Best Grooming Brushes

The Best Brushes for Different NZ Dog Coats (A Buyer's Guide)

The Thorncombe Team · 6 min read · Last updated May 2026

Walk into any pet shop and there are 30 brushes on the wall. Most owners pick one that looks about right and hope for the best. Here's the honest guide to which brush actually suits your dog's coat — and which to skip entirely.

The quick answer: matching brush to coat

Answer firstThe right brush depends entirely on coat type, not breed name. Smooth single coats need a rubber curry and soft bristle. Short double coats (Lab, Staffie) need a deshedder or rubber curry. Long double coats (Husky, Golden) need an undercoat rake plus a slicker. Curly coats (Poodle, Cavoodle) need a slicker and metal comb — never a rake. Wire coats need a stripping knife. Get the right tool and brushing goes from a 40-minute battle to a 10-minute routine.

The five tools every NZ dog owner should know

1. Slicker brush

Fine, bent metal pins on a flat or curved pad. Best for: detangling and finishing on most coats except smooth single coats. Use it last in any brushing routine to lift the loose hair raised by other tools. Self-cleaning versions are worth the extra $10 — a button retracts the pins so you can flick the fur off without picking at it.

2. Undercoat rake

Wider-spaced teeth designed to reach through the topcoat and pull out shedding undercoat. Best for: long double coats — Huskies, Goldens, Border Collies, German Shepherds. Should glide through the coat with gentle pressure; if you have to dig, you're pressing too hard. Once per session is enough during peak shed.

3. Deshedding tool (Furminator-style)

A serrated metal blade that grabs and lifts loose undercoat. Best for: short double coats — Labs, Staffies, Boxers, Beagles. Use sparingly — once or twice a week during peak shed only. Over-use damages the topcoat over time. Effective but not gentle.

4. Rubber curry brush

A soft rubber palm-mounted tool with short nubs. Best for: smooth single coats (Frenchies, Whippets, Boxers) and short double coats (Staffies). Used in circular motions, it stimulates oil production and lifts loose hair. Bonus: dogs usually love it — feels like a massage. Many owners use it during bath time as well.

5. Metal comb

Wide tooth on one half, fine tooth on the other. Best for: post-brush check on all medium-to-long coats. The comb finds matts the brush missed, especially behind ears, under the armpits, and on the rear legs. If you can pass it through cleanly, you're done. If you can't, more work needed.

Tools to avoid (or use very carefully)

Tool Why most owners shouldn't use it
Mat splitter / dematter Useful in expert hands but easy to nick skin. Most matts should be carefully combed out or, if severe, clipped out by a groomer.
Hair clippers (DIY) Never use on double-coated dogs — can permanently damage coat regrowth. Single coats only, with the right blade.
"Magic" deshedding mitts Mostly novelty. Acceptable for very light shedding or sensitive dogs but won't keep up with peak shed.

How to know if your brush is right

Three quick checks after a 5-minute session:

  • Is your dog calm or stressed? The right tool should feel okay — not painful. Visible flinching means wrong tool or too much pressure.
  • Is the topcoat shinier or duller after? A correctly-used brush stimulates oils and leaves the coat looking better. A wrong tool roughs up the topcoat.
  • Are you getting undercoat — or just topcoat? Lift a section of fur after brushing. If you see fluffy undercoat in your brush, great. If you see only longer guard hairs, you're damaging the protective layer.
The team's pick for most NZ dogs If you can only buy one brush, get a slicker — it works passably on every coat type except smooth singles. If you can buy two, add the tool matched to your specific coat. The Plush Puppy show range includes some of the best slickers and pin brushes available in NZ.

Shop the grooming range

Slicker brushes, undercoat rakes, deshedders and the Plush Puppy show range — everything tested by our team.

Shop Grooming

Frequently asked questions

What's the single best brush for a Staffie?
A rubber curry brush. Staffies have a short double coat that responds best to rubber's gentle traction — it lifts dead hair without irritating skin. A deshedder works too but use it sparingly (once a week max) to avoid topcoat damage.
Can I use the same brush for my Lab and my Cavoodle?
No. Labs need an undercoat rake or deshedder; Cavoodles need a slicker and comb. Using a deshedder on a curly coat strips the protective oils and can encourage matting. Each dog should have their own tool set.
How often should I replace my brushes?
Slicker brushes last 2–3 years with normal use. Rubber currys last 4–5 years. Deshedders last 1–2 years before the blade dulls — when it stops pulling out loose hair smoothly, replace it. Quality matters: cheap brushes often fail within a year.
Do groomers use different tools than home owners should?
Sometimes. Professional groomers use stripping knives, high-velocity dryers, and specific dematting tools that take training to use safely. For home use, stick to the five tools listed above plus regular professional grooming for breeds that need clipping or stripping.
My dog hates being brushed. What now?
Start with the gentlest tool (rubber curry), short sessions (3–5 minutes), and high-value treats throughout. Build the association before increasing duration. Avoid the legs, paws, tail, and head until they're comfortable with the body. Most "brush-hating" dogs were introduced to brushing badly — it's almost always fixable with patience.
T
The Thorncombe Team
Backed by dog people — Staffordshire Bull Terriers and French Bulldogs run our office. Based in Te Awamutu, Waikato.. NZ's Dry Bed Specialist.
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