I have the regular oval and the small oblong. I like the oval best for brushing Kodi out while I'm drying him. I keep the small oblong in my training bag for when we are at shows. I guess it depends on how you will use the brush!

 

I've never had a dog that requires extensive grooming. I have a Papillon and he really is a wash and wear dog and while he can mat, he doesn't if I comb his hair once or twice a week for the most part except maybe more frequently behind the ears. I just use a swivel tooth comb that I've had forever.

I don't show dogs so really it will just be for at home use. My pup I'm picking up tomorrow will be a companion. I really love the long coats I've seen here, on the FB page and at my breeder's so I'm going to try to keep it long as it grows if I can handle the grooming requirements.

 

Senora Karen, what grooming tools do you have for Kodi? I wanna look as good as Kodi. Kodi is my action figure super-hero!

besos, Ricky Ricardo

 

I have WAY too many, Ricky! Many more than we need. (many bought THINKING I'de use them and didn't)

My go-to tools are my CC Buttercombs (large and face) CC wood pin brush and LePooches yellow (soft) dematter. THis last is obscenely expensive, but works better than ANYTHING else. Then, of course, tooth brush and nail clippers, oh, and curved scissors for trimming feet, small cordless clippers for between pads and sani, and my Kool Pup dryer.

 

You're definitely better off buying a few expensive grooming tools with a hav. I have the CC buttercomb, CC face and feet, and the CC wooden pin brush (my hav's favorite). I want to buy a Les Pooch but there appears to be something going on with their availability. If I get a chance to attend I show I will look there. I have never been to a dog show as an adult (very funny considering I have a hav from a show heritage!) but I have heard in addition to looking at the dogs its a good place to pick up dog supplies.

 

I got my Les Pooch at a show.

 

Reviving this old thread in case anyone has different views on the best brushes! For Charlie, we have always just used a very simple comb and pin brush, but they didn’t work that well and I’d like to do more of my own grooming with #2. I think I may have mentioned before that Charlie is extremely bath-phobic… it got to the point where he would hide and start shaking if we ran the bath at all (even if he wasn’t going to be groomed!) so he now exclusively gets bathed by the groomer unless it’s an emergency. I am hoping to get puppy used to bathing early on, which means more brushing at home, and I think better brushes may also help with Charlie’s grooming tolerance (which is decent as long as I only do a little at a time). Do people like the CC brushes/combs still? The Les Pooch?

 

Yes! My favorite comes are still the CC Buttercombs, and although I will still use a CC wood pin brush for drying, my new favorite brush, if I were to have only one, is their Ice Slip brush!

The Les Pooch slickers are still nice, but they are WICKED expensive, and they re now made in China (welcome to the modern world!) so not the same quality as the old ones. I have a coup[le of these that I bought when the Les Pooch slickers were off the market for a while. They are a SMALL FRACTION of the price, very soft, do the job, and I haven't broken one yet. I wouldn't buy another Les Pooch after finding these:

Amazon.com: HERTZKO Double Sided Flexible Slicker Brush Removes Loose Hair, Tangles, and Knots, Flexible Head Contours on Your Pet’s Skin - Suitable for Dogs and Cats : Pet Supplies

Amazon.com: HERTZKO Double Sided Flexible Slicker Brush Removes Loose Hair, Tangles, and Knots, Flexible Head Contours on Your Pet’s Skin - Suitable for Dogs and Cats : Pet Supplies

smile.amazon.com

 

My favorites are the CC butter combs and the CC brass fusion brush. I also like the CC ice slip brush but not as much as the brass fusion brush. I find the ice slip brush very helpful if Mia has been rolling around in the grass or has gotten into leaf matter. If so, I use that first. But I cannot do without the brass fusion brush. Mia used to absolutely hate brushing but she loves the brass fusion brush. I never use my CC wooden pin brush anymore. It just goes right through Mia’s fur and does nothing. It may be useful though to get a dog to like brushing.

