6 Best Brushes for Rottweilers with 5 Simple Brushing Tips
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Bred in Germany as a working dog to help farmers haul small wagons and herd livestock, it’s no wonder that they are one of the strongest breeds around. They are muscular, often weighing in at or around 135 pounds, and have a great deal of endurance to complete any task given to them.
Not a breed that excites easily, Rotties prefer to hang back and observe than jump into action or greet strangers, unlike other breeds that thrive on meeting new people and exploring new environments.
But once they do decide to take action, watch out! That’s when they go “all-in” and are very hard to deter, which is what makes them a popular guard dog. And because of their strength, they can do a great deal of damage, so it’s best to keep your Rottie calm.
Contrary to popular belief, they do make excellent family pets as long as you’re willing to properly train and socialize them and give them “work” to do to keep them occupied. They are the epitome of gentle giants and will try their best to curl up in your lap if you let them.
We should note that some cities have banned Rottweilers, so do your homework before deciding to adopt or buy one from a reputable breeder. Otherwise, you may get fined or be forced to surrender your beloved Rottie.
You should also take into account the grooming and brushing needs of Rotties before you decide to adopt, lest you find yourself unable to keep up with the amount of fur these giant dogs shed on a yearly basis!
There are two different types of Rotties: German and American. If you have a German Rottweiler, they are bigger than American Rottweilers, so that may mean more fur and more time spent brushing and grooming. Rottweilers all have the same type of coat–a medium topcoat that’s coarse yet shiny and a thick undercoat only on certain parts of their bodies to add to the challenge.
With that said, not just any old dog brush will do. We’ve taken the liberty of researching the top Rottweiler dog brushes on the market and have chosen seven that we believe will stand up to the task of taming your Rottie’s fur. We also will take some time to give you pointers for brushing your Rottie as well as answer our top most frequently asked questions.
What Is the Best Brush for a Rottweiler?
We have broken it down into our top recommendation plus a wide assortment of six brushes to tackle your Rottie’s fur.
Different Types of Popular Rottweiler Brushes
As we previously mentioned, Rottweilers all have the same kind of fur, a shiny topcoat and thick undercoat that they shed once summer comes.
But even so, you will probably want to have different brushes on hand for various tasks, such as dealing with excessive shedding or maintenance brushing.
There are a few different types of dog brushes to choose from: slicker brush, pin brush, bristle brush, shedding blade, and undercoat rake.
Slicker Brush
This type of brush works best as a maintenance brush to keep your Rottie’s shedding under control.
You’ll find that this has either a curved or flat head with several rows of fine wire pins that help loosen fur in addition to taming tangles.
We suggest using short, gentle strokes at first so as not to pull or tug too much and cause pain, which will make your Rottie more suspicious the next time it comes to brush her.
Pin Brush
If your Rottie does become suspicious or balks at a standard slicker brush, there’s the pin brush. It looks very much like the slicker brush, with the only difference being the wires are tipped with plastic that helps prevent cuts and irritation a wire brush might cause on a pup with sensitive skin.
We recommend pin brushes in most cases, only because they do feel better than slicker brushes with only wire bristles.
Bristle Brush
This brush isn’t that different from brushes we use on our own hair to smooth it out and add sheen. You can bring out the shine in your Rottie’s coat with this top-notch bristle brush.
Note that this brush is best for touch-ups and not for regular maintenance because bristles may not penetrate the topcoat as well as a slicker brush. It’s also difficult to clean.
Shedding Blade
Before you think that this is an actual blade that will cut your pup’s fur off and take skin with it, rest assured that it’s not. It’s basically a big, flexible metal loop with small “teeth” that grab onto loose fur and remove it from your pup.
Some are dual-sided with long and short teeth that work on different coat types. Because Rotties are large, you will want to look for one that you can take unhook and use as one long blade for better coverage.
We should note that this is not a tool you should use all the time. It’s more for assisting your Rottie through the shedding season. A pin brush, hand-mitt style brush, or massaging rubber brush are better for everyday brushing and maintenance.
Undercoat Rake
Best for longer, thicker double coats, undercoat rakes are the top tool for controlling excessive shedding, such as in the spring and summer. It’s no wonder that they are favorites of Rottie moms and dads all over the United States.
They look like straight razors, sporting two to three rows of long teeth. Rakes make short work of removing the undercoat hair that gets stuck under the topcoats, oftentimes leading to matting and irritation.
Overall Best Brush for a Rottweiler
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Learn more about our favorite brush for Rottweilers.
Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush
We recommend this slicker brush as the best brush because it is versatile. You can use it regularly without worrying about irritating your pooch’s skin with brushes that are meant for heavy shedding times of the year.
We also like how easy it is to clean because getting the hair out of regular pin and slicker brushes is a tedious process. The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush has an innovative design that allows you to retract the pins and bristles when you press down on a button.
Then, you can remove the hair and toss it in the trash and have a fresh brush ready to use the next day.
The design of the bristles also makes this a highly effective brush because the bristles reach deep down into the undercoat and remove hair with ease. And, the plastic tips on the pins and bristles protect your Rottie’s skin should you go a little too deep.
6 More Top-Rated Rottweiler Dog Brushes
Check out more of our top-rated choices.
FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush
If you haven’t heard of the FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush, you’ve come to the right place to find out more about it.
The unique design actually pushes up the topcoat and trims the undercoat while removing loose hair at the same time. It’s a must-have for any dog with an undercoat, and is a lifesaver for Rottie parents who want to tear out their own hair when shedding season comes.
