Goldendoodles make for the best family dogs. They’re one of the latest hybrid or “designer dog breeds” and are a cross between a Golden Retriever and Poodle. This crossbreed’s popularity has soared in the U.S. since the 1990’s when it was first bred as a service dog. With their gentle temperaments and lively demeanor, the Goldendoodle’s size will vary on the Poodle parent traits. Since the Goldendoodle doesn’t shed much and is considered mostly hypoallergenic, you’ll still need to regularly brush and groom them. That said, Goldendoodles come with different types of coats which we’ll discuss later on.
Most Goldendoodles enjoy all the attention they get while being groomed. If your dog reacts negatively to being brushed or combed, both of you will never really enjoy grooming. As long as you have the best dog brush for a Goldendoodle to pamper your dog, your grooming experience will be easier and a lot more for fun.
With so many different brushes choose from, it may seem daunting to find the best dog brushes for your furry best friend. In this review, we’ll help you choose the best 5 dog brushes for your Goldendoodle. Understanding what to look for when buying a dog brush for you Goldendoodle will help you decide which brush is best to remove all the mats and tangles.
In a rush? Here are the top picks:
Choosing the Best Dog Brush for your Goldendoodle:
- Opt for brushes with wooden handles and backs. This helps to absorb oil from the skin and will distribute it throughout your dog’s body. Today, these are still a popular option and come standard on many different slicker brushes.
- Brushes with rubber handles that have a good fit also make brushing easier.
- Dog brushes should be well-made, durable, and ergonomic.
- They must be gentle on your dog’s skin and coat, and also effective in removing dead hairs, dirt, and dry sweat.
- Affordable
- The product should have good reviews.
Materials
Each slicker brush is made up of two parts, the handle, and the bristles. It’s important to look out for comfortable anti-slip materials for the handles. This makes holding the brush and grooming much easier and safer. Materials like silicone and plastic, and of course, the most popular handle material, poplar wood, make for great handles. When looking at bristle materials, they are available in a multitude of materials like plastic, natural and synthetic animal hair, silicone, and stainless steel. Stainless steel penetrates thicker coats easily without snagging.
Must-have Goldendoodle Grooming Brushes
Slicker brushes
There are many types of good everyday slicker brushes. This is a grooming tool made from thin wire, mounted on to a flexible backing, that is soft. These brushes are great for shedding and may be square or rectangular in shape. Most of these slicker brushes are available in a one size fits all. However, there are a few brands that have a few sizes. The slicker brush is the most important brush for a Goldendoodle because it easily removes tangled hair to prevent mats.
Pressure check
Brush your own arm first to check for pressure levels. In this way, you can be sure not to hurt your Goldendoodle if you apply too much pressure. The slicker brush is great after a dog bath, and for wet hair and coats because the pins are flexible and will move with the wet hair.
Slicker brushes should not be used on the same part of the body repeatedly because they will cause sensitivity and pain. Using short and gentle strokes is an effective grooming technique with the slicker brush.
Wire pin brushes
Some brushes have rubber-tipped ends for safety. Pin brushes are really good for the Goldendoodle because of their wooly or curly coats. These brushes have pins that separate the hairs. The pin brush is a grooming brush with rounded ends that may be cast in metal instead of plastic for more durability. Plastic caps tend to fall off after being in use for a while. This leaves sharp metal edges that could hurt your Goldendoodle’s skin if you apply too much pressure. Plastic edges also tend to catch on to the coat, and may also hurt your dog.
That said, always consider a higher quality pin brush with rounded metal edges for a more comfortable and easier grooming experience for your Goldendoodle. Pin brushes are used to remove debris and dead hair, so it’s best to keep this brush super clean.
When choosing a pin dog brush for a Goldendoodle, the handle needs to be comfortable to hold while grooming. You should also make a note not to scratch your dog’s skin with this brush, and to only brush the hair.
Pin dog brushes will have varying lengths with different pin sizes and densities. As with all brushes, there’ll be wear and tear, and it’s good to watch out for pins receding back into the cushion. This happens after a certain amount of time. You can pull them out or just get a new wire pin brush for your Goldendoodle.
Bristle Brushes
With these brushes, you’ll find varying lengths and spacing between the bristles. For dogs with long coats, this is a good brush because it’s widely spaced and has long bristles. Dogs with short hair will need shorter bristles, and dogs with long hair will do best with longer bristles. If your Goldendoodle has curly hair, you can opt-out of using this brush and just use a pin brush for regular grooming, and a slicker brush for grooming after bathing.