 

The ONLY thing I use the wood pin brush for is “fluffing” while drying, and their coats are completely combed out at that point anyway. I don’t think I would BUY it for that though… I think either of the other of the brushes would work too. It’s just really soft on wet skin, and I already own is so…

 

@krandall @mudpuppymama thanks for sharing! I just looked at the butter combs and there are SO many! Any particular ones that you really like or are more all-purpose, or do you really need the specific ones? I already spend (way) more on Charlie’s haircuts each year than mine (and about to double that…), so seems fitting that the same would go for brushes and combs! 🤣

 

I like the face feet comb and the CC 000 comb the best.

Amazon.com: Chris Christensen 000 7.5 in. Greyhound Style Fine/Coarse Colored Butter Comb, Groom Like a Professional, Rounded Corners Prevent Friction and Breakage, Solid Brass Spin with Steel Teeth, Chrome Finish : Beauty & Personal Care

Amazon.com: Chris Christensen 000 7.5 in. Greyhound Style Fine/Coarse Colored Butter Comb, Groom Like a Professional, Rounded Corners Prevent Friction and Breakage, Solid Brass Spin with Steel Teeth, Chrome Finish : Beauty & Personal Care

www.amazon.com

 

I mostly use a butter comb. The wooden pin brush and the ice slip brush are a tie for me in second place Other wire brushes that are gentle enough are usually too bendy. I don’t mind my other CC wire brushes but I rarely use them. The wood pin brush works well for Sundance but it’s not for detangling. I keep the mini wood brushes in the car and other places to brush out leaves, etc. I use the big wooden pin brush less often but I’m glad I have it. Sundance loves it so if I’m just fixing his topknot or he doesn’t need a full comb through I’ll use it. It’s definitely really useful for grooming a puppy. When he had a puppy coat I used to groom with a comb for a few minutes and then do the rest with the brush, and I gradually increased the time I used the comb.

 

I think the reason the wooden pin brush does not work too well for Mia is because her hair is so fine. I think if it were coarser the wooden pin brush and ice slip brush would be more effective.

 

For Perry in a puppy cut I almost exclusively use the CC 006 all over his body (which, since he's in a short cut, is mostly head/ face/ legs/ tail). I love it because it is a shorter comb so is easy to maneuver around a small dog who doesn't really like his face being combed

I have a CC oblong pin brush but really only use it when he's a little itchy and needs a full body "scratch" - so I use the pin brush to give him a massage/ scratch... I sometimes use it on his tail as well, but the comb works better overall.

 

One interesting thing about Mia. When she was in a puppy cut, she HATED me combing or brushing her legs. She was okay with all else but forget the legs! Now that her hair is longer, she does not mind me doing anything to her legs!

 

Huh! That's interesting!!! Pixel HATES getting any mats on her legs!!!

 

Fascinating about Mia… maybe there’s hope for Charlie yet!! Appreciate all the specifics on the CC brushes and combs. Going to try them on Charlie and see what he thinks 😊

 

Good luck! Note that I give Mia part of her daily food ration as treats during grooming! So that is most likely what she likes best about grooming! And a trainer once told me they had never ever seen a more food motivated dog than Mia!

 

One thing I have found helpful for front leg “phobia” is to try to avoid approaching my dogs from the front. If I approach my yorkie’s legs from the front he becomes a prancing pony. However, if I approach from either the back or the side he is much better. Surprisingly, I can do a very thorough job on the front legs without approaching from the front, although I do feel a bit contorted!!!

 

Front, back, side, upside down... front feet are no bueno even casually, lightly touching them when he's sitting beside me on the couch or on my lap, nope. There's no aggression or anything, just serious avoidance strategies (including quickly tucking them under the body and putting the head down over them for good measure!)

