5 Best Brushes for Labs in 2023
One of the most popular dog breeds in the world is the Labrador Retriever. Known to have even temperament, high trainability, and friendliness, the Lab is an amazing dog!
However, they do require care with grooming, even with their short coats.
Don’t let their short fur deceive you, it’s quite a handful to care for and Labs are known to shed a lot.
Not only that, Labradors love to roll around in the dirt and get exceptionally dirty making grooming more important.
Let’s take a look at the best brushes to keep your Labrador well-groomed, clean, and healthy!
Best Brush for Labs
1. FURminator Dog Undercoat DeShedding Tool
It might go against what you believe that a short-haired dog needs a deshedding tool, but it’s true! That’s why the Furminator also has a deshedding comb just for dogs with short hair. It can reduce up to 90% of loose hair shedding if used regularly. That means you can say hello to your black T-shirts again.
The ergonomic handle is designed to be easy on your wrist and the curved edge is comfortable for your dog. Clean it easily after daily brushing with the furejector button that quickly releases all the accumulated hair with the touch of a button.
Features:
+ Can reduce shedding up to 90%
+ Curved edge for the comfort of your fur baby.
+ Ergonomic handle for you
+ Furejector button.
Why We Like It – Furminator not only keeps your home clean, but it makes the cleanup easy with the installation of the FURejector button.
2. SleekEZ Original Deshedding Grooming Tool for Dogs
Sometimes a simple-looking tool does the job best. SleekEZ adopts a patented wave pattern blade that reduces irritation and won’t hurt your dog’s skin. The high carbon steel blades will remove loose hair, dirt and dander to keep your pet squeaky clean.
The poplar wood handle is crafted to fit comfortably in your hand. It’s a simple and effective little brush that can also remove pet hair from surfaces such as furniture, clothes, blankets, carpets, and more!
Features:
+ Lifetime warranty
+ Patented wave pattern blade
+ High carbon steel blades
+ Well crafted ergonomic handle
Why We Like It – The lifetime guarantee reassures us that the blade is effective and will never fail. It’s proudly made in the USA with high-quality materials.
Related: Best Deshedding Brush for Dogs
3. Chirpy Pets Dog & Cat Brush for Shedding
Made for both dogs and cats, it reduces shedding up to 90%! Eliminate the little furballs floating around your house. The Chirpy Pets brush comes with a money-back guarantee that tells you you will love this deshedding tool.
The amazing quality of this brush begins with the stainless steel blades that will not hurt your pet and the handle gives you a good grip on the brush. Use this brush to relieve your dog’s itches and mats, and also get a good look at his skin condition during the grooming.
Features:
+ Stainless steel blades
+ Eliminates fur shedding up to 90%
+ Money-back guarantee
+ Ergonomic handle
Why We Like It – The money-back guarantee really puts your heart at ease when you click the “order” button. Get your money back if you aren’t happy with your purchase no questions asked.
4. Glendan Slicker Pet Dog Brush
Take your pick of blue or pink, whichever color you prefer. The rotating handle of this pet dog slicker brush allows you to get into those hard to reach places without straining your wrist.
Get rid of mats, dander, dirt and loose hair with simple strokes. The rounded knobs on the end of the bristles give your dog a little massage and stimulate blood flow to produce natural oils. This gives your dog a healthier and glossier coat. The Glendan dog slicker brush comes with a 1-year quality guarantee and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Features:
+ The rotating handle
+ Get rid of mats, dirt, dander and loose hair.
+ Rounded bristles
+ 1-year quality guarantee and 90-day money-back guarantee
Why We Like It – With so many guarantees and warranties, this is a very safe purchase and it also gives your pet a good massage!
5. The Pet Portal Pro Quality Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
When you see the words self-cleaning, you might imagine a bunch of gadgets and gizmos embedded inside. However, with this specific slicker brush it’s just an added button.
This Pet Portal slicker brush is recommended for all dogs that are major shedders (such as your Lab) and minimizes the loose hairs running rampant all over the house. It’s gentle on your pet’s coat and skin and is highly recommended by pet parents and vets alike with a lifetime money-back guarantee!
Features:
+ A self-cleaning brush
+ Lifetime money-back guarantee
+ Great for dogs with all coat types
+ Ergonomic handle
Why We Like It – All the guarantees really put this slicker brush high on our list of priorities and the self-cleaning button helps too!
What to Look for When Choosing the Best Brush for Labs
With so many brushes, how do you know which are the best? Let’s a look at the most important features to look for when shopping for brushes.
