How to Use a Slicker Brush on a Dog or Cat (Without Hurting Them)

A slicker brush is the most useful grooming tool most pet owners own and the one most often used wrong. The fine wire pins are made to pull out loose undercoat, the fluffy layer that ends up on your sofa. Used gently, it's one of the fastest ways to cut down shedding at home.

Before you start

• Pick a calm moment. After a walk or a meal works well.
• Go somewhere easy to clean. Outside, a bathroom floor or an old towel.
• Have treats ready. Short sessions with rewards beat one long struggle.

The technique

1. Use light pressure. Let the pins do the work. If you can hear scratching on the skin, you're pressing too hard.
2. Brush with the coat, in short strokes, working in small sections.
3. Lift as you go. At the end of each stroke, lift the brush slightly away from the skin.
4. Work from back to front, then the sides, chest and tail. Skip the face and belly unless your pet is relaxed.
5. Clean the brush when it's full. On a push-clean brush, press the button and the fur slides off in one sheet.

How often?

Coat type	During heavy shedding	Rest of the year
Short coat (Lab, domestic shorthair)	2× a week	Weekly
Double coat (Husky, Shepherd, Corgi)	3× a week	1–2× a week
Long coat (Maine Coon, Golden)	3× a week	2× a week

When to stop

• The skin turns pink or red.
• Your pet tries to get away repeatedly.
• You hit a tight mat. Don't pull through it. Tight mats are a job for a professional groomer.

Cleaning the brush

After each session, release the fur, wipe the pins and let the brush dry if you rinsed it. A clean brush picks up more on the next pass.

Our pick: the Push-Clean Slicker Brush has retracting stainless-steel pins and a one-push fur release. It's also in the Fur-Free Home Kit with a grooming mitt and a mist cat brush.

This guide is general information. If your pet's skin is irritated or shedding seems unusual, ask your veterinarian.