In this guide, you’ll learn how to choose the best brush for a Great Danoodle. But that’s not all! We’re also going to share with you some of our best tips and tricks on how to properly groom your Great Danoodle so that your pooch flaunts a gorgeous, healthy, and luscious coat all year round. Keep on reading to learn more!
Table of Contents
- Choosing The Best Brush For Great Danoodle: Types Of Popular Great Danoodle Brushes
- What Is The Best Brush For Great Danoodle?
- Best Brush For Great Danoodles: Reviews With Pros & Cons
- Best Brush For Great Danoodle: Alternative Options
- How Choosing The Correct Brush For Your Great Danoodle Can Help Prevent Matting?
- How Often Do You Have To Groom A Great Danoodle?
- How To Brush A Great Danoodle Properly? Step-By-Step Guide
- Best Brush For Great Danoodle: FAQs
Choosing The Best Brush For Great Danoodle: Types Of Popular Great Danoodle Brushes
The Great Dane-Poodle mix is a true gentle giant. While the Great Danoodle is a relatively rare and new Poodle mix, they’re becoming more and more popular each day. Great Danoodles are notoriously gentle and affectionate, silly and playful, and highly intelligent. We’re actually surprised that the Great Danoodle hasn’t become all the rave just yet! But soon enough…
One of the many perks of Poodle mixes is that they’re much more suitable for people with allergies. That’s because the Poodle is considered a hypoallergenic breed. And pairing the Poodle with another purebred dog, the Poodle genes are bound to make a positive impact. The Great Danoodle is no different from other Doodles – they’re low to non-shedding dogs, making them excellent pets for people with allergies.
While Great Danes are moderately shedding dogs that don’t need to be groomed that often, that’s not the case with the Great Danoodle. Like other Poodle mixes, Great Danoodles need to be brushed, bathed, and groomed on a regular basis to prevent matting and a whole range of other skin and coat health issues.
The most important step in any Great Danoodle’s grooming routine is brushing. But how to choose the best brush for a Great Danoodle? And what are the differences between those dog grooming brushes anyway? Let’s first take a closer look at the two types of dog grooming brushes that are the only ones we’d recommend for Great Danoodles.
Slicker Brush
A slicker brush is a popular choice amongst Doodle owners and professional groomers. This type of dog brush is perfect for those heavy-duty grooming sessions when dealing with thick coats. And as you probably know, the Great Danoodle has quite a dense coat!
A slicker brush usually has a wide paddle with a distinct handle placement designed to prevent arm fatigue. This type of paddle is excellent when working on thick coats, as it lets you brush through larger areas of hair at once. When it comes to dog grooming brushes, slicker brushes are by far the most effective at detangling and deshedding even the thickest of coats.
Pin Brush
A pin brush is often more familiar for many – it looks like a traditional hair brush with its oval shaped head and the typical handle placement. A good quality pin brush can also be a great grooming tool for some Great Danoodles. You can get rid of minor tangles, loose dog hair, and any dirt and debris with a sturdy pin brush. On the other hand, pin brushes aren’t as effective as slicker brushes. This means that it’s more suited for Great Danoodles with less tangle-prone coats. Still, if your pup doesn’t need the most heavy-duty grooming tools out there, a pin brush will be the perfect choice.
When browsing through different pin brushes, we recommend you look for ones that have stainless steel or metal pins with rounded tips. These pin brushes are usually the most effective of them all, and they tend to be more durable as well.
Metal Or Stainless Steel Comb
In addition to a dog grooming brush, you absolutely need to purchase a metal or stainless steel comb as well. This is the main tool for getting rid of those stubborn knots and mats that are often hiding in those thick Doodle coats. What’s more, a comb is perfect for using around areas that are hard to reach with a brush. Or, if your dog just hates seeing a brush hover around their eyes, nose, and mouth.
When choosing a comb, we recommend you get something sturdy and durable, such as a metal or a stainless steel comb. Although combs usually aren’t very pricey, it’s still annoying having to replace one after every few uses. So, instead opt for something that’s effective and will last you for a while. Metal and stainless steel combs are a much better choice than ones made from wood or plastic, for example.
What Is The Best Brush For Great Danoodle?
We talked about slicker brushes and pin brushes, but which one should you choose for your Doodle pup, then? It all boils down to your Great Danoodle’s coat type, but also their hair length.
What many people often overlook are the pins on the actual brush. Before buying a brush, make sure that the pins are long enough to penetrate all layers of the fur. So, if your Great Danoodle usually has longer hair, the brush should have long pins. Similarly, if you usually have your dog’s coat trimmed rather short, you can instead opt for a brush with shorter pins.
By the way, did you know that long-haired dogs are more prone to matting and therefore will also need to be groomed more often? That’s definitely something to keep in mind if you prefer a longer hairdo on your pup.
Best Brush For Great Danoodles Based On Their Coat Type
The most important thing to learn when choosing the best brush for your Great Danoodle is your Dood’s coat type. Great Danoodles can inherit one of three coat types from their parents: curly, wavy, or short. So, what’s the difference between all of these and how can you choose a brush accordingly?
