Whether you’ve just put down a deposit on a Goldendoodle puppy or already have one in the family, you know just how important coat care is. Since you’re here, you’re probably ready to take your pup’s grooming requirements seriously. So if you’re on the hunt for the best brushes for Goldendoodles, then let’s dig in!
If you have a Goldendoodle, it is especially important to have the proper brushes, combs, and other grooming tools for their coat type.
Unfortunately, the market is flooded with a ton of products for literally everything. But there’s so much out there that it’s difficult to find and choose the right ones (i.e. “analysis paralysis”). So, we thought we’d do the product research for you.
The truth is, Goldendoodles absolutely REQUIRE daily brushing. Yes, it’s a lot, but you know what they say:
With great Doodle comes great responsibility.
Uncle Ben
Daily brushing is an absolute requirement because Doodles are especially prone to hair matting. Hair matting can cause a lot of problems and discomfort for dogs. Also, if you have allergies, then daily brushing is necessary for keeping your allergies at bay.
Best Brushes for Goldendoodles
To help cut down “analysis paralysis” for you, we are only going to mention the TOP TWO best brushes for Goldendoodles. Many of the reviews for these products are verified purchasers who specifically mention that they have a Doodle. So, trust us when we say that these brushes outshine all the others when it comes to Goldendoodle coats.
1. Andis Metal Comb (Honorable Mention)
Okay, it’s not a brush, BUT! We first have to say that a metal comb is absolutely necessary for preventing knots and matting all the way down to the skin. Brushes do not do so effectively by themselves.
If you walk away from this page with just one thing, let it be a high-quality metal comb. It is imperative that every Goldendoodle parent owns one…and uses it daily.
A high-quality metal dog grooming comb assists in getting rid of loose hair, tangles, and dirt in your Goldendoodle’s coat.
You can use this comb in conjunction with the Chris Christensen Big G to line brush. If you do, you’ll be set for life.
See Also:
(Click the image)
2. Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush
Ah, the celebrated “coral brush”. Pricey but absolutely worth every penny, the Chris Christensen Big G slicker brush is AMAZING for Goldendoodles (well, all Doodles, actually). It features extra long pins that are gentle and pliable, yet very sturdy. It can work through dense coats all the way to the root to remove thick, loose undercoat.
Plenty of professional groomers recommend this brush for daily Doodle coat maintenance. It is really effective at de-matting and detangling. It is also really great for fluffing curly, cottony coats.
Many reviewers of this brush – myself included – say that it has cut their typical brushing time in half, or even down to 5 minutes!
Is the Big G Worth It?
We did our own comparison test to see how the Big G and three alternative slicker brushes ranked across 8 categories. Ultimately, we wanted to see if the Big G lives up to all the hype (and the price). You can find those three alternative brushes later on in this post, but you can check out that comparison test article and video here.
3. Chris Christensen Pin Brush
This pin brush by Chris Christensen is truly amazing. The tips of its steel pins are polished to ensure the brush glides smoothly through your Goldendoodle’s coat. The Chris Christensen Pin Brush has a lovely, smooth wooden handle, making it very comfortable to grasp. It’s also made in Germany, so you know it’s really high quality!
This brush is typically good for keeping the coat tangle-free. If the coat is already matted or has knots, you will need the a metal comb and the Big G slicker brush.
Users have said that this brush is very gentle on the skin and their pups enjoy the grooming time. I can personally attest to how wonderful the brush feels…because I tried it on my own head when it was fresh out of the box. My eyes literally rolled back into my head.
Big G Slicker Brush Alternatives
In case you haven’t already found out, the Chris Christensen Big G costs a pretty penny. The price point of one of these is enough for lots of people to ask if there are comparable alternatives:
I am looking to replace my very old slicker brush and was planning to get a Chris Christensen Big G slicker brush but it’s very pricey. Does anyone have an alternative to suggest that doesn’t cost $65?
We did some digging and found that there are a few good alternatives that are easier on the wallet. See below.
The Artero brush seems to be the second-favorite after the Big G among groomers, but based on our testing (see video), the Paw Brothers brush was second-best.
However, most owners and groomers definitely recommend the Big G over anything else.
How To Brush Your Goldendoodle Properly To Prevent Matting?
By now you’ve probably gotten the hint how much we love and recommend the Big G. It truly is one of the best brushes for Goldendoodles, if not the best. But even if you have the best dog grooming brush available out there, it won’t matter much if you don’t use it properly, on a regular basis.
- Step 1: Make sure you have all of your grooming tools nearby: your pin or slicker brush, a metal comb, and a dog detangler spray. While the detangling spray is optional, we strongly recommend you purchase one to get those pesky knots and mats out as fast as possible. Dog detangler sprays help loosen up the mats, which also means your pup won’t feel as much pain or discomfort in the process.
- Step 2: Before reaching for any grooming tools, feel the fur with your hands and fingers – if you find any noticeably stubborn knots and mats, these are the ones you should prioritize first. Once you’ve located the mats that need working on, spray each of them with dog detangling spray and start detangling them with your metal comb.
- Important tip: always start detangling the knots from the tip of the hair and slowly move your way up towards the root as the knot loosens up.
- To prevent pain and discomfort: Detangling knots and mats is inevitably going to be uncomfortable for your Dood. In addition to using a dog detangler spray, another tip is to hold onto the mat very, very close to the root of the hair with your left hand whilst you’re working the comb in your other hand. This helps take some of that pressure off the root and skin.
- Step 3: After you’ve finished detangling the worst of knots and mats, it’s time to start brushing. Before you start, you can again spritz on some dog detangler spray all over the fur to make it easier to manage. For the best results, you should start brushing the areas that are the closest to the ground. So, you’ll start with the paws and feet, then moving onto the legs, then chest, neck, belly, and bum. After that, brush the sides and tail, finally finishing with the hair on the back. Below you’ll find a helpful illustration as well:
Tips To Make Your Goldendoodle Fluffy
Goldendoodles are well-known for their signature fluffy coats. But sometimes it just doesn’t seem to be happening… First and foremost, the key to a fluffy coat lies in a proper grooming routine that you actually follow. Be sure to brush your Dood daily, give them baths when necessary, have their hair trimmed every few months, and don’t underestimate the power of a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet.
But there are some additional steps you can add into your Goldendoodle’s grooming routine for those immediate results. We’ve found great help in blow drying our Doodles’ hair after bathing. This helps lift up the root of the hair and make it fluffy, guaranteed.
Another simple hack is to fluff up your Goldendoodle’s fur with a comb or brush after grooming them. Simply use gentle upward strokes as the final step after brushing your Dood so that you lift up the hair. Just make sure you don’t go too crazy with the teasing, as it can quickly tangle the hair again.
To Conclude…
With the availability of so many grooming tools on the market, taking care of your Doodle’s coat has never been so simple. And it’s even easier with these best brushes for Goldendoodles.
What brush do you love most for your Doodle? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
The information on this page is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional groomer advice. Always seek the advice of your groomer, veterinarian, or other qualified animal health provider with any questions you may have.
[…] your dog yourself, then you’ll need to be prepared to fork over A LOT of time and effort to maintain the dog’s coat on top of the ~$90 that will go to your groomer every 2-3 months. If you aren’t interested in DIY […]
April 20, 2019 at 4:57 pm