In addition to their intelligence and lovable personality, we love Golden Retrievers due to their long, soft, shiny, and wavy coats. But, to keep their coat looking that way, it needs to be brushed regularly to prevent tangles and matting.

With that being said, just any dog brush is not suitable for brushing a Golden Retriever. You need one that can pass through the thick coat easily while actually being effective at removing tangles and matting. You also want it to be made with high-quality materials so that it holds up over time.

To help you find the best dog brush for your Golden Retriever, we have rounded up what we think are the 10 best products for the job. We’ve also provided reviews and pros and cons of each one that you can use as you’re making your decision.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites of 2024

The 10 Best Dog Brushes for Golden Retrievers

1. Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush, Large – Best Overall

We think that the best overall dog brush for Golden Retrievers is the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush. It’s great for Golden Retrievers of all sizes, even puppies. Being a self-cleaning brush means that it’s easy to remove the hair from the brush once you’re finished brushing your dog. The head of this brush is also almost 6 inches long, so you can cover a lot of space with each pass.

This brush is comfortable for both you and your canine friend. The bristles gently move through your dog’s fur, while the handle is cushioned and designed to be non-slip so that you can effectively groom your dog without straining your hand. The downside to this brush is that the button for the self-cleaning mechanism can sometimes be finicky, as in you might have to push it really hard to get the bristles to retract, especially with more use.

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2. Safari Soft Slicker Brush, Large – Best Value

The best dog brush for Golden Retrievers for the money is the Safari Soft Slicker Brush. The head and bristles of this brush are made entirely from stainless steel, so it’s durable and will hold up through brushing even the thickest of coats. This brush is highly rated by users, especially those who own Golden Retrievers or other dogs with a similar coat texture.

The brush head is quite large. The handle has a softer grip as well which makes for a more comfortable brushing experience for you. The only downside is that the brush is not self-cleaning. However, it is very affordable and high-quality and should last you a very long time.

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3. Bass Brushes De-Matting Slicker Style Bamboo Brush, Large – Premium Choice

Although the Bass Brushes De-Matting Slicker Style Bamboo Brush is a pricier option, it is made with eco-friendly materials if that’s something that is important to you when choosing a product. The brush also has rubber grips on the handle to make it easier and more comfortable to hold while brushing your dog.

The bristles on the brush are made with a premium alloy material for durability and to make them easier to glide through your dog’s coat. The brush head is large as well. In addition to the price, the only downside is that it is not a self-cleaning brush.

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4. Pet Republique Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush – Best for Puppies

The compact size of the Pet Republique Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush makes it the ideal choice for your Golden Retriever puppy. The stainless-steel bristles are flexible and gently glide through your puppy’s coat, which is essential for puppies that may be more sensitive to brushing than older dogs. This brush also has an ergonomic handle so that it’s easy to reach even the toughest spots on your dog.

The self-cleaning feature of this brush makes it easy to remove your dog’s hair and helps to keep the brush hygienic. Pet Republique also donates 15% of its profits to the American Animal Rescue Society, so you’d be supporting a company that truly cares about animals with the purchase of this brush. However, it’s not as large as other brushes on this list. Keep in mind that as your puppy grows, you may need a larger brush if you don’t want the act of brushing your adult Golden Retriever to take as long.

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5. Babyliss Pro Pet Slicker Brush, Large

Babyliss has a reputation for creating high-quality human hair care products, so we trust that the Babyliss Pro Pet Slicker Brush will be high-quality for your dog as well. This is definitely one of the largest brushes on our list, so if you want to brush your Golden Retriever quickly and efficiently while still detangling his coat, then this is the brush for you. However, the size could be a disadvantage if you need a more compact size for traveling with your dog or to take with you on the go.

This brush is also a bit more expensive than other brushes we’ve reviewed so far, but again, it’s made by a reputable brand that is well-known for the quality of its products. This brush should last you a very long time. The stainless-steel bristles are also flexible, so it provides a gentle brush for dogs that have sensitive skin. The handle also contains bubble gel which provides a comfortable and anti-slip grip.

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6. Miracle Care Slicker Brush

The Miracle Care Slicker Brush is another great product that users with Golden Retrievers rave about. The brush is designed for dogs that have an undercoat, which is why we recommend it for Golden Retrievers. It detangles and prevents mats, but it also helps remove loose hair. You should be able to get great results when using it along with a de-shedding brush.

The handle of this brush is cushioned as well, which helps make it more comfortable to use stroke after stroke. However, it is not a self-cleaning brush and some users say that the brush is hard to clean. The bristles are also flexible, but users also say that they can get bent easily in dogs with really tangled coats which lowers the effectiveness of the brush.

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7. JW Pet Gripsoft Slicker Brush

The JW Pet Gripsoft Slicker Brush has a rubber handle and non-slip grips that make it easy to hold while you’re brushing your dog. The bristles of this brush are two different lengths as well so that the brush can reach both the top layer and the undercoat at the same time. The head on this brush is round instead of rectangular, which allows it to fit better into hard-to-reach areas while still being large enough to cover a lot of area at once.