Curly Coat
The curly coat is mostly inherited from the Poodle’s side of the Great Danoodle’s lineage. The curly coat is thick and very textured, with dense curls that trap in anything from dirt and debris to loose dog hair. Although regarded as low to non-shedding and hypoallergenic, the curly coat is the most prone to matting out of those three coat types. For curly-haired Great Danoodles, the best choice would be a heavy-duty dog grooming brush like a slicker brush.
Wavy Coat
Probably the most common coat type we’ve seen in Great Danoodles is the wavy coat. This type of coat has a relaxed wave and it combines the traits from both the purebred Great Dane and the Poodle. It’s usually the easiest to manage and it likely won’t need as an intensive grooming approach as the curly coat. If you’re looking for the best brush for a Great Danoodle with a wavy coat, you can’t go wrong with either a pin or slicker brush – both of these work perfectly on wavy-coated Doods.
Straight Coat
Then there’s the straight coat that takes most after the Great Dane. The great thing about straight-coated Great Danoodles is that they also have just a single layer of fur. That’s because the Great Dane is also a single-coated breed, but they do shed moderate amounts of hair. But thanks to the Poodle genes, Great Danoodles are usually very allergy-friendly and won’t shed as much.
For straight-coated Great Danoodles, again both slicker and pin brushes are great options. But if your straight-haired Dood is prone to tangles, you might find a slicker brush a better choice.
Best Brush For Great Danoodles: Reviews With Pros & Cons
Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush
Arguably the best brush for a Great Danoodle is the Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush. This slicker brush is perfect for Doodles, as it’s specially designed for dense and textured coats. Whether you need to use it for detangling or deshedding, this slicker brush will no doubt manage it all.
This slicker brush has a wide paddle with long, bended, tightly packed pins that go through even the most tangle-prone coats. It also has an extra long handle with a non-slip cover, providing you a good grip and preventing arm fatigue. This brush comes in three sizes and for Great Danoodles we recommend the largest one. You’ll see that those brushing sessions won’t seem so tedious after all with this brush!
Pros
- Ideal for very thick and textured coats;
- Wide paddle lets you cover large areas of fur quickly and effectively;
- Extra long non-slip ergonomic handle;
- Durable and high-quality;
- Available in three sizes: large, medium, and Baby G.
Cons
- A bit pricey, but the quality and effectiveness of this brush more than make up for it.
The verdict: The Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush is the best brush for Great Danoodles with curly coats. There are also smaller sizes available that are perfect for puppies.
Chris Christensen Original Series Oval Pin Brush
If your Great Danoodle has either wavy or straight hair, the Chris Christensen Original Series Oval Pin Brush might be an even better choice for your pooch. Especially if you prefer a more familiar handle placement on a brush.
While pin brushes aren’t as effective as slicker brushes, this pin brush is still excellent for detangling and deshedding the coat. The polished stainless steel pins on this brush have rounded tips, making the whole process as gentle and smooth as possible.
The brush itself is very affordable, but still made from quality materials. It’s very lightweight and gives you a good grip. If you’re thinking about getting this pin brush, just make sure to choose the size according to your Dood’s hair length.
Pros
- Very smooth and gentle pins that easily glide through the fur;
- Lightweight and easy to use;
- Affordable and great quality;
- Great for both detangling and deshedding the coat;
- Available in three sizes and pin lengths: 20mm, 27mm, and 35mm.
Cons
- Pin brushes typically aren’t the best choice for very mat-prone coats.
The verdict: The Chris Christensen Pin Brush is the best brush for Great Danoodles with wavy and straight coats that are easier to manage.
Andis Steel Greyhound Comb
Our guide would not be complete with a good comb recommendation for your Great Danoodle. The Andis Steel Greyhound Comb is perfect for Great Danoodles, regardless of their coat type or hair length. At such a low price point, you’ll get a premium quality stainless steel comb that’ll get the job done no matter what.
What we love about this comb is that it has two sides that you can easily switch between. The comb provides you with an easy grip even when working on the most stubborn mats. It’s also very lightweight so you won’t have to worry about your arms getting tired when using it.
Pros
- One side with coarse teeth and the other with fine teeth;
- Excellent for detangling knots and mats;
- Very affordable and high-quality;
- Sturdy and durable, yet very lightweight and easy to use.
Cons
- None!
Best Brush For Great Danoodle: Alternative Options
In case none of the brushes above spoke to you on a personal level, don’t fret! We do have some other great brush recommendations for you lined up here:
How Choosing The Correct Brush For Your Great Danoodle Can Help Prevent Matting?
Like other Poodle mixes, Great Danoodles need to be brushed, bathed, and groomed to prevent the common issue – matting. Brushing is by far the most important step in your Great Danoodle’s grooming routine. If you’re consistently brushing out any knots and tangles, loose dog hair, dust and debris, you likely won’t have to deal with matted fur much at all. Needless to say, for that you’ll need a good quality dog brush that’s suited to your pup’s coat type.
