7 Best Brushes for Pugs With 5 Simple Brushing Tips
Contents
They may not look like they require a lot of grooming, but there are a few things you need to be aware of when grooming your pug.
Pugs aren’t super hairy, but many types of Pugs actually have a double coat. This coat can shed quite a bit if you aren’t keeping up with grooming every day. When you get your pug, find out if it’s single or double coated, so you know how to approach your grooming regimen. You’ll want to start early enough that your pug is completely comfortable with.
What is the Best Brush for a Pug?
A daily brushing schedule can keep the shedding down and condition the skin by distributing oils critical to the health of both the skin and coat. If you brush every day, it’s a great way to bond with your sweet pug and get it used to being groomed. Brushing is a grooming ritual dogs often enjoy and actually look forward to, so this could be a chance to spend quality time with your companion while also making your daily life less “hairy.”
For single coated pugs, brushes that help remove dirt and debris from the surface of the coat while gently loosening hair are excellent. Double coats may need a de-shedder or a rake to get down to the undercoat and loosen it.
We’ve put together a list of our favorite brushes for your precious pup. Some are great for single coats and others would work well for double coats. They won’t irritate your pug’s skin as long as you’re careful when brushing, and you might find that with careful, daily grooming, your pug’s skin, and coat are the best they’ve ever been.
Different Types of Popular Pug Brushes
The different types of pug coats need different brushes. Double coats will need help gently loosening the undercoat to cut down on shedding and prevent a patchy outer coat. The single coated variety doesn’t shed quite as much, but will still benefit from brushing to help control what shedding does happen. Let’s look at a few brush options that may or may not be suitable for your pug.
Bristle Brushes
Bristle brushes are great for smoothing an outer coat and could be just what your single coat pug needs. They’re usually made of small, densely clustered bristles that catch hair and can remove dust and debris from the surface of the coat.
The bristles that work best for single coats are natural instead of something like plastic. Metal can work for double coats to help get to the undercoat, but you should always be extra careful with these types of bristles so that you don’t irritate your pug’s skin.
Rake or De-shedding brushes
Rakes and de-shedders use a single row of tines to help dig into the undercoat and loosen the hair. Single coated Pugs may not benefit as much from this style as double coats, but as long as you’re careful, they’ll do an excellent job for either.
Choose a brush with tines that match the length of your dog’s hair. Since Pugs are all short coats, shorter tines are best. You’ll avoid scraping the skin but still get all the benefit from brushing your dog out.
Slicker brushes
Slicker brushes are heavy duty metal brushes with densely packed bristles. They’re intended to get into mats and remove dirt and debris from long-haired breeds. Not all of these will be a good idea because bristles could be too long and irritate your pug’s skin. However, if you find the right length of bristle and can use a gentle hand, they could be an excellent option for double coated pugs. Again, just be careful.
Grooming Gloves
Grooming gloves are suitable for sensitive pugs who don’t enjoy the feeling of standard brushes. While they may not work well for double coated pugs, they can offer a bonding experience while capturing hair from the outer coat.
They fit on your hand just like a glove, but the palm section has small rubber teeth. As you pet your dog, the glove traps loose hair, helping to smooth the coat and remove dust and debris as well. These could be good for puppies or for daily brushing rituals that also help massage your pug’s skin and condition the coat.
Overall Best Brush for a Pug
| Our 2023 Picks: Pug Dog Brush Recommendations: | |||
| Rank | Dog Brush | Price | Rating |
|
#1 |
 |
$$ |
A+
|
|
#2 |
 |
$ |
A+
|
|
#3 |
 |
$ |
A+
|
|
#4 |
 |
$$ |
A+
|
|
#5 |
 |
$ |
A
|
|
#6 |
 |
$ |
A
|
|
#7 |
 |
$$ |
A
|
Check out our number one pick for brushing your pug.
Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Hertzko is just the right amount bristles for getting underneath the topcoat to gently loosen the undercoat. It’s durable and easy to hold with an ergonomically designed handle. It gets into the undercoat to pull hair up and out, reducing shedding with regular use. Plus, it’s a really fun color so you’ll have an easy time spotting it.
Slicker brushes can be difficult to clean sometimes, but this one has a button that quickly releases the hair from the brush. The bristles are short and semi-flexible, but you’ll still need to keep a gentle hand when using, especially around your pug’s biggest rolls.
6 More Top-Rated Pug Dog Brushes
Here are more that we think that you’ll love to make brushing your pug easier.
Kong ZoomGroom
Kong’s brush is a soft brush made from the same materials as their famous toys. The brush is excellent for single coated pugs because it gently loosens and traps hair without irritating the skin. The brushing motion stimulates the skin, bringing oxygen to the surface while redistributing healthy oils throughout the coat. It’s easy to use and fits well in your hand.
It’s easily cleanable to remove grime build up. It comes in a smaller size that’s great for pugs, and it’s even suitable for wet fur right after bath time. It’s an excellent tool to use every day to bond while keeping the fur looking its best and controlling shedding.
Pet Thunder Better Petter Dog Brush
For single coated pugs who don’t really like a brush, this simple glove option allows you to trap loose hair while petting your pug. The glove features short rubber bristles that capture hair without the worry that you’ll accidentally irritate your pug’s skin.
