Best Brushes For German Shepherds | 5 Brushes Reviewed

German Shepherds are heavy shedders. They shed regularly and blow their coats twice a year as the seasons change. As such, it isn’t uncommon to find your German Shepherd’s fur on basically everything, from your floors, carpets, and furniture.

And so, if you want to prevent a build-up of fur in your home, you will need to put in both time and effort to brush your German Shepherd at least three times a week, or daily when it’s blowing its coat. 

Fortunately for us, keeping up with grooming isn’t too hard of a task. Especially when you have access to the right tools. And those tools are what we’re going to discuss in this article. Specifically, we’ll be looking at the best brushes for German Shepherds.

Overview: Best Brushes For German Shepherds

• Pat Your Pet 2 Sided Undercoat Rake
• Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
• Hertzko Bristle Brush
• Andis Premium Pin Brush
• Double Sided Pins and Bristle Brush by Hertzko

What To Consider When Buying A Brush

The Different Types Of Brushes

There are four types of brushes you can get for your German Shepherd. They are as follows:

Slicker Brush. Slicker brushes are typically used on medium-to-long haired or curly-haired dogs. They’re characterized by fine, short wire bristles or pins that penetrate deep into the undercoat to remove any debris, loose hair, and matting on the fur. These are versatile brushes that need to be in every German Shepherd owner’s grooming kit.

Bristle Brush. Bristle brushes are best for short-haired dogs and are used to remove loose hairs from a dog’s topcoat. They also help distribute skin oil, which stimulates a dog’s skin. Overall, they’re good brushes for quick daily grooming sessions.

Pin Brush. Pin brushes function similarly to bristle brushes but can reach a little deeper to pick-up loose hair, debris, and even remove some tangles from the undercoat. That said, they don’t necessarily penetrate deep enough like slicker brushes or undercoat rakes, and are thus not as effective for undercoat brushing.

Deshedding Tool. Deshedding tools such as undercoat rakes are designed to remove dead hair and debris from your dog’s undercoat. As the name implies, these tools will help you manage your German Shepherd’s shedding and prevent loose fur from becoming a mess. Keep in mind though that these can penetrate deep into the coat and may thus come into contact with your dog’s skin. So, be gentle with it.

Hair Length

Different brushes work well with different lengths of hair. And since German Shepherds could come with short, medium, and long coats, you have to take compatibility into consideration. Too short of a brush may not penetrate the coat well enough, while too long may come into contact and irritate your dog’s skin.

Durability

Given that you’d be using the brush regularly, you should use one that lasts. So, be sure to look into the material used or for any reported issues concerning the brush’s durability.

Safety Features

Note that a brush is something you physically use on your dog. Meaning, if it’s a faulty or mediocre product, it may very well end up harming your German Shepherd. Such is why it’s important to choose tools designed with safety in mind. Try to look for brushes featuring rounded-edges, rubber-coated pins, or soft and gentle bristles.

Ease Of Use And Comfort

Finally, you should also consider your convenience. Choose ergonomically designed brushes that are easy and comfortable on your wrists. You should also prefer brushes that are easy to maintain like the ones that you can clean with just a click of a button.

The Best Brushes For German Shepherds

Best Deshedding Tool: Pat Your Pet 2 Sided Undercoat Rake

The Pat Your Pet 2 Sided Undercoat Rake is an excellent choice for a deshedding tool.

It features a 2-in-1 dual head with one side designed for removing mats and tangles and the other for deshedding. Meaning, not only will you be able to keep fur from becoming a mess, but it will also prevent your German Shepherd from developing painful and unhygienic mats.

What’s also great is that despite being sharp enough to cut through mats and tangles, the rake remains safe. It features rounded-tip edges that don’t scratch but instead, gently massages your dog’s skin. That said, be sure to use this tool gently, as improper and harsh brushing may cause the rake to pull on skin and leave your German Shepherd in pain.

Aside from that though, you will love using the Pat Your Pet Rake. It’s ergonomically designed with an anti-slip handle which will keep you comfortable even with prolonged use.

Overall it is an excellent 2-in-1 tool that promotes healthy and well-groomed coats.

Best Slicker Brush: Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush

For slicker brushes, I highly recommend the Hertzko Self Cleaning brush. It’s highly effective, easy to use, and has all the right features.

