If you don’t know by now, Golden Retrievers shed. Actually, they shed quite a bit. Not matter what Golden Retriever coat color, they’re all prone to shedding heavily.
With that said, one of the most important (and useful!) purchases you’ll ever have to make is a brush for your Golden Retriever. Though there are plenty of fantastic options on the market, we’ve narrowed it down to the 4 best brushes according to owners on Reddit.
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Reasons Why Golden Retrievers Shed So Much
The Golden Retriever is one of America’s most popular dog breeds because they’re easy to care for. As a matter of fact, VetStreet ranked them the number 1 dog breed for new owners.
But if you already own one, then you already know they shed quite a bit. But why do these dogs shed so much more than other dog breeds?
The Golden Double Coat
Some of the heaviest shedders in the dogdom all have one thing in common – they all have double coats. The Golden Retriever is in this category of double-coated dogs.
This means that these dogs have two layers. A shorter, inner layer used for insulation and a longer outer layer used for protection from elements in the environment.
Golden Retrievers were originally bred to retrieve waterfowl (ducks, geese & other water birds), hence the name “retriever.” Because they were meant to be in the water, the double layer was necessary.
Not only does the outer layer add an extra layer of protection, but it’s also water-repellent and protects the Golden from the coldness of the water.
Golden Retriever Coat Blows
As a new owner, it’s important to understand that your Golden Retriever will shed excessively twice a year. It’s no coincidence that heavy shedding happens during the changes of seasons.
For example, when Golden Retrievers enter winter season, they’ll start shedding the inner coat and grow the outer coat in preparation for the cold.
Similarly, when winter season is over, Golden Retrievers will start shedding the outer coat and grow the inner coat in preparation for warmer weather.
As you get into a grooming routine for your Golden Retriever, it’s especially important that you know this to prepare for the season.
Picking a Brush for a Golden Retriever
There are so many great brushes on the market. However, novice owners often make the mistake of picking a low quality brush that can potentially hurt the dog.
Though dog brushes come in a variety of forms, the best type of brush for a Golden Retriever is a porcupine brush. These are essentially a combination of a pin brush and bristle brush.
An important quality of porcupine brushes if the longer metal pins, which makes it easier getting through the thick layers of a double coat.
Plus, the softness of the bristle pins won’t irritate your Golden Retriever’s skin while grooming. Without further a due, here are the best brushes for Golden Retrievers.
#1 Furminator De-shedding Tool
The Furminator has exploded in popularity and Golden Retriever owners swear by it. Not only is it a high quality brush, but has all the components of a brush made for a double-coated dog.
With thousands of raving reviews about the Furminator, it’s easy to see why they top our list of best Golden Retriever brushes. Don’t take our word for it, see what so many dog owners say about it.
- Size: Large
- What to Get: Long Hair
- Our Rating: 9.5 / 10 Stars
- Highlights: Easy hair ejection, ergonomic design, built for double coats, money back guarantee.
Best Features
The large size is made specifically for large dogs (over 50 pounds) with long hair.
Not only does it reach the outer coat of your Golden Retriever’s coat, but also removes any loose hair from the inner coat without damaging the skin or the outer coat.
The patented Furejector is a convenient option, as it allows you to easily release the collected fur with just a push of a button.
It may take some time to groom your dog, so having an ergonomic handle design can come in handy. Grooming can be a pleasant experience for both you and your Golden Retriever.
It comes with a no questions asked, money-back guarantee. They believe in the product as much as we do!
The Cons
There’s not many things we don’t like about the Furminator. The only real con is that it’s a bit more expensive than the competitors.
However, it’s what they say: you get what you paid for. And, the Furminator is certainly a high quality product.
It’s worth noting that the teeth on the brush is a bit sharp. Though it’s unlikely that you’ll cut your Golden Retriever, you still need to be somewhat careful while brushing.