 

Oh my goodness— these brushes are a miracle!!! I got the ice slip brush and the two combs you recommended, plus one of the tiny wooden ones. They arrived yesterday and I started with the wood one. He LOVED it. The same dog who usually tries to hide when he sees me getting grooming supplies laid on his side with a blissed out look on his face, and when I stopped looked at me like ‘excuse me, keep going!’ I’m going to introduce the new combs slowly (and when he doesn’t really need combing so he’s not tangled at all) so I build up a good association with them too. Thank you so much for the recs— my husband thought I had lost it when I told him I was ordering over $100 of grooming tools, but it’s so worth it if it makes for less stress for my guy and future pup.

 

Hi LWalks so what were the brushes that you went with?
I’m looking at getting the 006, 000, the ice slip.
I can’t decide between the fusion series oval 20 mm and the wooden pin brush 20MM. Any suggestions ❤

 

I just ordered a new comb after mine was missing for a week. I found it yesterday stuck in the actual leg of the sofa but the new one is coming so lucky me I knew the old one would turn up eventually so I got a face and feet comb even though I have both of those “pins per inch” or whatever as separate combs (somewhere anyway). I think I might like the dual sides but we’ll see.

 

I love the dual sides... I am constantly flipping it around to go from wider to narrower if I run into a tangle or just to get closer to the skin. It's the only comb I ever use and would definitely (personally) prefer it to having to switch combs.

 

Mando loves the wood pin brush, too. I use the 006 on him to get any mats out. I ordered the 000 comb since he was getting big and I figured it might cut down on the grooming time. Now I’m wondering if I need the ice slip brush or fusion pin brush. What are they used for and do you think it’s needed if I keep Mando in a puppy cut? He hasn’t started blowing cost yet but I’m bracing for it.

 

I prefer to brush before combing because this allows the comb to go through more smoothly and combing goes much faster. I also like to brush after I am done combing to distribute the natural oils and sort of stimulate the scalp. For Mia, I find the brass fusion brush accomplishes both of these goals very well. The ice slip brush does not work as well on Mia because her hair is very fine and the brush sort of slides over her. She also seems to prefer the brass fusion brush. However, Karen and some others love the ice slip brush. It could be that Mia’s coat is not as Havanese-ish because she is half papillon. I love the sheen the brass fusion brush gives to her fur and Mia seems to enjoy being brushed with it. And Mia used to run when a got near her with a brush.

 

Hmm I’m not sure. It came today but I didn’t have time to use it. Actually, it came right after DH took the arm off the sofa to get the other one out. It seems a little short to me, I guess I didn’t pay attention to the length! I can tell it will be useful, especially because it would be nice to have a comb upstairs, but I’ve been using standard length combs for hair cutting for 20 years, and it feels a little off in my hand. I could see it being easier to turn around with one hand, though, so I’ll have to give it a real chance.

 

It definitely comes down to what you're used to - I absolutely love the shorter length, I could never maneuver the longer ones around his legs and face without getting the other end caught on some part of him so the shorter length is perfect for me and maneuvering it with one hand while the other holds his head or leg (since Perry does not like getting his face or front legs combed)

 

Hi Havilover2016, I absolutely love my ice slip brush! I use it for our youngest, Jodie, who's in a long coat. Mudpuppymama loves the Brass Fusion brush. I use that on Cotton in the winter but Jodie's hair is very thick and needs the Ice Slip brush. I haven't tried the CC wooden pin brush. I tried another brand a couple years ago but they kept breaking. I use the CC face comb for the eyes and muzzle and Andis buttercomb which is $8.68 on Amazon. That is the main item that isn't worth the higher price for me. I ordered one last year but sent it back. The Andis comb has rounded edges on the end which doesn't dig into to my hand as much as the CC buttercomb. That was back when I was grooming 3 dogs. I like most all of the other CC products though, including shampoo and conditioner.
LWalks, I still giggle every time I see your picture 😋

 

LWalks, I still giggle every time I see your picture 😋

lol that was his first time in snow, just last February. He LOVED it for digging, eating, and playing. We’re planning to spend more time up in Tahoe this winter, so hoping Jolene likes it as much as he does!