This brush effectively removes loose hair, matting, tangles, and dander, while being completely gentle and safe for your German Shepherd. Its bristles are fine bent wires that gently groom and penetrate deep into your dog’s coat without scratching the skin. In fact, it’s so gentle that it might even pass as a massager.

But not only is this brush comfortable for your dog, it’s also built for your comfort as well.This brush is very easy to use. It comes with a thumb rest and a soft, ergonomically designed, anti-slip handle to keep your hand comfortable even on extended use. It also features a retractable bristle system that allows you to remove and easily clean up the collected fur with your fingers.

Additionally, it’s also a durable and long-lasting brush especially since the retractable system which makes for easy cleaning, also hides the bristles to prevent any damage and misalignment.

One thing you have to keep in mind when using this brush, or any other slicker brush, is that you have to use it gently. These brushes can penetrate deep and if you press too hard, you may end up hurting your German Shepherd.

Best Bristle Brush: Hertzko Bristle Brush

For general daily brushing, I recommend the Hertzko Bristle Brush.

This is a versatile bristle that works well for short to long-haired dogs, and will thus be suitable for your German Shepherd. It has long and firm bristles that will smoothen your dog’s coat, remove dirt and loose hair while being perfectly gentle and comfortable on your dog’s skin.

While great, the brush can have a couple issues. First, the bristles can fall off eventually with regular use. Second, as with most bristle brushes, it can be hard to clean and remove the collected hair. And finally, it won’t be able to reach your German Shepherd’s undercoat, so you would have to pair it with a slicker or a deshedding tool for more thorough grooming.

Best Pin Brush: Andis Premium Pin Brush

For pin brushes, I suggest you check out the Andis Premium Pin Brush. It’s an affordable yet effective brush for everyday grooming.

It features pinhead bristles that will remove loose hair and debris off your German Shepherd’s topcoat while being completely easy and gentle on the skin. It’s also well designed for your comfort with an ergonomic handle that provides for a comfortable and secure grip.

The only issue with this brush is its durability, as the pinheads and pins do eventually fall off with regular use.

Also, keep in mind that while pin brushes have good reach, they don’t penetrate the undercoat well enough. Meaning, you would also need to pair this with a deshedding tool or a slicker brush if you intend to completely manage shedding.

Best Combo Brush: Double Sided Pins and Bristle Brush by Hertzko

If you want a pin and bristle combo brush, I recommend the Hertzko Double Sided Pins and Bristle Brush. Like the other Hertzko brushes in this list, this one is built for effective cleaning without sacrificing your and your dog’s comfort.

As a pin and bristle brush in one, this brush provides everything you need for general grooming. On one side, you have soft and densely packed bristles designed to remove loose hair and dirt off your German Shepherd’s topcoat. And on the other, you have a pin comb with rounded ends that’s great for loosening the undercoat while also being completely safe for your dog’s skin.

Also, as with every other Hertzko product on this list, this brush is designed for comfort. It has a comfort-grip and anti-slip handle, which allows a secure grip and comfortable, strain-free use.

That said, you still get some durability issues when it comes to the bristles and the pins as they can eventually fall off with consistent use.

Which Brush Should You Get For Your German Shepherd?

Different types of brushes have different functions, and so ideally, you’d want to get one of each type. You’d use pin or bristle brushes for quick daily grooming, while you’d use slicker brushes and deshedding tools for more thorough sessions.

But if that’s not possible, and you can only get one, then I suggest opting for a slicker brush. It reaches deep enough to remove loose hair and mats from your German Shepherd’s undercoat while also combing through the topcoat. So it’s versatile enough to provide an almost complete clean. That said, don’t expect it to remove as much dead undercoat fur and mats as a deshedding tool, or provide as much shine to the coat as a pin or bristle brush.

Conclusion

That concludes this article on the best brushes for German Shepherds. I hope that I presented you with the information you need to choose a brush suitable for your dog.

Again, if you could get only one of the listed brushes, then I highly suggest that you get the Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush as it’s the most versatile one and it works for both the topcoat and undercoat.

If you can however, purchase more than one, be sure to get a slicker brush, a deshedding tool, and either a pin or bristle brush.