It’s a soft glove that fits most hands and is an extra gentle option for pugs with sensitive skin. The rubber teeth gently massage your pug’s skin, helping bring oxygen to the surface and encourage better blood flow. Plus, it helps gently redistribute oils throughout the coat to protect it and condition it. It’s perfect for daily use between baths.
Furminator De-Shedding Brush Short-Hair Small
The smallest Furminator is designed to get down to the undercoat to gently lift away loose hair and prevent patchiness during times of shedding. Since your pug will shed year round, this can help reduce that shedding with regular use. The tines are gently rounded, so they’re less likely to irritate your dog’s skin, and a simple, ergonomic design makes it comfortable to use.
It’s a heavy duty tool designed to withstand a lot of use. It’s best for everyday use to help keep shedding under control while redistributing oils and conditioning the skin. It was designed by a groomer and uses patented technologies to reduce shedding by up to 90%.
JW Pet Soft Slicker Brush
This slicker brush is an ultra-affordable option for double coated pugs. It uses small bristles to loosen hair while stimulating the surface of the skin for better condition. It has a comfortable handle with rubber grips and metal teeth in two different lengths. This ensures you’ll get both the top and the undercoat.
The bristles are angled towards the skin rather than sticking straight into the skin. This design gives you more leeway for brushing without causing discomfort or injury. The brush has a pleasing weight in your hand and could be used on your single coated pugs as well as long as you’re very gentle. It could be a good option for a backup brush because it’s so affordable.
Li’l Pals Bristle Brush
Your short haired pugs still get dirt and debris in their coat from time to time, so this soft bristle brush can help you clean off the surface of the coat without irritating your pug’s sensitive skin. It’s designed to reach even tricky places such as around the legs or underneath the chin and is easy to grip with a rubber style, slightly curved handle.
It’s designed specifically for smaller breed dogs and helps redistribute precious oils throughout the coat. It’s suitable for slight massage and makes a great daily grooming tool for bonding purposes and to improve the overall condition and texture of the coat.
Furbliss MultiUse De-Shedding Tool Short Hair
Furbliss’s de-shedding tool is a gentle, medical grade silicon brush that massages your pet’s skin while capturing loose hair. It’s great for sensitive skin pugs that can’t stand the feeling of slicker brushes or rakes. The ergonomic design is easy to hold in your hand and reduces the risk you’ll accidentally brush too hard.
The tines are designed for short hair breeds, and it can go in the dishwasher to sanitize it after brushing. The silicon can also rake up fur and dander from furniture or clothing to help reduce the allergens in your household, making it a great multiuse tool.
5 Simple Tips to Properly Brush a Pug
- You should determine if your pug is a single coat or double coat variety before settling on a grooming routine. Double coated pugs need undercoat maintenance while single-coated pugs will need more care for their skin. Using the right brush for your pug’s individual coat type is going to make your life a whole lot easier.
- Make brushing a daily habit. If you brush a little every day, you’ll cut down on a lot of the hair that can drive you crazy. Plan to spend at least 15 or so minutes brushing to capture enough hair to make brushing worth it. Some experts say to brush until you don’t see hair on the brush anymore, but that’s a little overboard.
- Brush your pug thoroughly starting with the head and neck area and moving down to the hind legs. Go slow and avoid raking the brush with too much force. If this is your first time brushing your pug, you may notice a lot of hair, but daily brushing should see a bit less each time as you keep the shedding under control.
- Double coated pugs need a brush that can gently loosen the undercoat. Work the rake through gently without focusing too much on a single area. Although it’s tempting to use a lot of force to get those patches of hair out, it’s still best to use patience. As you brush, you want to spare the skin from any force that can cause irritation. Healthy skin means a healthy coat.
- Using a soft bristle brush to finish the coat after brushing for shedding purposes can redistribute oils and give the coat a polished look. These brushes only go over the surface of the coat and can help the fur lay correctly. Often, this is one of the best parts for a dog and can feel like gentle pets. Double coated pugs can benefit from this as well because it helps the top coat settle over the undercoat more comfortably.
Above all, remember that the right brush can make all your grooming experiences a whole lot easier for both you and your single-coated or double-coated pug.
FAQ Regarding Pug Brushing/Grooming
- How often should you brush a Pug? – It’s a good idea to brush any breed of dog every day as long as you do it gently. All dogs shed daily. Since pugs don’t blow their coats out twice a year, you may not have to deal with clumps of hair falling out, but it can still get pretty hairy in your house during some parts of the year. Making brushing a daily ritual helps keep shedding under control and ensures you have a chance to notice any issues before they become a full-blown problem.
- Do Pugs shed? – Absolutely. Many people believe that short haired dogs won’t shed, but this is a myth. Dogs turn over their fur regularly. Double coated pugs will also lose the undercoat, so you may have more hair in your house than what you thought possible with such a small dog. Again, regular brushing and bathing can keep shedding under control as much as possible. Removing the undercoat as it loosens prevents it from getting trapped underneath the top coat and causing issues down the road.
- Can you over brush a Pug? – You can definitely brush too hard. While gentle brushing isn’t something you can usually overdo, you must be careful as you brush that you aren’t increasing the strength absentmindedly. Short haired dogs are at risk of skin irritations with rough brushing, and those irritations can develop into hot spots. Keep a gentle hand and make sure the tines on your brush match the length of your short-haired companion.