One of the downsides to this brush is that it is not self-cleaning, and many users say that it is harder to clean because of the different-sized bristles and how close the bristles are to each other. Others say that the bristles are very stiff and aren’t as flexible as other brushes. But, this brush is very affordable.

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8. Furminator Firm Slicker Brush

The Furminator Firm Slicker Brush has a dual-sided head on it. One side has straight bristles which help to detangle the top coat of your pet’s fur. The other side has bristles that are bent at an angle which is designed for removing loose hair from your dog’s undercoat to reduce shedding. The brush is also designed to follow the natural contours of your dog’s body to make for a more natural and comfortable brushing experience, plus it has an ergonomic handle that makes brushing comfortable for you as well.

Some users do say that the bent bristles on one side of the brush don’t work that well because of the angle they are at. Other users say that the brush is hard to clean, especially when removing hair from the bent side of the brush due to the way the hair gets caught on them. The head is a lot smaller than other brushes as well. This brush is also not the cheapest on the list, but it’s much more affordable than some of the others we’ve seen.

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9. Evolution Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush, Medium/Large

The Evolution Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for medium and large dogs is very similar to the other self-cleaning brushes we’ve seen so far. However, the head of this brush is a bit smaller than other brushes so it’s a great choice if your Golden Retriever is on the smaller side unless you want to spend more time brushing your dog. It does have stainless steel bristles, which allow the brush to more easily pick up hair and detangle fur.

Users have said that this brush doesn’t work as well for dogs with super thick or excessively tangled or matted fur. They also say that the bristles bend too easily so the brush doesn’t pick up as much fur as it should. Because it is self-cleaning, it’s a bit more expensive than other brushes as well.

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10. Frisco Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush, Large

If you’re looking for a more affordable self-cleaning brush, then the Frisco Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush fits the description. Not only is it affordable, but it has a comfort-grip handle and stainless-steel bristles. Like other slicker brushes, it’s designed to remove tangles and matting in your dog’s fur and also helps to remove loose hair as well.

Many users say that the self-cleaning feature doesn’t work as well as it should, and that the bristles don’t retract all the way. So you still have to actually pull some of the fur off of them. Others say that the bristles are sharp and scratchy compared to other brushes. The head is also a bit smaller than other brushes so you may spend a little more time brushing your dog.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Brush for Your Golden Retriever

After reading our reviews, you may have additional questions about how to choose the best brush for your Golden Retriever. We’ll seek to answer these questions in our Buyer’s Guide.

What Is a Slicker Brush?

You may have noticed that every one of these brushes has “slicker” in the name. What exactly is a slicker brush and why is it the best choice for a Golden Retriever? Slicker brushes are brushes that have thin bristles made of wire instead of the plastic bristles that other dog brushes have. The bristles are closer together on the brush head as well.

The characteristics of these bristles are designed to run easily through your dog’s coat to remove mats and tangles. The reason why we’ve recommended a slicker brush for every one of these products is that they are designed to be used on dogs that have medium to long coats, especially those that have wavy or curly fur like a Golden Retriever does.

Slicker brushes are designed to be gentle and painless while brushing your dog. In addition to removing tangles, they can also help remove dirt and debris from your dog’s fur. That’s just one more reason why they are a good choice for Golden Retrievers that often enjoy spending lots of time outdoors.

Other Considerations

When choosing a brush for your Golden Retriever, there are other things to consider as well. If you have a Golden Retriever, you might be aware of their grooming needs. As they are large dogs, brushing their fur thoroughly can take quite some time!

The size of the brush you choose is ultimately up to you, but brushes with larger heads on them cover more fur at once and can cut down on the time that you spend brushing your dog. All of the brushes that we’ve reviewed are considered to be large in size, but some may still be larger than others. That’s why we’ve provided the dimensions for each brush so that you can compare.

Plus, some of the brushes come in medium and small sizes as well, so make sure you choose the large size for your Golden Retriever. All of the links we’ve provided should default to the large size, but it’s still worth double-checking.

You’ll also want to decide whether or not you want a self-cleaning brush. The difference between a self-cleaning brush and a regular brush is that self-cleaning brushes have a mechanism that makes it easier to remove the hair on them. You just press a button, and the bristles “retract” so that only the hair is left behind for you to pull off.

If you don’t go with a self-cleaning brush, you’ll just have to pull all of the hair out of the bristles yourself. It’s not a difficult task to do, it’s just harder to remove all of the hair from the bristles. However, it’s possible that the mechanism on self-cleaning brushes can fail over time so you may be left pulling the hair out yourself anyway.

Conclusion

Golden Retrievers need a brush that is designed to work with long, wavy coats. The brush should help to detangle and remove matting from your dog’s fur, but any other features are up to you. We think that the best overall dog brush for Golden Retrievers is the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush, while the best brush for the money is the Safari Soft Slicker Brush. Whichever product you end up choosing, we hope it is effective at keeping your Golden’s coat in the best shape possible.

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Featured Image Credit: Tatyana Vyc, Shutterstock