free dog grooming book included
CONS
- Not self-cleaning
7. JW Pet Company GripSoft Slicker Brush
Features: Anti-slip, ergonomic handle
Coat Type: All coat types
The JW Pet Company GripSoft Slicker Brush is an excellent product! The brush is inexpensive, yet excellent quality that’s built to last, giving you great value for money.
The brush handle has a rubber coating with finger contours that prevent the brush from slipping in your hand while you’re tackling areas of very thick double-coat. The flexible metal pins are of two different lengths and do a superb job of penetrating the deepest areas of the dog’s coat, stripping out dead and loose undercoat to reduce shedding.
The brush’s teeth are angled 90 degrees away from the dog’s skin. That keeps the pins parallel during grooming so that you don’t rake the skin, which could make grooming uncomfortable for your pet.
The manufacturer is so confident in this slicker brush that you get a three-year guarantee with the product.
PROS
- Safe and comfortable for your dog
- Ergonomically designed handle
- 3-year guarantee
CONS
- Not self-cleaning
8. Ruff ‘N Ruffus Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
Features: Self-cleaning, extra-wide, non-slip handle
Coat Type: All coat types
The Ruff ‘N Ruffus Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush offers you excellent value as it comes with some very handy free extras. As well as a decent quality slicker brush, you get a set of heavy-duty pet nail clippers. And, there’s a very useful stainless-steel grooming comb included, too!
The slicker brush is well-designed with you and your pet’s comfort in mind. The bristles are made from fine bent wire that’s gentle on your dog’s skin but super-effective at removing loose hair, knots, and dander, too. And there’s no messy, fiddly teasing the hair out of the brush when you’re done grooming your Goldendoodle! Simply press the button, and the self-cleaning brush does that job for you.
For your comfort, the handle is extra-wide, and rubber covered so that it’s easy to grip during long grooming sessions with your furry friend.
The grooming set comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, too, for your peace of mind.
PROS
- Comes with a free steel comb and nail clippers
- Ergonomically designed handle
- Self-cleaning
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
CONS
- Not ideal for very thick coats, but it works fine if you use the comb first
Types of Brushes for Goldendoodles
Although your Goldendoodle grooming kit only needs a few essentials, I strongly advise you to buy the very best quality brushes that you can afford, such as those reviewed later in this guide.
Good quality grooming tools not only do a more efficient job, but they’re kinder on your pet’s skin and are durable and long-lasting, too.
So, what Goldendoodle brushes do you need?
Slicker Brush
Slicker brushes are an essential addition to your grooming kit. These grooming tools are made from fine wires mounted on a soft, flexible backing.
Slicker brushes are generally rectangular or square in shape and are absolutely brilliant for reducing shedding, getting rid of tangles, and preventing mats.
A slicker brush has two parts; the handle and the bristle brush.
Handle
If you have a large Goldendoodle, brushing him can take a while, and remember that you will be doing that job every day.
So, look for a slicker brush that has an anti-slip handle that’s comfortable to hold. Wood is a popular option, as are textured plastic and non-slip silicon.
Bristles
Slicker brushes come with a plethora of bristle materials, including silicone, stainless steel, plastic, and even synthetic animal hair.
I recommend stainless steel bristles, as they tend to move smoothly through thick coats without pulling or snagging, which would be uncomfortable for your dog.
Wire Pin Brush
Wire pin brushes are useful for dogs with thinner coats.
Pin brushes are generally oval or round in shape. The brush consists of pins mounted on a soft backing, attached to a handle. Some styles of pin brush lack the handle and are designed to fit into your palm, being secured by an elastic strap that passes over the back of your hand.
The pins separate the hairs of the coat, removing tangles and getting rid of loose hair and dirt. The pins are usually made of metal for durability, and the ends are capped in soft plastic. However, over time the plastic caps tend to fall off, exposing sharp edges that could scratch your dog’s skin.
