Which Dog Brush Should I Use?
A dog brush is an essential tool in your collection of dog grooming supplies.
In the video below, learn about the dog grooming brushes and related tools recommended for standard poodles.
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!
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.
And it’s important to choose the right dog brush for your dog’s hair type. To thoroughly brush and de-mat a standard poodle, you will need either a slicker brush or a pin brush (I use both). Here’s what we recommend for your standard poodle.
Slicker Brush – Removes Mats & Tangles
The Universal Slicker Brush works great for fluffing your dogs’ hair while blow drying or clipping. This is a great economical choice and one I use frequently after bathing our poodles.
Many dog groomers swear by the slicker brush for daily dog brushing too. I prefer using the pin brush for routine brushing. It’s a matter of preference.
A Word of Caution: You need to use a light touch with this Slicker Brush. The wire bristles can scratch your dogs’ skin if you use too much pressure.
The pins are extra long to penetrate deeper into your standard poodle’s long coat and are “soft and scratch free”. The ergonomic handle helps to reduce hand fatigue.
Pin Brush – Another Detangling Tool
The pin brush is another great choice for routine dog brushing.
It 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.
The Chris Christensen Oval Pin Brush gets five star reviews on Amazon.
The Oster Large Combo Brush is a best seller and gets great reviews as well.
A pin brush really penetrates through your poodle’s long, curly and dense hair to remove loose hair, mats, and tangles – just like the slicker brush.
If your poodle has a longer coat, we recommend using a technique referred to as line brushing to make sure you’re getting down to the skin.
Boar Bristle Dog Brush
They also help to grab any 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. This Chris Christensen Hard Tufted Boar Brush would be a great choice.
Combination Pin / Boar Bristle Dog Brush
The Bass Combination Boar Bristle / Pin Brush is considered by some to be a must have grooming tool. These have pins on the outside and natural boar bristles in the center. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Some dog groomers and standard poodle owners feel the Bass combination pin/boar bristle brush replaces their need for a regular pin brush.
I hope this has helped you determine which dog brush is the best for your standard poodle grooming needs.