The bristle brush is gentle enough to use on Goldendoodle pups with boar bristles being the very best in choice. That said, whether you use professional grooming services regularly, you’ll still need to maintain a daily grooming schedule with your Goldendoodle for his well-being and good health. You can also include a de-matting tool to help remove mats and a finishing comb.
If you need to find a good dog brush for your Goldendoodle, there’s plenty of good choices.
Reviewed: 5 Best Brushes for your Goldendoodle
1. Chris Christensen Slicker Brush (Best Overall)
The Chris Christensen slicker brush is the best Goldendoodle matted coral long slicker brush! We like this slicker brush from Chris Christensen that has long enough pins to get down into a Goldendoodles coat. Not only is this brush extremely lightweight, but it’s also smooth and soft. The handle is contoured so it’s super easy to hold without your hands becoming uncomfortable. This slicker brush is perfect for the Goldendoodle.
How do the pins feel in the brush?
The pins feel very soft and are extremely malleable bending easily out of shape. This makes brushing wet hair easier. Fingers glide quickly and easily over this curved pin brush allowing the brush to travel easily through the coat. That said, this should not be done repeatedly because it starts to hurt. Don’t get us wrong. This slicker brush is gentle, and easily works its way through dense coats, but don’t brush repeatedly over the same area to prevent sensitivity issues.
Key Features
- Works through dense coats
- Extremely lightweight
- Extra-long handle
- Unique curved design
This slicker brush comes in two sizes: medium and large for use on legs and the body. If your Goldendoodle sports a thick wooly coat or has curly hair, the Chris Christensen coral colored slicker brush will work through the coat leaving a well-groomed look. This slicker dog brush for a Goldendoodle works well with dense coats because it has long bent bristles that work through the coat to the hair root. It’s effective in removing dead hair, and detangling any mats that happen to be in the way.
Pros
- Ergonomic handle
- Works well with fluffy Doodle curly coats
- Long bent bristles for effective brushing
- 40% more pins than most slicker brushes
- Effective for working through and removing undercoats
- Available in two sizes for leg use and body use
Cons
- Only offered in one color
- Maybe pricier than other brands
- Not good for short-haired Goldendoodles
2. Pro Quality Self Cleaning Slicker Brush for Goldendoodles
The Pet Portal’s self-cleaning slicker brush has a time saving self-cleaning feature. The Pro Quality Self Cleaning brush has a button that you press down to self-clean. All you need to do is wipe and you have a clean brush.
This popular slicker brush comes in two colors and two sizes. Because it’s self- cleaning, you’re going to save plenty of time and you’ll never have to use a brush filled with hairs again on your Doodle. It’s designed with your dog’s comfort in mind, and grooms leaving coats free of dead hairs, mats, and tangles.
Key Features
- Ergonomic handle
- Complimentary grooming eBook included
- Lifetime guarantee
Pros
- Recommended by veterinarians, groomers, and pet professionals
- Affordable
- Offered in two sizes for legs and body or small and large dog breeds
- Features a self-cleaning button
- Soft and flexible bristle to ensure gentle and safe grooming
- Works through the thickest Doodle coats
- Helps to increase circulation in dogs due to flexible bristles
- High-quality stainless steel bristles
- Comfortable soft anti-slip handle for easy grooming
Cons
- The self-cleaning button may stick
3. GoPets Professional Slicker Brush for Dogs
Go Pets Professional Slicker Brush is another self-cleaning brush that removes loose hair, gets rid of tangles and mats, and also gently massages your Goldendoodle while he’s being groomed. The fine bent wire bristles allow for the bristles to gently penetrate deep into the coat and undercoat without scratching the skin or causing sensitivity in the area. This brush is perfect for de-shedding and captures the hair while you groom your Goldendoodle. Unfortunately, this slicker brush does not have as much exposure as all the others but ranks up there in quality and performance.
Key Features
- High bristle density
- GoPets satisfaction guarantee
- Self-cleaning brush with self-retracting bristles
Pros
- Soft bent wire bristles
- Gel handle contours made from non-slip, non-toxic silicone gel
- Retractable bristles for easy cleaning
- Features a self-cleaning button
- Soft and flexible bristle to ensure gentle and safe grooming
- Works through the thickest Doodle coats
- Helps to increase circulation in dogs due to flexible bristles
- High-quality bristles that are bent in a way not to hurt your Doodle
- Good reviews with customers saying that this brush is a must-have!
