Edited by: Mike Powell
Reviewed by: Abby TexasLast Update:
A Golden Retriever needs regular brushing in order to keep that beautiful coat sleek and smooth!
A knotty, tangled coat can not only become an uncomfortable living situation for your dog, but it could also lead to more loose hair in your home, from your Golden Retriever’s coat.
The best brush for Golden Retriever dogs is a must if you want your dog to be comfortable and look healthy too!
Here are our top choices.
Table of Contents
Best Brushes for Golden Retrievers in 2020
Pet Neat 2 Sided Pet Grooming Tool
Best Overall: Best for Removing Knots
PROS
- Dematting and deshedding tool
- No-scratch rounded teeth
- Rust-resistant blade
- Non-slip handle
CONS
- May pull while removing mats and irritate the skin
If your Golden Retriever needs help removing knots in his long hair, then this dog brush would be a good choice. It features two different blades to deal with Golden Retrievers fur in every state.
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Safe and Effective
Switch between the 22 thicker teeth (great for getting rid of tangles, mats, and knots), and the thinner, finer, 87-tooth blade for thinning and removing loose hair.
The dual blades make it easy to keep your Golden Retriever’s coat healthy and smooth from root to tip. Finer teeth in a long blade are easy and non-obstructive, reaching deep into the undercoat to remove loose fur.
Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Premium Option
PROS
- Retractable pins for easy cleaning
- Ergonomic handle and thumb rest
- Regular grooming promotes circulation
- Fine, bent wires for attacking deep knots
CONS
- If you have another dog who’s a short-hair, this brush may not be suitable to groom them too
The Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush is our premium choice for Golden Retrievers. This slicker brush features mid-length wire bristles that reach the undercoat and work on knots, and then retract into the brush head for easy cleaning and storage.
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Easy to Use and Clean
This is one of the best and easiest to clean brushes out there. Use it to work through tangles in your Golden Retriever’s coat, as well as give them a good surface brush.
When you’re done, simply push the button to retract the bristles, leaving the shed hair behind. This makes the Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush incredibly easy to clean, as well as to store safely.
Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Detangling Dog Brush
Best Value for Money
PROS
- Double sided to fulfil multiple purposes
- Easy and comfortable to hold
- Removes dirt and dander
- Easy to clean
CONS
- May not get to the deep mats in the undercoat
You’re getting two brushes for the price of one in this combo deal. It’s a good choice for regular grooming of the outer coat, but may not quite reach the really deep tangles in the undercoat. Worth getting if you groom daily or even weekly!
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Top Coat Brush
Dog owners on a budget will appreciate the value in this combination brush. One side sports a pin brush, while the other side has a bristle brush.
The pin brush should do well to remove knots in the surface coat. Once those are gone, you can give your Golden Retriever a good brush with the nylon bristles to smooth their coat out and bring a shine to it.
Chris Christensen – Big G Slicker Brush
Best for Undercoat
PROS
- Long bristles for best coverage
- Uniquely bent pins for deep penetration
- Created by a well-known dog show brand
CONS
- Quite pricey in comparison to others
This slicker brush is designed to reach deep and get through mats in the deepest undercoat. Some may be put off by the price tag, but the high quality, specially-bent bristles are designed by a renowned dog groomer to solve the matting problem.
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Reach Deep Tangles
The bristles on this slicker brush are designed to be longer than usual, making it closer to a de shedding brush. It’s great for removing dead hair and helping reduce shedding, as well as fluffing the outer coat.
Make sure to be gentle with it – brush too hard and you could do damage to your dog’s skin and coat. As long as you’re careful, it could be the best brush you’ve ever used on a Golden.
Burt’s Bees Hemp Bristle Dog Brush
Best Overall: Best Wooden Brush
PROS
- Distributes natural oils in your dog’s fur through their coat
- Stimulates blood flow
- Keeps fur sleek and shiny
- Easy to hold
CONS
- For surface brushing only – not suitable for deep mat removal
This handheld bristle brush is great for bringing that shine to Golden Retrievers’ coats. If you’re looking for dog brushes for Golden Retrievers that cause that shiny, healthy coat look, this one would do the job.
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Easy Handheld Wooden Brush
Although this brush won’t get deep into your Golden Retriever’s double coat, it works very well as a surface coat brush. The wood helps absorb and distribute the natural oils in your dog’s fur, promoting a glow that makes your dog look healthy.
FURminator Firm Grooming Slicker Brush for Clean Healthy Coats
Best for Everyday Use
PROS
- Dual flex head for working around tough areas
- Large surface area reduces pressure
- Ergonomic handle
CONS
- No protective cap on bristles
If you’re looking for a brush for a Golden Retriever that you can use every day, especially in shedding season, this one will keep your dog’s long hair smooth. It’s designed to be easy on a Golden’s skin as well as their fur.
