Grooming Tools (again) Are expensive grooming tools worth it?

[Tegan]

I posted this in another discussion but it didn't really go anywhere so I thought put it up as it's own.

Are the Les Pooch or Chris Christensen brushes worth the extra money? At the moment I use a wooden pin brush/ bristle brush combo (it's a pin brush on one side and a bristle brush on the other). I have Arthritis and I find it pretty tiring brushing Kali out, she's a big dog and seems to need brushing every day or so (and I tend to leave it for longer than I should). Her coat doesn't seem to mat to much anymore but she does get them on her ears and muzzle (she really hates me brushing those two places but I've been trying to get her more accustom to having them brushed by giving her a treat if she's good while I do it). Any suggestions? She's a 9 month old Goldendoodle and from the coat descriptions I've read she seems to have a fleece type coat.

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

I get my doodles groomed professionally (they both have wool / curly coats) - I do brush them out about once/week with a cheapo type brush; but as soon as they mat, I'm lost - and the groomer almost always says that she has to cut the matted clumps off completely, and she has the best grooming tools around.

So can't really advice you what to do; I think it depends on whether you want to do all the grooming yourself, or get professional help. Maybe someone here uses the expensive brushes exclusively with good results?

[Michele B]

I keep Bailey pretty long. I don't have the expensive brushes. In fact, I mostly use a really sturdy steel comb. I use a normal pinbrush that is comfortable to hold to get started and work through sections with the comb. I also HIGHLY recommend a dematting tool. These usually have good "ergonomic" grip. They have blades that will break through a mat so you can comb the rest out easily. I always keep it handy and use it when I feel a mat. If you don't stay on top of the mats they can get out of control. I also have good scissors. I didn't get the most expensive ones, but I spent about $30 on a curved pair. I use these most of the time. Thinning shears are also a great tool. They can help break up small mats without looking like you cut out a chunk of hair and are good to use around the eyes to trim away those "windshield wipers". Petedge.com has a good selection.

[9pavxfihcp80]

Our doodles have very different coat types; Calli has the wavy, more retriever-type coat, and Cooper has the fluffy, more poodle-type coat. For Calli, when she's been recently groomed, we use a comb (dog comb but can't remember now what brand), and for Cooper and also Calli when she's grown out a bit, we actually use a human brush! It works perfectly and doesn't pull. It's the metal tines with plastic tips. Very cheap alternative to paying a hefty sum for grooming products that basically do the same thing. Just my experience.

Our doods love to be brushed so we do it several times a week at least. Our groomer loves us because she never has problems with mats when she gets them!

[ClarkP]

I was pretty skeptical of the expensive brushes too. But then Adina got one of the Chris Christensen T-brush / pin brushes. I don't think it works any better than cheapo pin brushes at brushing fur... but the dogs like it so much more! Each pin has a smooth rounded tip so this brush doesn't scratch the dogs like all the cheap-o brushes I've used seem to do.

Your dog will love you for the more comfortable brushing!

[Tegan]

I do all of Kali's grooming at home. We've got a good set of Wahl clippers we have been clipping her every 4-6 weeks, but now that it's fall we thought we'd let her coat grow out a bit so she'll be warmer.