Cons
- None
4. Pet Pull Professional Grooming Kit
We all love deals, and with the Pet Bull Professional Grooming Kit, you’re not only getting a self-cleaning slicker brush, but also a de-shedding grooming brush, and a pair of pet grooming gloves. This makes for the perfect gift set, and it’s offered with a lifetime guarantee. The Pet Bull complete professional pet grooming kit also has not had enough exposure. That said, the grooming gloves have safe silicone tips that allow for safe face cleaning, and also enables you to clean hard to reach areas, all the while massaging your Goldendoodle.
Key Features
- Professional grooming 3-piece gift set
- Lifetime satisfaction guarantee
- Self-cleaning brush
Pros
- Detachable stainless steel blade designed for long or short-haired coats.
- Gel handle contours made from non-slip, non-toxic silicone gel.
- Deshedding grooming brush that reduces shedding hair by up to 95%
- Grooming gloves with five finger silicone tips to improve circulation and to help relax dogs while grooming.
- Great value product
Cons
- Don’t push too hard. The tools may hurt your dog’s coat.
5. Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Goldendoodles still remains a popular pet grooming product. It safely and gently removes tangles, mats, and works through undercoats. This brush works for all types of dog coats and lengths. This product also offers a self-cleaning feature to make life easier post grooming. It’s good for anyone that has pets. It also offers a comfortable anti-slip grip making grooming so much easier.
Key Features
- Fine bent wire bristles for gentle grooming
- Anti-slip handle
- Self-cleaning brush
Pros
- Safe for brushing out tangles and mats
- The bristle retraction button allows for fast self-cleaning action, saving time.
- Comfortable to hold with a safety anti-slip handle even during long grooming sessions.
- The massaging combing feature allows for increased circulation for optimal skin and coat health.
- Not necessary to hold the buttons down during grooming for massaging action.
Cons
- Slicker brush pins may be shorter for the self-cleaning action, possibly making it more difficult to brush through a thicker coat.
What to consider before buying a dog brush for a Goldendoodle?
To start, while we all enjoy grooming our furry best friends and want to groom thoroughly, you’ll need to remember that without the correct grooming tools, the entire grooming experience may be a letdown.
The Goldendoodle has a top coat and an undercoat. Matting occurs when the topcoat gets tangled up with the undercoat and loose hairs. Matting can also occur along the neck area where there is moisture trapped beneath the collar. While matting can occur at any time, it tends to affect dogs that are active or outdoors more often. Many Goldendoodles enjoy the water and swimming, as well as lots of outdoor activities. If you’re the proud pet parent of a high-energy Doodle, it may be best to opt for a short clip.
With Doodles having long coats that can either be straight, curly, or wavy, it’s important to prevent tangles and the pain associated with untangling. Daily grooming with brushing is necessary to prevent tangles and matting. If you don’t brush regularly, you may need to clip the affected area.
Therapeutic massage to reduce stress
Goldendoodles are known for their soft coats and enjoy a gentle therapeutic massage while being brushed. This also reduces stress for anxious dogs, most especially if your Goldendoodle doesn’t like being groomed. Invest in dog brushes like the rubber ones that don’t pull, snag hair, or hurt his skin. Enjoy grooming him while bonding at the same time! He’ll be relishing it in no time at all, and you’ll have a far more pleasant experience.
Hydrating Shampoos & Conditioners with Oils
Opt for hydrating shampoos and conditioners that use oils like argan as carrier oils. Hydrating shampoos are beneficial for coat and skin health, and also help to hydrate and moisturize irritated, dry skin in dogs. Green tea leaf or rooibos tea extracts are also beneficial for skin and coat health in dogs.
Goldendoodle Coats
Goldendoodles come with different coats. You’ll need to give your dog’s coat a thorough look over to determine what kind of coat your dog has. Some Goldendoodles will have a “fleece coat” where the coat has loose apricot-colored curls and is super soft to touch. This designer breed’s coat will vary because most of these dogs are first-generation crosses.
Coats will vary by way of being straight or wavy. Pups that have “fleece” coats will need minimal grooming, but as they get older will benefit from regular grooming even though the coat will be as soft as regular adult hair. You can also opt to clip your Doodle’s coat to minimalize grooming time if you don’t have much time during the week. This also helps to keep your Doodle cool during the summer and prevents matting from occurring.
