Guide · Brushes and deshedding
Slicker vs pin brush
Slickers grip loose hair and tangles; pin brushes glide through long coats. Which suits each coat, how to use them without scraping skin, and when you need both.
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Short answer
Choose a slicker for dense, double, curly and tangle-prone coats: AKC describes slickers as the brush for removing mats and dead hair, and calls them excellent for double-coated breeds. Choose a pin brush for long, flowing coats and feathering, which AKC pairs with many longhaired dogs.[1][2] Many long and double coats do best with both, plus a metal comb. Smooth coats need neither.
How the two brushes differ
A slicker brush has many short, fine wire pins, bent at an angle and packed close together on a flat or curved pad. A pin brush has longer, straight pins spaced further apart, usually set in a flexible cushion.
| Slicker brush | Pin brush | |
|---|---|---|
| Pins | Fine, bent, densely packed | Longer, straight, widely spaced |
| What it does well | Grips loose hair and works through small tangles | Glides through long hair and separates it |
| How AKC describes it | For removing mats and dead hair[1] | For many longhaired dogs[1] |
| Main way it goes wrong | Fine pins pressed into the skin can scrape it | Pins shorter than the coat is deep never reach the skin |
| Coats it suits best | Double, curly and dense coats | Long, silky and feathered coats |
The difference comes down to grip. The slicker's dense, bent pins catch loose hair and tangles that a pin brush would slide past. The pin brush's longer, smoother pins move through a long coat without dragging on every strand.
Which brush for which coat
| Coat | Start with | What AKC and others say |
|---|---|---|
| Double coat (Golden Retriever, German Shepherd Dog, Pembroke Welsh Corgi) | Slicker, then an undercoat rake in shedding season | AKC calls slickers excellent for double-coated breeds.[2] Its Golden page recommends a slicker once or twice a week, and its Corgi page a daily once-over with comb and slicker.[3][4] |
| Long double coat (Pomeranian, Border Collie) | Both | AKC: a pin brush and a slicker down to the skin once a week for the Pomeranian; a pin brush once or twice a week for the Border Collie.[5][6] |
| Curly coat (Poodle, doodles) | Long-pin slicker plus a metal comb | AKC says a full Poodle coat that is not brushed and combed completely to the skin mats near the roots and must be shaved off.[7] Chris Christensen aims its 27 mm-pin slicker at dense coats such as Poodles and Doodles.[8] |
| Long silky coat (Shih Tzu, Maltese, Havanese) | Pin brush plus a metal comb | AKC: daily brushing of a long Shih Tzu coat with a flexible-pin wire brush, in layers to reach the skin; daily gentle brushing and combing to the skin for the Maltese.[9][10] |
| Feathered coat (Cocker Spaniel) | Either, plus a metal comb | AKC calls a metal comb "a necessity" for the Cocker Spaniel.[11] |
| Smooth coat (French Bulldog, Beagle, Boxer) | Neither | AKC suggests a medium-bristle brush, rubber grooming mitt or hound glove, or a rubber curry brush for the Boxer.[12][13][14] |
Not sure which coat your dog has? Try the dog breed grooming finder.
How to use a slicker without hurting your dog
The fine pins that make a slicker effective can scrape skin if you press down. Chris Christensen's directions for its slicker are a good rule for any brand: brush gently in the natural direction of the hair, do not apply pressure to the skin, and repeat strokes so the brush does the work.[8] AKC also says to work all the way down to the skin using gentle strokes.[1]
- Hold it loosely, between your fingers rather than in a fist, so you cannot lean on it.
- Work in thin layers. Lift the hair with one hand and brush the layer underneath out from the skin. This is line brushing.
- Use short strokes over a tangle, holding the hair between the tangle and the skin so you are not pulling on the dog.
- Look at the skin as you go. If it turns pink or red, stop brushing that spot.
How to use a pin brush
A pin brush only works if it reaches the skin. AKC's advice for long coats is to get down to the skin, not just over the top: it describes layering a Shih Tzu's coat to reach the skin, and brushing a Pomeranian down to the skin.[9][5] Brush the hair below a parting line, then drop the next layer and repeat. Finish with a metal comb: if it catches, go back to that patch.
We do not list a pin brush yet, because none we found met our bar. If you buy one, look for:
- Pins long enough to reach through a layer of your dog's coat to the skin.
- Smooth, rounded pin ends with no sharp burrs.
- A cushion that flexes when you press it, rather than a hard base.
- A head size that suits your dog: a small head for toy breeds and faces, a larger one for a big dog's body.
Do you need both?
For many long and double coats, yes. AKC's Pomeranian advice uses a pin brush and a slicker together, and its Husky page has the undercoat raked out with a pin brush and a metal comb.[5][15] One way to split the work: the slicker for the body coat and tangles, the pin brush for long feathering, and the comb to check both.
For shedding season you may also want an undercoat tool; see undercoat rake vs deshedding tool.
Next
Questions
Can a slicker brush hurt my dog?
It can if you press down, because the fine pins can scrape skin. Chris Christensen's directions for its slicker say to brush gently in the direction of the hair and not to apply pressure to the skin; stop if the skin looks red.[8]
Which brush should I use on a Golden Retriever?
AKC's Golden Retriever page recommends a slicker brush once or twice a week, and daily during heavy shedding. Add a metal comb to check the feathering for tangles.[3]
Which brush suits a Poodle or doodle coat?
A slicker with long pins, plus a metal comb. AKC says a full Poodle coat that isn't brushed and combed completely to the skin mats near the roots and must be shaved off.[7]
Does a short-haired dog need a slicker or a pin brush?
Usually neither. AKC suggests a medium-bristle brush, rubber grooming mitt or hound glove for smooth coats such as the French Bulldog and Beagle, and VCA suggests flexible grooming gloves or short-bristle brushes.[12][13][16]
Should I use a slicker brush on my cat?
Cat groomers often reach for a comb instead. CFA notes that most exhibitors and professional groomers use combs rather than metal brushes, and VCA suggests long-toothed metal combs or brushes with offset tines for medium and long-haired cats. See how to groom a long-haired cat.[18][19]