Best Brushes For Golden Retrievers: Ratings & Reviews

The Golden Retriever sheds quite a bit, so you will need to invest in the best brush to deal with his seemingly never-ending hair, and this is exactly where this guide comes in. The Golden Retriever is the 3^rd most popular dog in America, and he’s reached that top spot simply because he is such as special pooch, so we owe it to him to get the very best grooming tools around.

Not only is grooming important for the health of his skin and coat, but it also helps to strengthen the bond between him and his master. Whilst the thought of brushing him every day might seem too much, it is necessary for his coat health, so you must include it in his regime.

So, whether you’re here because you’re about to welcome a Golden into your life and experience the infamous ‘blowing coat’ season for the first time, or the brush that you already have just isn’t up to scratch, everything you need to know can be found in this guide. Not only will we recommend our favorite brushes perfect for all Golden Retrievers, but we will also guide you through what to look for in a high-quality brush, as well as tell you all about his coat and his ideal grooming regime.

Our Favorite Brushes For Golden Retrievers:

Note: Clicking the above links will take you to Amazon.com, where you can get additional product information and real-life customer reviews. If you make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Types of Brushes

There are many types of dog brushes to choose from, and the two brushes that your Golden Retriever would benefit from is the slicker brush and the undercoat rake.

• Slicker Brush: This is a flat brush comprising of short fine wires placed closely together, and they are the best brushes for dogs with either curly hair or medium to long hair. These brushes detangle and prevent matting, which is important for the Golden Retriever and his long feathery coat.
• Undercoat Rake: Also known as a de-shedding tool, this brush is used to penetrate the outer coat and remove the dead hair, dander, and dirt from the dense undercoat. These brushes comprise of one or two rows of tightly-spaced pins and are often shaped like a razor or a rake.
• Pin Brush: Pin brushes are brushes that just have pins.  Usually more flexible than undercoat rakes, pin brushes offer a little more give than both undercoat rakes and slicker brushes.  While pin brushes are great for shorter-haired dogs, they will struggle to clear out your Golden Retriever’s Undercoat.
• Bristle Brush: Bristle brushes aren’t on our list because they really aren’t recommended for Golden Retrievers unless you are preparing for a show competition or if you need your pup’s coat to be shiny for another reason.  The brushes you’ll find on our list are used for both coat health but also to handle the heavy shedding a Golden is sure to bring into your home.

Rubber Brush: Rubber brushes are also not really recommended for grooming purposes.  While they are effective for shorter-haired pups, the Golden Retriever requires a little bit more firmness to make sure you can grab all the hair off your pup, especially after they blow their coat.

Top Brushes for Golden Retrievers

Because Golden Retrievers have longer and sometimes even shaggy coats, brushing them can be a hassle! However, if you stick to slicker brushes, de-shedders, or pin brushes that have longer pins, you’ll have a much easier time keeping your Golden Retriever’s coat in good health and keeping unwanted fur out of your home. You don’t have to break the bank to do it either.

Below we will dive into our top picks and give you an overview of why we think each might be a proper solution for your pup.  If you feel that there’s something we missed on our list, feel free to drop us a line in the comments, and we will be sure to check it out.  Let’s jump in!

---

This popular brush is both gentle and effective on the Golden’s coat, penetrating deep enough to reach the undercoat to remove all of the dirt, loose and dead hair, as well as detangling it in the process. The wires are super thin to glide through his coat effortlessly, and their bent shape ensures that they do not scratch his skin.

The brush also has a convenient button that retracts the wires into the brush, which makes it easy to swipe the Golden’s hair away, and it also has an ergonomic rubber handle for easy grip, which makes it comfortable for you too.  This is an excellent choice if you are looking for something that’s both budget-friendly and gets the job done.

We love that this slicker brush with its fine wire pins also acts as a massager for his skin, which in turn promotes blood circulation and a healthier coat.

---

This undercoat rake is specifically designed for larger breeds with long hair, and it reaches through the topcoat to safely remove the trapped dirt and dander without damaging the topcoat or cutting his skin. There is also a FURejector button that will push away the hair, and it is designed with an easy-to-grip rubber handle for your comfort.

If you aren’t completely satisfied with this tool, then the manufacturer offers a money-back guarantee too, which usually means that this product is of superior quality. The FURminator is one of our favorite deshedding tools for just about every breed.  The brand has made a reputation in this space for being a quality grooming tool, even for the most aggressively shedding coats.

We love that this brush has skin guards at each end that easily glide over his skin and prevent the blades from digging in, and it also claims to reduce shedding by up to 90%.

---

This two-in-one design also means that you can use this comb as a de-shedder just like the brush above, but its main purpose is to de-matt his fur. The Golden Retriever has long and feathery hair which is prone to matting and tangling, and this comb cuts through the matting rather than pulling them through, which makes the grooming experience much more pleasant for him.

But do not worry. Although the teeth are sharp, the blade ends are rounded, so they glide over his skin without risk of cutting. The handle is made with a non-slip gel for your comfort and ease, and the manufacturer offers a full refund if you aren’t happy with it for any reason, so you can rest assured this brush is of top quality.

