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Poodles are intelligent and affectionate, but, boy do they take a lot of grooming! My sister had a Poodle for years, and they often appeared to share the same hairstyle - tangled and unruly!
While my sister valiantly tried to tame her own hair with a tangle teaser, she battled to find a brush that could work the same magic on Daisy, her standard Poodle.
My sister went through at least five combs, a couple of dematting rakes, and a handful of slicker brushes before she struck gold in the form of a Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush. Suddenly, Daisy was transformed into a big, beautiful ball of white fluff!
Although Daisy’s non-shedding coat was ideal for my allergy-prone sister, like all Poodles, Daisy’s thick, wavy coat never stopped growing and, even with daily grooming, tangles and mats would start to form.
Not only did this brush transform my sister’s Poodle into a show-ready fluff-ball, but it also did so without hurting her. Many of the combs and rakes she’d tried before induced ear-splitting cries from Daisy, who is renowned for her unfathomably low pain threshold - ask any one of the local vets!
This brush is designed to get all the mats out of your dog’s coat with its fine steel bristles that can penetrate deep into a Poodle’s curly coat but won't scratch her skin.
I think one of the things Daisy appreciated most about this slicker brush was that it massages your dog at the same time as removing tangles and matted hair. It won’t pull on your Poodle’s coat either, making the grooming experience more pleasurable for all involved!
Once your dog is looking like a Cruft’s competitor, just press the button, and the bristles will retract, allowing you to remove the hair and clean the brush ready for next time. Simple, but highly effective.
This grooming tool works efficiently and is easy to clean, which, when you’ve got a Poodle that needs daily grooming, is notable.
If you need a specialized brush for your Poodle's coat, below are our reviews for the best choiced:
With so many different brushes and grooming products for Poodles, it can be tricky to figure out which is the best for you.
Professional groomers tend to prefer slicker brushes, like the one from Hertzko, because they are easy to clean, versatile, and hard-wearing. They often manage to remove tangles that initially look like they’ll have to be cut out.
Other tools, like de-matting rakes and detangling combs, are also useful for getting tough tangles and stubborn mats out of a Poodle’s dense and curly coat. They can also make the grooming process more comfortable for a skittish or fidgety dog.
Pin brushes, like the one side of the Hartz brush, are made up of “fine wire bristles that effortlessly work their way through a Poodle coat without causing the dog discomfort.” Similarly, finishing combs are great for the final fluffing up of the coat and for cleaning sensitive areas like the face and paws.
The only type of popular dog brush we have not mentioned is the shedding brush, and you will find out why in a minute.
Poodles are known as hypoallergenic dogs as they do not shed like most breeds. Another thing about Poodles that sets them apart from other dog breeds is that they only have one coat, rather than two. This means that there is no undercoat to be removed, which is what shedding brushes like the Furminator are designed to do. Using a brush of this kind on your Poodle could result in you pulling her hair out by the roots, causing her discomfort, hair loss, and potential skin disorders.
To keep your Poodle’s coat tangle-free, you need to brush them several times a week at least. My sister used to brush Daisy daily but, once she started using the Hertzko slicker brush, found she could drop it down to every other day.
Daily grooming is essential if your Poodle spends a lot of time exploring outside but, if she’s more of an indoor pooch a couple of times a week should suffice, depending on her coat.
A good bath once a month gives you the chance to help your dog reset. Bathing stimulates the skin and improves the quality of the coat.
Using a detangling shampoo and conditioner can make it easier to brush or comb the coat afterward to ensure your dog is free from the irritation of matted hair.
A hypoallergenic shampoo is also highly recommended for Poodles who are prone to skin sensitivities and allergies.
Although shaving your Poodle isn’t necessary, it can make it easier to keep her looking good. If you don’t want it shaved, you can always opt for a close trim instead. Although clipping most dog breeds can be detrimental to their health, because the Poodle only has a single coat, you can shave it down, making your dog cooler in summer, without causing “any long-term problems for your dog’s coat and skin.”
A shaved Poodle needs to visit a professional groomer every four to eight weeks to maintain her style and keep her coat in tip-top condition.
You can shave a Poodle early on in their life!
Keeping your Poodle tangle-free and looking good requires a regular grooming regime and one of the best brushes for Poodles. The Hertzko slicker brush can tame the most unmanageable coats, whether they’re full of unruly curls or a mass of fluff.
Affordable yet durable, the Hertzko slicker brush removes mats without hurting your dog and cleans itself with the clip of a button.
Poodles that spend a lot of time running through the undergrowth and splashing in the mud will inevitably develop a muddle of mats through their coats. The Poodle Pet dematting fur rake can take on the toughest of tangles with its two-and-a-half-inch blades.
On a larger dog, like a standard Poodle, it's small enough to get into the troublesome areas between the front and back legs but is a little large to use effectively on toy Poodles.
While the Hartz brush isn’t quite as effective at tackling tangles, it does offer two different grooming actions - a pin brush on the one side and the softer, nylon teeth on the other. Affordable and effective it can be teamed with a finishing comb, like the one from Andis, to leave your Poodle looking ready to enter its first show.
Whether you opt for a slicker brush or finishing comb, it doesn’t matter as long as you groom carefully, making sure you’re aware of your dog’s reaction to the process at all times.
These top brushes are all designed with your furry friend’s curly coat and sensitive skin in mind.
Let’s get the best brush for your Poodle, knowing it will improve your dog’s health, comfort, and appearance with regular use.