Grooming
Best Brushes for Australian Shepherds
Which brushes an Australian Shepherd coat actually needs: undercoat rakes, slicker brushes, pin brushes, combs and de-shedding tools, and how to use each one.
By The Aussie Standard · Updated August 2026
An Australian Shepherd coat is really two coats doing two different jobs, and no single brush handles both well. The practical answer is a small kit — three or four tools — where each one has a clear role.
This guide explains what each tool does, when to reach for it, and how to avoid the two most common problems: brushing only the surface, and over-raking sensitive skin.
Undercoat rake
The workhorse. A rake pulls loose undercoat out from beneath the guard hairs, which is where the volume lives. Used with light pressure and short passes, it removes more hair in ten minutes than an hour of surface brushing.
Let the tool do the work. Pressing down does not remove more coat; it irritates skin and can leave rake marks along the back and flanks.
Slicker brush
Fine bent wires that finish the coat and work through the softer, tangle-prone areas: the ruff, the feathering on the legs, the pants behind the hind legs, and behind the ears.
- Work in small sections, holding the coat above the area you are brushing.
- Short strokes out to the ends rather than long sweeps.
- Check your wrist pressure on your own forearm before using a new slicker on the dog.
Pin brush
Gentler than a slicker and useful for daily maintenance passes, puppies learning to be handled, and finishing a coat that is already in good condition. It is a maintenance tool, not a de-shedding tool.
Metal comb
The audit tool. If a comb runs cleanly from skin to tip through the pants, ruff and armpits, the section is genuinely finished. If it snags, there is still undercoat or a forming mat underneath.
De-shedding tools with blades
Blade-style de-shedders cut coat as well as remove it. Used often, they can thin guard hairs and change coat texture. If you use one, treat it as an occasional coat-blow tool rather than a weekly brush.
A kit that covers everything
- Undercoat rake for bulk loose coat
- Slicker brush for feathering, ruff and pants
- Metal comb for checking your work
- A grooming spray or light conditioner for dry, static coat
How to choose sizes
Match the tool to the dog, not the marketing. A rake head wider than your dog's flank is awkward around legs and hocks; a slicker that is too large cannot reach behind the ears. For most standard Aussies, a medium rake and a medium slicker cover the whole dog.
FAQ
Common questions
- Do I need both a rake and a slicker?
- Most owners do. The rake removes loose undercoat in bulk; the slicker smooths and detangles feathering the rake cannot reach cleanly.
- Can I use a human hairbrush on an Aussie?
- It will move the top coat around but will not reach the undercoat, which is where shedding and matting start.
Keep reading
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