What Golden Retriever Owners are Saying
SA Baker says that he’s tried so many different types of brushes with “a modicum of success.” He added that the Furminator was perfect for his Golden Retriever because it combs through the long hair of the dog with no problems or binding at all.
Ruth said that the Furminator worked great on her Golden Retriever but not Goldendoodle. Her reason was that Goldendoodles don’t usually have double coats, so it’s likely to shred the hair. For her Retriever, it was perfect.
#2 Pet Neat Grooming Brush
The Pet Neat De-shedding Brush is the off-brand Furminator. In fact, it’s eerily similar to the Furminator De-shedding tool and has a lot of the same features.
We placed this second on our list because it feels a little bit cheaper in build. However, it actually does cost a little bit cheaper. Still, this is by no means a deal breaker. The Pet Neat version is still a fantastic brush for Golden Retrievers.
- Size: *one size fits all
- What to Get: *only one model
- Our Rating: 9 / 10 Stars
- Highlights: Detachable head, Easy grip design, built for double coats, Stainless steel blade, money back guarantee.
Best Features
One of the best features of the Pet Neat Grooming Brush is the detachable head. With a simple push of a button, the head detaches for easy storage and cleaning of the brush.
The De-shedding tool claims to remove up to 95% of shedding fur from the coat of your Golden Retriever. It’s as effective as the top-rated Furminator in this department.
The stainless steel comb is high quality – it’s a 4 inch rust-resistant blade. It’s built so that the long blades are able to reach deep into the undercoat of your Golden Retriever.
The Pet Neat brush was built with an ergonomic handle design. Plus, there’s an eyelet for easy storage and packing.
What’s special about this product is that it comes with four free eBooks on dog care and grooming. Back this up with their money-back guarantee and you have a clear winner!
The Cons
One of the biggest differences between the Furminator and the Pet Neat Grooming Brush is the Furejector. The Furejector allows you to easy eject the fur with little ease.
With the Pet Neat, it’ll take a little time to clear out the fur on the blades. However, it’s really not a big deal.
Again, the blades can be a little sharp. You can’t be completely careless while brushing your Golden Retriever, but the chances of accidentally cutting the dog is slim.
What Golden Retriever Owners are Saying
Faith says that she tried so many different dog brushes that were supposed to help with her Golden Retriever’s undercoat. Despite buying several brushes, nothing has worked well for her.
She continues by saying that this de-shedding tool works as well as the professional groomers!
Daniel gave this a 5 stars, saying this pet brush removed a lot more hair on his Golden Retriever. His dog didn’t seem irritated by the brush even though the blades felt a little sharp.
#3 Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
The Hertzko Slicker Brush is the perfect brush to get the irritating mats out of your Golden Retriever. It’s tough on tangles and knots, but gentle on the coat and skin.
It’s a nice spin on the Furminator, but is certainly a formidable competitor product. Let’s see why thousands of raving customers have given this a 5 star rating.
- Size: *one size fits all
- What to Get: *only one model
- Our Rating: 9 / 10 Stars
- Highlights: Easy grip design, anti-slip handle, retractable brush, durable, money back guarantee.
Best Features
One of the best features of the Hertzko Slicker Brush is the retractable brush. It’s their own version of the Furejector, except when you press the button, the bristles retract and the hair is expelled.
It’s built with an ergonomic hand grip, making it super easy to hold. The slicker brush even has a thumb rest for extra control while brushing away. It’ll come in handy during long grooming sessions with your Golden Retriever.
Bristles of the brush are fine bent wires. Not only does it penetrate deep into your Golden’s inner coat, but is able to do so without scratching the dog’s sensitive skin.
It’s the perfect brush for removing loose hair, eliminating tangles, knots, dander or debris. Plus, it’s quite sturdy and seems fairly high quality.
The Cons
Sometimes the retractable bristles on the brush can get stuck. When it does, it’s a bit annoying and takes a bit to clean off the fur. It’s not a big deal, though.
