Short-haired dogs may not suffer from many matts or tangles, but you’ll still want to brush them down regularly to help remove the dust and debris that collects on their fur and to keep their coat looking beautiful and shiny.
Frequent brushings also help to remove some of their shed hairs, which will keep them off the floor of your home.
But to achieve the best results, you’ll need to get a brush that is designed specifically for short-haired dogs. Below, we’ll examine five of the best options available and explain the things to look for when trying to pick out the best one for your pooch.
See our quick picks here, or continue reading below for more details and full reviews.
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Things You Want in a Short-Haired Dog Brush
Not all brushes are created equally, and you must carefully scrutinize any brush you consider for your pup to make sure you get an effective tool that your dog won’t hate.
Minimally, you want to keep the following considerations in mind when picking one out.
Bristle brushes are generally the best option for short-haired breeds. When you are brushing a short-haired dog, you don’t really have to worry much about tangles. Instead, you want to spread the oils around your dog’s skin and get the hairs lying flat, which will make your dog’s coat look smooth and shiny. Bristle brushes are the best tool for the task.
An ergonomic handle is a must – particularly for large dogs. While it won’t take very long to brush a small dog with short hair, it can take a long time to brush a big dog’s coat. This can leave you with a tired, aching hand; so it is important to pick a brush that has a very comfortable handle.
Pin-style brushes should have rounded tips. Pin-style brushes are occasionally helpful for brushing short-haired dogs (and they can be a good choice for dogs that have medium-length hair), but you want to make sure the pins have rounded tips to help protect your dog’s skin.
Boar-bristle brushes are typically preferable to synthetic bristles. While dogs with especially dense hair may require the stiffness of synthetic bristles (which are usually made from nylon), boar bristles are much gentler on your dog’s skin and will work very well for short-haired breeds.
Five Great Brushes for Short-Haired Dogs
Most brushes on the market are designed with long-haired dogs in mind, but there are a few that will work very well for dogs with shorter hair. The five listed below should all work very well for your pooch.
1. Safari Pin and Bristle Brush
About: The Safari Pin and Bristle Brush is a two-sided grooming tool with a bristle brush on one side and a pin brush on the other. While you probably won’t need to use the pin brush side with your short-haired pet, it doesn’t hurt to have it on hand.
Features:
- Ergonomic plastic handle will keep your hand comfortable during long brushing sessions
- Available in two sizes: medium and large
- Synthetic bristles will last for years
PROS: Most owners who tried the Safari Pin and Bristle Brush were happy with the product, and found that both sides worked well. It is especially valuable for multi-dog owners, who may have one dog with long hair and another dog with short hair; just use the pin side for the long-haired breed and the bristle side for your short-haired pup.
CONS: While many owners liked the Safari Brush, several owners complained that the metal bristles would fall out very easily after a short period of use. Additionally, a few owners found that the quality of the plastic handle was subpar.
2. LA Beauty Labs Boar Bristle Brush
About: The LA Beauty Labs Boar Bristle Brush is a premium dog grooming tool, designed with your dog’s comfort in mind. Made with all-natural boar bristles, this brush will not harm your pet’s skin like some lower-quality bristle brushes will.
Features:
- Boar bristles are gentle on your dog and will not scratch her skin
- 25-inch-long wooden handle provides a secure, comfortable grip
- Made in Russian factory that has been producing brushes since 1922
PROS: The LA Beauty Labs Boar Bristle Brush was rated highly by most owners who tried it. Many owners liked the comfortable grip provided by the handle, praised the soft feel of the bristles and found that it helped keep their dog’s coat clean and shiny.
CONS: The most common complaint about this brush was that the bristles were too soft; however, this was most likely the result of owners trying to use a bristle brush on dogs whose hair was too long for this style of brush.
3. Conair Bristle Brush
About: The Conair Bristle Brush is a relatively small and lightweight, oval-shaped brush, designed to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. This design will likely reduce the amount of fatigue you feel while brushing your dog’s fur and it may be easier to grip for owners suffering from arthritis or similar issues.