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Effective Slicker Brush
The bristles on the FURminator slicker brushes are bent at a particular angle to reduce chance of scratching and to have the best chance of reducing mats.
It’s designed with a two-piece head, which allows the brush to move more easily over areas that are usually difficult to brush with grooming tools.
It’s easy to reach your Golden’s undercoat and gently brush out knots, and fluff the surface coat too.
What To Look At When Buying The Best Brushes For Golden Retrievers
Your Dog’s Coat
When looking for the best Golden Retriever brush, it’s important to consider your dog’s coat. Specifically, look at:
- Coat Condition: If your dog’s coat is dull, brittle, and in poor health, consider feeding them a dog food to improve coat health before doing more than a surface brush.
- Skin Condition: Dry, itchy, red, or scaly skin is another sign your dog needs an immune boost before you groom them in-depth.
- Coat Length: The brush you choose needs to work with the length of your dog’s coat.
Type of Brush
Does your Golden Retriever need a brush for his top coat or undercoat? Is he very matted or only slightly? Different types of brushes work better for different things.
Golden Retrievers who have plenty of tangles will most likely need an undercoat rake or dematting brush. If you want your dog to have a beautiful, sleek coat, you’ll need a good brush for their top coat too.
If you’re unsure of which to get, why not choose a grooming kit that contains a variety of different brushes?
Safety
It goes without saying that the brush you choose needs to be safe for your dog. It should also be safe for the human using it!
Take into consideration the material used, anti-slip grips, whether or not the pins have a “safety cap”, and how well-constructed it is. A high quality product might cost slightly more, but it’s worth it in the long run.
Questions & Answers
Why Do You Need to Brush Your Dog?
It’s essential to groom your Golden Retriever on the regular. It may not seem like a big deal, but imagine if you could only brush your hair once a month, or once every few months?
Grooming your dog removes loose hair and mats and tangles. If your dog’s fur becomes matted, it can not only be uncomfortable for them, but it can restrict their natural movement.
Apart from your dog’s comfort, grooming your Golden Retriever often keeps loose hair from building up and falling off all around the house.
This is why grooming needs to be done regularly. Brushing your Golden once a month isn’t enough! Imagine how much loose hair can accumulate and scatter in a month.
At least once a week is necessary for your Golden Retriever’s skin and coat health, as well as maintaining a clean home!
What Types of Dog Brushes are Available?
Pin Brushes
Pin brushes look like normal human brushes. They feature pins, often made of stainless steel, on a flat surface and usually have a protruding handle. Most often the pins also have a “cap”, to protect your dog’s skin from being scratched by metal.
These kinds of brushes are definitely best for brushing a Golden’s top coat, rather than the undercoat. Usually, they aren’t strong enough to penetrate through to the undercoat to remove mats and tangles.
Bristle Brushes
Bristle brushes are generally best for short-haired dogs, but they work very well on a Golden’s top coat. Once you’ve worked the knots out with a different grooming tool, use a bristle brush to smooth the coat out and get that Golden Retriever shine.
The bristles are usually fine and densely packed. They can be made from a variety of materials. Nylon, hemp, and boar’s hair are seen often.
Slicker Brushes
A slicker brush has thin, flexible wires packed very close together. These brushes are great for dogs with a double coat who are prone to matting.
The flexible wires get into the undercoat to work through tangles and mats. You’ll still need to be gentle with it, though, as they can pull at the hair and skin.
Undercoat Rakes
An undercoat rake is crucial for dogs like Golden Retrievers with double coats. Their purpose is to remove loose hair that builds up in the undercoat, so it doesn’t cause matting or drop all over the furniture.
Choose a rake that matches the length of your Golden’s coat. Too long, and it’ll poke your dog uncomfortably in the skin. Too short, and it may not even reach the dead hair hidden under the coat.
Dematting Brushes
These are a different kind of rake. They feature curved blades that are designed to work through knots in the deep undercoat.
Other
Less used but also seen are rubber brushes, porcupine brushes (a mix between a pin brush and a slicker brush), and deshedding grooming tools. These are all variations on the brushes above, and can be used depending on your dog’s preference.
How to Groom a Golden Retriever Puppy?
In terms of hair, grooming your Golden Retriever puppy is likely to be easier than grooming an adult Retriever. Their fur is shorter and their undercoat isn’t fully developed yet.
You could get away with not using an undercoat rake at this stage of their life. It could be a good idea to have one and use it gently for tangles to get your puppy used to it.
A pin brush or bristle brush would be a good start. There’s no need to bathe your puppy every time you groom them. Simply set aside some time every day to brush through their coat.
Be extra gentle with your Golden puppy. Don’t assume that Golden puppies don’t get knots! Work through them gently with a comb or the pin brush if you can.
If your Golden Retriever puppy is scared of a brush, a grooming glove could be the best option for them.