For that reason, I recommend that you buy a high-quality tool with metal pins that have rounded ends. Choose a brush with a comfortable, non-slip handle, ideally made from wood, textured silicone, or plastic.
Bristle Brush
Bristle brushes are best for puppies and dogs that have wavy or straight coats rather than super-curly hair.
A bristle brush is usually oval or round and consists of long, stiff bristles of either plastic or natural material set in a soft backing material and attached to a handle.
Again, the handle should be comfortable and, ideally, non-slip.
Metal Comb
A wide-tooth metal comb is essential for detangling and preventing matting by removing loose hair from the dog’s undercoat and shifting dirt.
Things to Consider When Choosing Grooming Tools for Your Goldendoodle
There are a few essential things to bear in mind when choosing grooming tools for your Goldendoodle, including:
- Always buy the best quality product you can afford.
- Look for well-constructed, durable brushes.
- Choose pin and slicker brushes that have round-ended pin tips that won’t scratch your dog’s skin.
- Brushing your dog can be quite a long process that you will be doing every day, so make sure that the tool’s grip is ergonomic and comfortable.
- The brush is most likely going to accumulate lots of your Goldendoodle’s shed hair and general dirt, so the tool should be easy to clean.
- If your dog has sensitive skin or has a skin condition, you must choose a brush that is kind to the skin and won’t scratch your pet.
Do the Pressure Check!
Rather than testing the temperature of a baby’s bathwater before putting the child into the tub, you need to be sure that the brush you’re using is comfortable and won’t hurt your dog. So, before you use any brush or grooming tool on your Goldendoodle, test it on your own arm first.
Place the brush on your forearm and apply gentle pressure as you pull the brush along your arm. You’ll quickly discover just how much pressure you can comfortably apply to your dog when you brush him.
Never use slicker brushes repeatedly on the same part of the dog’s body. That can cause sensitivity and pain, which will make your Goldendoodle nervous and resentful of being brushed.
Use short, gentle strokes, and don’t press down hard when grooming your dog with a slicker or pin brush.
How to Brush a Goldendoodle at Home
Although your Doodle will probably need a trip to a pro groomer once in a while, you should ideally brush him at home every day. However, that’s not necessary if your dog has a short clip or a straight coat. Basically, the longer and curlier your dog’s fur, the more frequently he needs brushing.
If your dog’s coat is prone to tangling, you may find it beneficial to use a detangling spray to help loosen the knots before you try to tackle them with a steel comb.
- Brush your dog before and after a bath, as that can help to prevent matting. However, if your dog already has mats in his coat, brush him first, before bathing, as getting the mat wet will make them harder to remove.
- Work from nose to tail, not forgetting to brush your dog’s legs.
- Always work in the direction of the hair growth, and don’t pull or tug at the coat.
- Start by using a metal comb to very gently comb the fur, carefully working through any tangles as you go.
- If your dog has a straight or wavy coat, use a pin brush to remove any loose hair. Use short, smooth strokes, and regularly stop to clean the brush.
- Very curly-coated dogs should be brushed with a slicker brush. Take your time and make sure that you get right down to the dog’s skin, but be careful not to use too much pressure, which would be uncomfortable for your dog.
- Finish off by using your bristle brush, going over the whole dog to pick up any loose hair that’s lying on top of the coat.
In Conclusion
We hope that you enjoyed our guide to the best brushes for Goldendoodles and that you found something here to suit your dog’s needs.
We love the Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush. Although it’s not the cheapest product on the market, this brush’s extra-long, round-ended pins do a super job of gliding right through the thickest double-coated fur to strip away all that loose, dead hair that would otherwise finish up on your carpets. Grooming your Goldendoodle is achieved in half the typical time spent, and the end result is a tangle-free, beautifully fluffed coat.
For your comfort, the brush has an extra-long, ergonomically designed handle that makes grooming your dog a pleasure, not a chore.
Overall, we think this is an excellent quality product that’s well worth the money, as this brush should give you many hours of hassle-free brushing.
