7 Best Brushes for Shiba Inu With 5 Simple Brushing Tips

Shiba Inus are known for their thick and luxurious coats. While there are many types of Shiba Inus, all are known for being shedders and having a plush coat that requires a thorough brushing to keep it maintained. Finding the perfect brush for your friend will help them, and you, be more happy and comfortable.

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Shiba Inus have two different layers of fur; a sort of double-coat that has a soft downy undercoat and a full coarser outer coat. Shiba’s shed their undercoat year-round, with even more shedding in the spring and fall.

They entirely shed their undercoat in the spring and fall of every year. When they’re not blowing their coat, brushing them every two weeks or so is sufficient. However, during the change of seasons, your friend will need attention more often.

Regular grooming ensures that the dead hair doesn’t get stuck beneath the outer coat. Not removing the dead hair can cause overheating, matting, and painful skin issues.

Grooming your pet will make sure that their coat and skin stay healthy by removing the debris, dead skin, and loose hair. It also helps stimulate the natural oils in the dog’s skin, which will keep the fur healthy. As a bonus, it gives you time to bond with your pet.

Choosing the right tools will save you time and hassle during the grooming process. If you don’t have the right things, you may even damage your pet’s coat over time. There are many different dog brushes available, focused on care for different kinds of coats and breeds. We’ll give you an overview of which ones you’ll need to keep your friend in perfect shape.

Different Types of Popular Shiba Inu Brushes

There will be different factors that will help you decide which brush is right for your dog. Shiba’s are known to be picky about specific procedures, so finding the best brush may be a matter of trial and error.

The brush you use may also be dependent on the time of year, and whether they’re shedding or not. Their double-layered lush coat does well with a variety of brushes, including de-shedding tools, undercoat rakes, slicker brushes, and pin brushes.

De-Shedding Tools

The thing that is specific to Shiba Inu’s is how much they shed their undercoat. You will want to have a useful tool that helps remove this layer during your dog’s shedding season. It will help quickly remove hair and also save you some of the hassles of cleaning up after your pup.

Other types of brushes tend to pull the hair out, which can create discomfort and resistance to grooming. A de-shedder brush works by cutting out the under-hair like a blade. When using these tools, make sure to be careful, as using it too vigorously can shave off too much hair and cause scratching.

Undercoat Rakes

An undercoat rake is another popular option during the time your double-coated Shiba Inu is shedding. Undercoat rakes are designed to break up tangles and remove mats and loose fur. Due to more extended brush tips, they work better on Shiba Inu’s with longer coats.

An undercoat rake has small, curved blades that help remove the undercoat. They can be used on your dog’s wet or dry coat, removing the dead, fuzzy hair in minutes. The result is a top shiny and healthy coat.

Slicker Brushes

When your Shiba Inu isn’t blowing coat, you can use essential brushes like a pin or slicker brush. Since you are not cutting any of the furs with these brushes, they’re easier to use and have less of a chance of damaging skin. You can also use a slicker brush during shedding times in tandem with a de-shedding tool.

Slicker brushes have a face that is covered in rows of bent pins. These bristles help detangle hair and lift loose hair and are bent so that they don’t scratch your dog’s skin. They are safe to use on both your short and long-haired Shiba Inu.

The slicker brush can penetrate both the layers of the coat without too much pressure while protecting your dog’s skin. It also distributes the natural oils through the fur and gets rid of mats and tangles.

Rubber Brushes

One final option you may want to consider for your Shiba Inu is a safe and comfortable rubber brush. These are ideal for when you just want to give your dog a gentle, loving brushing, or for when your Shiba is wet.

Overall Best Brush for a Shiba Inu

1. FURminator 

The FURminator de-shedding edge is an excellent choice for your Shiba Inu. It has been on the market for years and has monopolized the de-shedding tools market. It is the highest-priced option, but the price point is worth it.

It will quickly and easily remove undercoat and loose hair and is guaranteed to reduce shedding by up to 90%. While it’s a more expensive brush, it will save you time and effort, while giving your dog a more enjoyable experience.