As we discussed earlier, you should choose the best brush for your Great Danoodle based on their coat type. For curly-haired Doods, the absolute best choice is a slicker brush. For wavy and straight-coated Great Danoodles, both pin and slicker brushes are good options.
In addition to your dog’s coat type, you should also take into consideration their hair length. The long, shaggy Doodle look is definitely a gorgeous sight, it’ll also require more maintenance. That being said, longer coats should also be brushed with pin or slicker brushes that have long pins.
And as you know, Great Danoodles are big dogs. Some even weigh beyond the 100 pound mark! So, we recommend you get a larger brush that lets you brush through all of your Dood’s coat much quicker than a small brush would.
Lastly, it’s important we note that not all dog brushes are as effective and high-quality. Pay attention to the materials that the brush is made of and take a look at the reviews online. If a very cheap brush seems flimsy and has a lot of negative reviews, it’s probably best to opt for something a bit more durable.
How Often Do You Have To Groom A Great Danoodle?
Our usual recommendation for all types of Doodles is to brush them daily. This is the best thing you can do to prevent matting. And it’s so easy, too! Daily brushing is especially beneficial for curly-coated Great Danoodles that are the most prone to matting.
While wavy and straight-coated Great Danoodles are slightly less prone to matting and can be brushed less frequently, about 3 to 4 times a week, daily brushing would still be the best way to go. Not only is this going to keep your pup’s coat healthy and free from mats, it’s also going to minimize shedding.
Moreover, daily brushing has many other benefits for your Dood. For instance, thick coats often trap in dust and debris, but if you brush all of it out on a daily basis, you might not even have to bathe your dog as often. Additionally, brushing distributes your dog’s natural skin oils throughout the coat. As a result, your pup will have strong, shiny, and nourished hair at all times.
But we’re not going to act all high and mighty and pretend that we’ve never ‘forgotten’ to brush our Doodles regularly. Sometimes for a few days, maybe for a few weeks… These things happen! In those days when it seems like your Great Danoodle’s coat is impossible to work through, we recommend the more intensive line brushing method that’ll get rid of any knots and mats from your dog’s coat.
Can You Over-Brush A Great Danoodle?
It’s not really possible to over-brush your Great Danoodle. Brushing is beneficial for so many reasons and there’s certainly no harm in that! Just make sure to use the right grooming tools for your pup and never yank the hair, which can cause pain for your dog.
How To Brush A Great Danoodle Properly? Step-By-Step Guide
Never pull or yank and never use too much pressure. These are pretty much the key basics to keep in mind. However, there are a few tips and tricks on how to make the most out of your brushing sessions so that you can get the job done quickly and effectively.
Step #1
Run your hands through your Great Danoodle’s coat to locate any knots and tangles that need to be dealt with first. If you find any, spray on a little bit of dog detangling spray and work on each of them with your metal comb. The areas that are the most prone to matting are usually behind the collar and ears and also around the paws.
As those stubborn knots can be hard to get out, we recommend you take that excess pressure off by holding the knot in one hand and working with your comb in the other hand. This will prevent you from hurting your dog in the process.
Also, make sure to always start brushing from the tip of the hair, moving slowly up towards the root to loosen up the tangles. This is a great hack when working with either a comb or a brush.
Step #2
When you’ve detangled the worst knots and mats, you can start brushing with your slicker or pin brush. We always recommend you start brushing from the bottom and move your way up. So, starting from the paws and feet, then legs, then moving onto the chest and neck, and then the belly and bum. Then you’ll start brushing the sides, moving onto the tail, and finally finish brushing the back.
A helpful tip is to spray on dog detangling spray before you start. This will make the hair more manageable while also conditioning the coat.
Step #3
If you find it hard to brush the fur on the face with a large brush, switch back to your metal comb. It’s much easier to maneuver around the eyes, nose, and mouth with a smaller grooming tool. Likewise, you can use a comb on other smaller and hard-to-reach areas like around the paws and ears.
Step #4
For the final step, you can gently tease your Great Danoodle’s coat with a brush or comb for that extra volume and fluffiness.
Best Brush For Great Danoodle: FAQs
The two best dog brushes for Great Danoodles are the Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush (best for curly-coated Doodles) and the Chris Christensen Original Series Oval Pin Brush (suitable for Doods with wavy and straight coats). In addition to a dog grooming brush, make sure to get a good quality, sturdy, and durable metal or stainless steel comb.
Regularly brushing, bathing, and trimming your Great Danoodle’s coat is going to naturally make it fluffy. However, you can make it more voluminous by blow drying the hair after bathing (on the lowest setting!) and by fluffing up the hair with upwards motions with a comb or brush.
When grooming a Great Danoodle puppy, we recommend getting a smaller brush that’s easier to use on a smaller dog. With puppies, it’s also extremely important to be very gentle and use the least pressure possible. Puppies have very delicate skin so you have to be very mindful to prevent pain, skin irritations, or injury. The grooming process itself is the same as the step-by-step guide we covered above.
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