Regular Goldendoodle maintenance
If you tend to your dog’s ears, nails, teeth, and coat regularly you’ll save time and money. Additionally, if you groom your Goldendoodle each day, you won’t have to face mats, skin infections, or tangled and smelly coats.
Consider the Following When Choosing a Dog Brush:
- Coat condition depending on whether it’s shedding season, and whether your Goldendoodle’s fur is more prone to matting during this time.
- Skin Conditions in Goldendoodles need to be taken seriously. Skin allergies, lumps, bumps, warts, fatty lipomas, and even hot spots and rashes need a veterinary consult. Be sure to take your Goldendoodle’s skin condition into consideration before using certain grooming brushes. Some brushes may be too harsh on their gentle skin.
Choose the best grooming tools
Realizing that there’s a pain factor involved by using the wrong grooming tools is important. Even the most careful Goldendoodle parent can make a mistake and use the wrong grooming tool. Nowadays, thanks to all the reviews, we’re becoming increasingly savvy about all pet products. You’ve got to be wary of harsh dog brushes, some blades, and metal curry combs. Some of these can damage the coat, and even remove not ready-to shed hair, causing pain.
How to Groom a Goldendoodle Puppy?
Unless your Goldendoodle puppy or adolescent is used to being groomed and is comfortable with the entire process, it’s best to use a collar and leash when you first start. Your Goldendoodle puppy may be hyperactive or squirmy, and may not initially enjoy being groomed. He or she may have reactive spots when touched, and it’s up to you to encourage grooming by rewarding high-quality treats and lots of praise.
Visit a Professional Groomer a Few Times a Year
Be sure to also consider professional grooming for your Goldendoodle at least a few times a year. Alternatively, if your Goldendoodle dislikes being at the groomers, ask them to come to your home. As usual, make sure that they are certified dog groomers.
Always reward your Goldendoodle for good behavior when he allows you to groom him. Ensure that the entire grooming session is relaxed and pain-free so that your Goldendoodle relaxes and enjoys being brushed.
Tips for Using a Dog Brush
Regular brushing prevents mats and removes dead hair. With grooming being an extended period of being handled, your Goldendoodle should not find the contact difficult. Grooming should always be a positive and relaxing experience with plenty of praise and rewards for good behavior.
No matter what type of coat your Goldendoodle has, spend quality time every day brushing him or her with high-quality grooming tools. You can play some calming music or speak to your Goldendoodle to encourage him or her to stand still. Even though this breed will most likely have fewer mats than other breeds, you’ll need to avoid tugging or pulling on any tangles.
Choosing a good dog brush for your Goldendoodle
There are so many dog brushes and grooming products available today for all the many different dog breeds. Because the Goldendoodle can have different types of coats, you should understand which one is best for your dog’s coat.
Many Goldendoodle parents mistakenly believe that using one grooming brush will be enough, and they’ll do a great job grooming, when in reality, to properly groom your Goldendoodle, you’re going to need an assortment of grooming brushes to give you the best results.
Oil-based Conditioner Sprays for Grooming and Brushing
You’ll also need to consider using an oil-based conditioner spray for an easier grooming experience. Because the Doodle has a double coat, it may be easier to first comb through any mats with a grooming comb.
Before tackling any tangles, use a detangle or conditioner spray-in that might make it easier to work through. When the mat has been worked through with the steel comb, you can once again gently brush through with the slicker brush.
This is definitely worth the time and patience, instead of using scissors to cut out the tangles, resulting in a break in the coat. Slicker brushes also are used for removing dead fur and giving your Goldendoodle a great show dog appearance.
Always avoid using the slicker brush on your Goldendoodle’s head, ears, and face, and any body part that has a skin issue or sensitivity.
Conclusion Best Dog Brush for a Goldendoodle
No matter what type of coat your Goldendoodle has, spend time each day grooming with the right brushes and get your Goldendoodle used to the feel of all the brushes. Speak to your dog when grooming or play some music, and slowly increase the amount of time standing still. Keep in mind to use the best brush for your Goldendoodle’s particular coat.
Coats will change when Goldendoodle’s grow out of puppyhood and become adults. Adding grooming brushes to your dog grooming kit collection always makes sense. The bottom line is, choose a slicker brush carefully and limit your Goldendoodles exposure to any pain or anxiety during grooming.
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