The FURminator has a curved edge that reaches through the topcoat for easy and effective removal. The materials the FURminator is made out of are very high quality as well. This brush is an investment that will last you well over time.

Its distinct feature is an ergonomically designed handle, which makes it very comfortable to use. It’s an excellent feature for any Shiba Inu owner, as you will have to be brushing your dog regularly during the shedding season. Using this brush will help reduce hand fatigue during heavy grooming sessions.

Another unique feature of the FURminator is a button that ejects the shed hair. While it’s not a must-have feature, it does make the process easier. There is some complaint about this feature not working as well as expected, jamming at times. However, you can still quickly remove the hair with your hands.

Although the FURminator is a pricier option at about $40, the ease and effectiveness of it make it an excellent brush for your shedding dog. It is by far the best quality brush, has a money-back guarantee, and is the highest-rated de-shedder on the market, making it our number one choice in de-shedders.

6 More Top-Rated Shiba Inu Dog Brushes

2. Dakpets FURblaster

The Dakpets FURblaster is another shedding tool that promises to reduce your pet’s shedding by up to 90%. It has a safety guard and is also stainless steel. The Dakpets is much lighter than the FURminator, which is a plus. However, it doesn’t have an ergonomically designed handle, which makes it a bit harder to use.

One of the things that Dakpets has over the FURminator is a removable head. With one push of a button, you can slide the head off for easy cleaning and storage. It makes this tool a little easier to deal with than the FURminator’s sometimes jamming button.

The Dakpets is a more general tool, designed to work on dogs and cats of all sizes. So if you have pets other than your Shiba Inu, it might be the right choice for you. However, it is not specifically designed for a double-coated breed. So although it will still work, it doesn’t work as well as a brush specifically designed for your dog.

At only $19, the Dakpets are much more affordable than the FURminator. If you have multiple pets, you may want to consider this option. However, if your only grooming needs are for your Shiba Inu, we recommend going with a de-shedder explicitly made for a double-coated breed.

3. Pat Your Pet 2-Sided Undercoat Rake

The Pat Your Pet 2-Sided Undercoat Rake is a versatile tool that helps gently cut through mats to get down to the soft cuddly fur. It has a double-sided design with two purposes that gives fantastic results and comfort.

One side has nine teeth that have the job of removing mats and tangles. The other side has seventeen teeth meant to thin and de-shed. The teeth are sharp enough that you don’t have to tug and pull through mats, doing quick work of tangled and knotted fur.

All teeth are rounded, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your pet’s skin during the grooming process. The rounded teeth also gently massage the skin, helping release the natural oils of your dog’s coat.

4. FURminator Firm Grooming Slicker Brush

Once again, FURminator leads the market in brushes for your Shiba Inu. They are the most popular brand for dogs that shed a lot with very thick undercoats. They effectively penetrate down to the deepest level of fur, removing all debris, knots, and dead hair.

The FURminator is the top choice because it has two different types of bristles; curved and straight. Although the curved bristles are needed, so you don’t scratch your dog’s skin, the straight bristles help with stubborn knots and tangles.

Once again, this FURminator brush is ergonomic, making it easy to use and hold.

5. The Pet Republique Dematting Rake

The Pet Republic Dematting Rake is a similar style to the Pat Your Pet with very similar features. It has the dual-sided teeth which allow for removing mats and thinning hair. It also has rounded metal teeth that will protect the skin of your pet.

The Pet Republic has a comfortable rubber handle although the Pat Your Pet is more ergonomic. While both undercoat rakes are similar, this feature is slightly better in the Pat Your Pet.

6. Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush

The Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush has short, bent bristles. It will detangle and smooth hair without skin damage.

The thing that sets the Hertzko apart is its self-cleaning function. Once you’ve finished the grooming process, you press a button near the head of the brush. The wire retracted into the plastic handle, making the hair fall off. While this may seem like a luxury, it makes the grooming process more manageable and is a factor to consider.