We love that this comb clears mats and tangles of any size and density, which saves you from having to cut those really stubborn ones out that can sneakily form in his armpits or neck without you realizing it.

---

The self-cleaning slicker pro is a great brush that’s specifically designed to remove mats, tangles, and dirt.  This makes it a highly effective tool if you have a dog that loves to be outside in your backyard, playing around in the elements.  The brush was made specifically with pets in mind, so you can be assured that it’s gentle enough to prevent unwanted tugs and pulls, which might make your Golden Retriever yelp from discomfort.

The pins are somewhat flexible, giving some relief during grooming time.  It’s also set up with a self-cleaning feature, making it easy to empty out unwanted dog hair when grooming time is over.  It’s affordable and can be used on both cats and dogs alike.  It also comes with a lifetime money-back guarantee.

We love that the Slicker Pro is self-cleaning and easy to clear out when brushing time is over.  It’s wide enough to cut back on grooming time, making it more efficient than other models.  We also love the price point.

---

The Chirpy Pets de-shedding tool is great for people on a budget.  While slightly smaller than other grooming tools on the list, it does an effective job of removing hair that’s been shed from your Golden’s coat.  This comb is more of a de-shedding tool/comb than it is a brush, so it can be very effective when your Golden Retriever blows their coat at certain times of the year.

The fact that the brush is smaller makes it ideal for multi-pet households.  You can use it on dogs and cats and is safe to use year-round.  Because it’s a comb, cleaning it is easier than an actual de-shedding tool unless you choose one that’s self-cleaning.  The steel ends of the comb are not sharp, so it’s safe and effective against your dog’s skin.

We love the price point on the Chirpy Pets brush.  While not a conventional brush, it makes a great tool for when your Golden Retriever sheds excess fur twice per year.  Because it can be used on any pet, it’ brings great value for the price.

---

The Golden Retriever was originally bred to be a gundog in the cold Scottish Highlands, and it is his lustrous double coat that keeps him warm and allows him to stay out with his master for much longer. His coat has two layers, an undercoat, and a topcoat. The undercoat keeps him warm in the winter months by insulating his body heat and cool in the summer months by keeping cool air against his skin. His outer coat is also known as the guard coat, which protects him from the elements, such as the wind and sun rays.

His coat is soft to the touch, and it is medium to long in length. Being fine and soft means that his coat appears feathery, and whilst this makes his coat very attractive, it is this fine hair that gets tangled and matted and needs extra attention. The color of his coat is so mesmerizing that he was named after it, and it comes in many shades of gold, all the way from almost white golden to deep red auburn hues.

Shedding Season

The Golden Retriever is a moderate shedder throughout the year, so you can expect a shimmery golden sheen on your furniture all year round. However, it is during shedding season that you really see how much of his hair he sheds. As the months begin to warm in the spring, he will lose his thick winter coat ready for the summer, and he will then shed his light summer coat in the fall to make way for his thick winter coat. This transitional period is known as blowing his coat, and it is no exaggeration to say that you could make an entirely new dog coat with the amount that he will shed.

Regular brushing and grooming will help to reduce the amount he sheds, and what collects on the brush will go straight into the bin rather than collecting in the corners of the living room, and some shampoos are also designed to reduce shedding. The weather will also affect his shedding so that if you live somewhere with drastic season changes, he will be more likely to shed than somewhere where the weather is relatively warm all year round. But ultimately, the Golden Retriever will always be a moderate to high shedder, and a good grooming schedule with the right brushes will help you to manage this as much as possible.

Grooming Schedules

• Daily: Because the Golden Retriever has a double coat with long hair, he ideally needs to be brushed every day. Whilst this does not need to be a thorough grooming session, you should give him the once over to keep his coat smooth, tangle-free, and looking his best. Use a pin brush or slicker brush for daily brushing.
• Weekly:  The Golden Retriever will need a thorough brushing session at least twice every week, but during shedding season, you would do well to do this at least every other day, if not every day. An undercoat rake will need to be used here to ensure that his coat is thoroughly de-matted and detangled and that the trapped dander and dirt are removed. Be sure to use this tool from head to toe, and once you have finished detangling him, running a slicker or a pin brush through his coat will make him look like he has just stepped out of the groomer.
• Monthly: Bathe your Golden once every 4 to 6 weeks, dependent on how dirty he gets while out exploring. Choose a natural shampoo, such as one of these highly rated shampoos, which are perfect for the Golden, and they will promote healthy skin and coat, as well as support his natural skin oils.

Final Thoughts

Now that you are equipped with the information you need about your Golden Retriever’s grooming regime, you should have a better idea about how to manage the amount he sheds and control it as best as you can.

With our top brush recommendations, his coat will be manageable, and he will look and feel great, and we guarantee that everyone will be asking for your groomer’s details! The Golden Retriever, with his heavy shedding, will definitely need a slicker brush and an undercoat rake in order to groom him properly, and if you stick to our recommendations above, you will have a perfectly groomed Golden by your side.