Size of Dog
The size of the brush depends on the size of your dog. Most manufacturers will clearly label which brush is best for your Lab, which is considered a large dog.
Getting a brush that is too small will really work your arm and take up more time. The right size will also allow you to get into those hard to reach places for a more thorough and effective brush out.
Construction Material
What do they use to create these deshedders? Since they will be used every day, you need a dog deshedding brush that will last. Look for stainless steel teeth and bristles as they are the ones that outlast the rest.
They are sturdy and should come in a curved or waved design for teeth and the bristles should be angled in a way to not hurt or scratch your dog. Having knobs or rounded ends on the bristles also help to protect your dog. When it comes to cleaning, stainless steel is easy to clean and won’t cause any allergic reactions for more sensitive pups.
Next up is the handle of the brush. Make sure the handle is well constructed, hopefully in a shape that provides you with a good grip. Soft silicone that conforms to the palm of your hand has proven to be very comfortable.
Is It Self-Cleaning?
While it’s not entirely necessary, since these slicker brushes are quite easy to clean without this feature, self-cleaning slicker brushes could save you a few precious seconds. With the click of a button, the bristles and teeth retract, leaving the ball of hair on the surface of the brush for you to easily dispose of.
Handle Ergonomics
Don’t forget about the effort and strain the daily brushing could cause you. This is why you should look into an ergonomic handle. A well-designed handle with a good grip will make grooming less of a chore for you. Your wrist and forearm will thank you for it.
How Do You Brush a Lab?
Once you have your dog settled, brush your dog with the flow of his fur first, once you get your dog warmed up and used to the feeling of the brush, start brushing his entire coat backwards to really de-shed him.
Don’t dig hard into him, you want him to enjoy this not try to get away from you. Once you’ve brushed him all out in the opposite direction, start again by smoothing it all down again in the direction of the coat. Try de-shedding him a few times a week during the blowout season.
Do Labs Need to be Brushed?
Of course, they do! Same with all dogs, Labs need grooming too. You might think it takes minimal maintenance upon first glance at their short coat, but you’d be very wrong. They shed much more than you’d think, and they could cover your furniture with a thin coat of fur in just a few days.
How Often Should You Brush a Labrador?
They do need a lot of coat care but not as much as a double-coated long-haired dog. We’d suggest giving your dog a good brush and comb out once or twice a week just to minimize the loose hairs flying about.
However, during shedding season, which is usually around spring and fall, you might need to up the frequency to 4-5 times a week. This is because they blow out their fur and you will notice even more fur around the house. Bathing your lab 1-2 times a month will also help.
Does Brushing a Lab Help with Shedding?
The simple answer is yes! Brushing and combing will help lessen shedding for any dog, not just a Lab. Depending on the season, once a day to just once a week will do. Dogs shed to switch out their fur, and bathing them can also help keep the loose hairs at bay.
Regular Dog Brush VS Deshedding Brush
A regular dog brush is just for everyday maintenance. It doesn’t reach as far into your dog’s coat as a de-shedding brush does. In other words, it just removes the surface layer without tackling the issue underneath.
Sure, it’s great to have one of these handy when your dog gets dirty to remove the surface grime, but to really do a thorough comb out, you need a de-shedding brush.
These brushes reach deep and get rid of loose hair trapped beneath. It also acts as a massager and stimulates the blood flow to produce natural oils to protect your dog’s coat. This will result in glossy, luscious, and soft fur.
Conclusion
A Labrador Retriever’s coat is deceptively difficult to care for. A dog deshedding brush is designed to reach far down into your dog’s coat and remove loose hair and any dander that may be trapped.
Tangles and mats are less of an issue for Labs (thankfully), but shedding is definitely not. Brush your dog regularly first with the flow, then against, then with again to get the best results.
A de-shedding tool should be one of the basics in your dog grooming arsenal. Find one that’s easy on your wrist and made with the right materials.
Expert Tip
Remember to keep the brush moving during grooming sessions. Don’t focus on one spot for too long as that could irritate the more sensitive pups. Remember to give plenty of positive reinforcement so your dog will associate grooming with lots of love! Cleaning out the brush methodically is also important.
Did You Know?
You need to take good care of your brush the way it does your dog. Make sure you remove all the bunched up hair after each session and store it in a clean and hygienic place. Wash it out from time to time and remember to inspect it from time to time. Broken bristles and teeth could potentially hurt your pooch.