7. The KONG Zoom Groom

The Zoom Groom is made out of rubber with wide-set teeth. It is effortless to use and completely safe. There is no chance of skin damage with this brush.

It can be used during baths to help lather and spread soap, as well as giving your friend a gentle massage. It is the final thing that you should have in your tool kit to make sure that your Shiba Inu’s coat stays perfect in all stages.

5 Simple Tips to Properly Brush a Shiba Inu

1. Using Your De-shedder

A de-shedder is the best tool for keeping the undercoat down, but it does take a little more skill than traditional brushes. You will need to take extra care to make sure you’re not hurting your dog’s skin by brushing too hard or removing any healthy hair.

To use your de-shedding, move from head to tail with light and short strokes in the direction of hair growth. If you hold your Shiba Inu’s skin tight with your other hand, you’ll be able to remove more of the unwanted hair while protecting the skin and good hair. When used correctly, a de-shedding tool will give your dog a more comfortable expe

2. Using Your Undercoat Rake

To use an undercoat rake, you gently pull the rake in the direction of the coat growth. Like the de-shedding tools, you must use caution when working with this tool, as pushing too hard may result in skin damage. Make sure you use especially gentle pressure while working in areas where the skin is thin, like the hock area, flank, and ear junctions.

You will also want to choose an undercoat rake that’s easy to clean, as the goal of this tool is to collect lots of loose hair. Choosing a rake with the teeth set wider apart will mean its less prone to clogging as opposed to those that are set closer together.

3. Use a Conditioning Spray

When using a slicker brush, you may want to spray a bit of conditioning spray or detangler. You can buy one for dogs online or at any pet store. It will help you remove any knots with less pain for your pup.

Spray the conditioner lightly all over the whole body. Gently brush in the direction that the fur grows, working from head to tail, going over each section more than once. If you hit a tangle, work the knot lightly starting at the end, at a variety of different angles until its loosens.

4. Keep Your Dog Safe

Make sure that any tool you buy has safety features, so there’s no risk of damaging your dog’s skin. Make sure that any de-shedder you choose has a safety guard so that the sharp tool can’t penetrate the skin.

Getting tools with stainless steel parts is ideal, as this will give maximum durability and will help avoid rust. Getting a device with plastic teeth won’t stand up to the task of de-shedding your Shiba Inu, and you’ll be doubling your cost by having to replace it soon after you buy it.

5. Be Comfortable

For all of your tools, you’ll want a handle that is ergonomic so you can be comfortable while grooming. It will help you avoid hand fatigue and be relaxed. For your slicker brush, you may want to get something with an anti-slip grip as well. Since the wires can catch in the hair, you want to be sure you have an excellent grip to avoid injuring your dog.

Grooming your Shiba Inu can be a fun and enjoyable process that will significantly enhance the life of your pet.

FAQ Regarding Shiba Inu Brushing / Grooming

Q. How do I get my Shiba Inu to sit still during grooming?

Getting your dog to sit still may be frustrating at first, but the key is to be consistent and calm. While you’re grooming, breathe deeply and talk to your dog in a gentle voice. Even if your dog is agitated, remain calm. If you’re relaxed, your dog will be more comfortable. The more often you repeat the grooming process, the more used to it your dog will become.

Q. Should I cut my Shiba Inu’s hair?

Double-coated dogs should not have their coats cut. Their outer hair protects them from dirt and bacteria, while their inner coat helps them regulate temperature. Cutting their hair removes this functionality. The only time it’s okay to cut their hair is if it’s been recommended by your veterinarian and is due to a health issue.

Q. Is it wrong to bathe my Shiba Inu?

It is a myth that it’s bad to bathe your Shiba Inu. It used to be that dog soap was made from harsh chemicals like lye, which was too strong for your dog’s coat. However, today there are plenty of good soap options available made just for your dog. Giving them an occasional bath will help loosen fir and keep down shedding, especially during the spring and fall.

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