Which Dog Brush Should I Use?
A dog brush – such as a slicker brush or pin brush – is an essential tool when grooming your standard poodle. You’ll also need a comb and dematting tool, as pictured below.
In this article, we’ll specifically focus on dog brushes. Please visit our dog grooming supplies page for recommendations on tools for:
- Combing
- Dematting
- Nail Trimming
- Ear Care
- Oral Hygiene
Best Dog Brush Options for Poodles
It’s difficult to over-emphasize the importance of routine brushing – It’s so much easier to maintain your dogs’ coat than to clean up a matted mess. A poodle should be brushed at least 2-3 times per week.
To thoroughly brush and de-mat a standard poodle, you will need either a slicker brush or a pin brush. Generally, professional groomers favor the slicker brush over the pin brush. I use both.
Here are the brands we recommend.
Slicker Brush – Removes Mats & Tangles
It works great for removing loose hair, loose mats, and tangles. I alternate between this and the pin brush for daily dog brushing.
This was the first slicker brush recommended to me during training for poodle grooming. It’s a very popular dog brush.
I use this brush to remove tangles and matts quickly. It reduces brushing time by 40% and almost eliminates line brushing.
The ergonomic handle helps to reduce hand fatigue. The pins are extra long to penetrate deeper into your standard poodle’s long coat and are “soft and scratch-free”.
Poodle Grooming Tip It’s important to use a light touch with a Slicker Brush. The wire bristles can scratch your dogs’ skin if you use too much pressure.Pin Brush – Another Detangling Tool
Even though many dog groomers swear by the slicker brush for daily dog brushing, others prefer the pin brush. I use both.
The pin brush comes in a large variety of styles. Some styles have rubber-tipped pins, some have round-tipped pins and some have polished tips – so the pin brush is gentle on your dogs’ skin.
It’s my favorite pin brush.
If your poodle has a long or dense coat, we recommend using a technique referred to as line brushing to make sure you’re getting down to the skin.
Combination Pin / Boar Bristle Dog Brush
Boar bristle brushes work great for redistributing oils throughout the coat after bathing and they give the coat a nice healthy shine.
They also help to grab any fine loose hairs that your brush or comb missed.
When shopping for a boar bristle brush, look for one that does not have real dense bristles.
It has a bamboo handle, alloy pins on the outside to detangle, and natural boar bristles in the center to smooth and redistribute oils.
I have this brush, and use it occasionally, but would not consider it an essential tool for your dog brush collection.
Poodles do have a small amount of shedding. It doesn’t fall off like dog fur does – great for your furniture and clothing. But because the loose hair stays trapped in their curly coat it does create tangles and matting.
Left untended, the Poodle’s curly coat will twist into tighter and tighter knots that eventually must be cut out rather than brushed out. I’m sure there are many professional dog groomers that will attest to that!
I hope this has helped you determine which dog brush is the best for your standard poodle grooming needs.
Poodle Grooming Basics Dog BrushingRelated Article: Why Dog Brushing Is Important For Standard Poodles