Despite the similar design, some owners claim that this is just “not as effective as the Furminator.” Personally, I didn’t have any problems with it for my Australian Shepherd.
However, we can see how this may be the case for certain dog breeds. Golden Retriever owners, however, couldn’t stop raving about it.
The bristles are long and sharp, which could potentially hurt your dog if you’re not careful. Always groom in a calm environment with a calm dog.
What Golden Retriever Owners are Saying
Maya says its amazing and perfect for her Golden. She added that it’s preferable to all the other slicker brushes that she’s tried. Her favorite part is that she can brush her dog without fur flying all around the house. She gave it 5 out of 5 stars.
Jo highly recommends this brush he uses on his young Golden Retriever pup. His favorite feature of the brush is the retractable bristles.
No more fingers getting pricked while trying to clean off the fur! Jo always give this a 5 out of 5 stars.
#4 Glendan Dog Brush
The Glendan Dog Brush looks like a fairly basic dog brush. Though it’s missing some of the great features in the first three options, we think it does the job extremely well, especially for a Golden Retriever.
It comes in a simple, yet elegant design. Plus, it comes with two size choices that works with all types of dogs. It’s a newer brush, but thousands of Amazon customers are more than happy with their purchase.
- Size: Large
- What to Get: Blue or pink
- Our Rating: 8 / 10 Stars
- Highlights: Easy grip design, anti-slip handle, durable, money back guarantee.
Best Features
The Glendan Dog Brush is a rotatable slicker brush, similar to the Hertzko Slicker Brush. This makes it super convenient and easy to brush various places on your Golden Retriever.
The design is slick and comfortable. It’s built with a comfort grip and anti-slip handle. When you’re spending all that time grooming your Golden Retriever, you’ll appreciate these small details.
The massage bristles are long and sharp, which will easily reach the inner coat of your Golden Retriever. This means it’s super effect for grooming double coated dogs.
It comes with a 90 day, no questions asked money back guarantee! They’re super confident in their brush and you should be too.
The Cons
The most obvious downside to the Glendan dog brush is that it doesn’t have an easy way of releasing the fur on the brush. You’ll need to spend some time clearing the brush, but it’s not much work.
Just make sure you’re careful with your fingers when doing so!
Another thing that I wish this brush had was a better grip. Yes it’s anti-slip and they claim to have a “comfort grip.” However, it’s not as ergonomic or comfortable as the other options.
Since it’s a relatively standard bristle brush, it’s not as effective in getting all the loose fur out with a double coated dog, like the Golden Retriever.
You may need to spend a little more time grooming, but just think of it as more quality time with the dog!
What Golden Retriever Owners are Saying
Emma says that she has two Golden Retrievers, both with very different coats. One has long straight hair while the other has thick wavy hair.
Despite this, the brush worked really well on both dogs! Her only wish is that the brush was a little wider. In other words, they could have made a bigger brush!
Jocelind actually switched over from the Furminator to the Glendan Brush and she’s been loving it so far! She says that the Furminator always pulled her Golden Retriever’s hair, but the Glendan is more gentle and “grabs” the fur instead. She loves it and so do the dogs!
Did we miss any of your favorite dog brush for Golden Retrievers? Let us know if we did! Also, tell us what you think if you use any of these amazing dog brushes we recommended!
AnnieTheGolden
Thursday 3rd of October 2019
Hey there, you have 3 great recommendations listed here. I say 3, because I'm not agreeing with one: Furminator. This brush is initially good for golden retrievers, however, both groomers and competing dog owners have claimed that the Furminator damaged the coats more than maintaining it.
smartcanine
Thursday 3rd of October 2019
I'd like to see these "claims" from groomers. It certainly is a strong (but effective) brush, but I can point to hundreds of happy Golden owners on Reddit that absolutely LOVE the Furminator. As long as you're not brushing your dog every day and you're careful (like I mentioned), then it's one of the best brushes for Golden Retrievers.