FURminator claims that it reduces shedding by up to 90% when used on a regular basis, and owners seem to agree with this claim. Some even call this dog brush magical because it makes deshedding their Rotties much easier than standard brushes. It seems to float over their coats while removing tons of fur at the same time.
Note that it does come in different sizes and different lengths of dog hair, so you will want to buy the large size Furminator made for short-haired pups like Rotties.
KONG Dog ZoomGroom Multi-Use Brush
Rottie moms and dads say that when their pups see this brush, they get excited because they love how it feels. It’s a massager and brush all combined into one. It’s also adorable and may look like a toy to your Rottie, who may want to steal it when you’re done brushing him.
This brush doesn’t have any bristles, only long and wide rubber nubs that attract hair like a magnet. They also work to stimulate circulation in your Rottie’s skin and distribute oils to keep your Rottie’s coat looking shiny and feeling healthy.
Owners also like using this brush in the bath because it’s rubber and can take getting wet, unlike a few of the other wire slicker or pin brushes that will rust if exposed to water.
Also, it’s shaped like an oval with cutouts for your fingers, and it fits right in the palm of your hand, making it easy to hold onto when wet.
Andis Premium Large Firm Pet Slicker Brush
For regular maintenance and keeping your Rottie’s fur clean and smooth, we recommend this oversized slicker brush. The broad head covers more area, so you won’t need to spend as much time brushing your gentle giant. And, the grip on the handle does an excellent job of preventing slipping.
The wire bristles are fine yet firm, but users claim that they wish they did a better job of getting to the undercoat and removing tangles. We recommend another one of the deshedding brushes on this list to tame tangles.
However, it does do a good enough job for people who are looking for an all-purpose slicker brush to use in between deshedding sessions. Just be sure to take note if your pup’s undercoat needs a little TLC when using this brush, and break out a deshedding tool.
Safari Dual-Sided Shedding Blade Dog Grooming Tool
Remember how we discussed shedding blades, and how they aren’t as scary as they sound? This tool is designed to make removing excess fur during shedding season much easier with its dual-sided looped blade design.
On one side are coarse teeth that pulls out the thick, coarse hair of the undercoat. And on the other side, you’ll find fine teeth that will smooth out your Rottie’s topcoat and add shine.
We also like that you can unhook the loop and expand the blade for large dogs such as Rotties. It allows you to cover more area and get the job done faster.
However, this is not meant for everyday use. We only recommend it for times of heavy shedding, because it will remove a lot of hair with its aggressive design.
JW Pet Gripsoft Bristle Brush
We love this bristle brush! It does a wonderful job of cleaning out the loose fur before it ends up on your furniture. It also adds sheen by distributing your Rottie’s natural oil across your pup’s coat, keeping it moisturized and healthy.
The rubber grip and ergonomic handle design helps give you more comfort and control as you brush the considerable amount of fur your Rottie has.
We also like how gentle the bristles are, yet how they are still effective at removing fur. People like using it on their pup’s face as a finishing touch.
5 Simple Tips to Properly Brush a Rottweiler
Now that we’ve covered seven of the top brushes for Rottweilers, we thought we’d cover some basic tips for keeping your pup groomed and looking like the handsome or beautiful dog he or she is.
- Choose the right brush for the job. You will likely need more than one type of brush. No sense in starting out with a bristle brush when you know your Rottie needs a deshedding session.
- Use your newly purchased brushes on a regular basis. Not only will it lower the amount of shedding, but it will also prevent your Rottie’s fur from matting and causing discomfort.
- Make sure he knows how to follow the simple “sit” command. Luckily, Rotties are easily trained and will stay still once told to do so. It will make it easier on him and you if he’s not constantly moving around while trying to tend to his coat.
- Only brush with the grain of the hair. If you brush against it, it’s uncomfortable for your pup. He may balk at being brushed the next time you try.
- Keep it an enjoyable experience. Give him treats or offer encouragement and praise when he does a good job and behaves while you brush him. Positive reinforcement will go a long way.
Together with one (or more) of the brushes we recommend above, brushing your Rottie will become an enjoyable experience for you and your pooch. And when it’s a fun experience, regular maintenance will result in a happier, healthier dog.
FAQ Regarding Rottweiler Brushing/Grooming
If you still have questions about grooming your Rottweiler, we cover the five most commonly asked questions we get below, such as how much you need to brush, how much Rotties shed, and more.
How Often Should I Brush My Rottweiler?
We recommend daily brushing with an all-purpose pin brush and bristle brush to keep his coat clean and shiny. However, we understand that this may not always be possible, so don’t worry if you can’t get to it every day. Once a week is also acceptable for brushing your Rottie’s fur.
How Much Do Rottweilers Shed?
Because they have an undercoat that sheds excessively during the warmer months, we have to say they shed a lot. Their size also means more hair volume, so they will leave more hair around your house than a smaller dog might.
How Can I Reduce the Amount of Shedding?
We recommend regular brushing, especially during transitional times of the year, when your Rottie’s undercoat will start falling out to keep him cooler in the summer months. Some groomers recommend brushing them in the morning, so the loose hair is taken care of before they have a chance to leave it all over your house.
Can I Overbrush My Rottweiler?
They have medium fur thickness and can take daily brushing, so we have to say no. There’s no real way to overbrush your Rottie if they have normal skin. If they have sensitive skin, you may want to reserve daily brushing for the warmer months.
What If My Rottweiler’s Fur Is Too Tangled for a Brush to Handle?
It’s rare for this to happen, but if that’s the case, you may have to cut off the mats with scissors or take her to a groomer. Groomers will have the expertise and tools to deal with an unruly coat that’s beyond the help of a dog brush.