Features:
- Palm-shaped grip makes it easy to brush your pooch
- Bristles are made from a 50-50 blend of synthetic bristles and boar hair bristles
- Weighs only 1.4 ounces, making it easy to hold during long grooming sessions
PROS: The majority of owners who tried the Conair Bristle Brush were very pleased with the product. Several owners specifically mentioned the stiffness of the bristles, finding that they were neither too stiff, nor too soft. Also, because of its low price point, several owners praised the brush’s value.
CONS: While the bristles received quite a bit of praise from most owners, many owners complained that the brush was simply too small. This meant that it was not only difficult to hold, but that it took forever to brush large dogs. For this reason, we recommend this brush for small dogs only!
4. K9Connection 2 in 1 Bristle and Pin Brush
About: The K9Connection 2-in-1 Brush features bristles on one side for brushing short-haired breeds and a pin brush on the opposite side for grooming dogs with longer hair. But the K9Connection Brush isn’t like most other double-sided brushes, and it comes equipped with several different innovative design features to ensure your dog’s comfort.
Features:
- Round-tipped bristles won’t scratch your dog’s skin
- Includes a “ventilation hole,” which allows the pins to flex and move to contour to your pet’s body
- Comfortable, anti-slip handle
PROS: The vast majority of the owners who tried out the K9Connection Bristle and Pin Brush were happy with their purchase. Most reported that the brush worked great for their short-haired dog and that the bristles were very soft on their pet’s skin. Many owners reported that their dog loved brushing time after switching to this brush.
CONS: Complaints about the K9Connection Brush were very rare, but a few owners found that the bristles were too soft to be effective. A few complained that the brush was too large, but this shouldn’t be a problem for most owners and dogs.
5. FURminator deShedding Tool for Dogs
About: The FURminator deShedding Tool is one of the few shedding brushes on the market that works well for short-haired breeds (just be sure to select the short-haired option when making your purchase). Based on a patented technology, this brush will reduce your dog’s shedding by up to 90%.
Features:
- Patented technology is guaranteed by the manufacturer to reduce shedding more than any other brush
- FURejector button makes it easy to get rid of the hair that accumulates on the brush
- Stainless steel blade gently and effectively removes shed hair from your dog’s undercoat
PROS: There aren’t many shedding brushes produced specifically for short-haired dogs, so the FURminator deShedding Tool is a great option for owners of dogs who shed heavily, yet have short fur. Most owners loved the FURminator and were surprised at how effectively it removed hair from their dog.
CONS: The only common complaint about the FURminator related to its durability, but most owners found that the tool worked perfectly and held up well to normal use.
Our Recommendation: K9Connection 2 in 1 Bristle and Pin Brush
While all of the brushes we reviewed above would work fine for most short-haired dogs, the K9Connection 2-in-1 Bristle and Pin Brush clearly rises above the rest.
It was very highly rated by most owners who tried it, it features a number of impressive features that ensure your pet’s comfort and, while it is more expensive than many of the other brushes we covered, it is still very affordable.
While we are recommending grooming products, be sure to check out the K9 of Mine Dematting Comb and Brush Glove Kit. It isn’t specifically designed for dogs with short hair, but it works very well for my Rottweiler, and most owners who’ve tried it have found that it worked extremely well. Also, dogs love the way the glove’s rubber teeth feel on their skin.
Obviously, we’re a bit biased about the product, so be sure to check out the reviews provided by other dog owners.
If you really want to give your dog a solid brushing, make sure to check out the video below for a bit of guidance:
Have you found a good brush that works for your short-haired dog? We’d love to hear all about it. What do you like about the brush? Is there anything that you don’t like about it? Let us know in the comments below.
1 Comment
November 6, 2017
None of these brushes are suitable for breeds with dense undercoats.