What kind of brush should I use?

[StevePax]

Leo is a chihuahua / Shih tzu mix (that's a shi-chi in designer dog terms, ha ha). His fur is pretty short - like a half inch long or so. The guy can shed, though - if I'm wearing black pants after work, and he climbs in my lap, it will be pretty obvious when he leaves that he's been there.

My question - what should I be using to brush him? I have a rubber brush (made by Kong), but it doesn't seem to get much hair off of him. I also have a regular soft-bristled brush (it's actually a cat brush) that he likes because it feels good, but it doesn't seem to get much of the old dead hair off, either. What should I use?

Maybe I should just use an old pair of my black pants and rub it over him - they seem to attract the hair very well!

[Charliesmommy]

I highly recommend the Furminator.

[StevePax]

Can that Furminator thing be used on a really short-haired breed like a chihuahua?

[Charliesmommy]

I think so. They come in different sizes so you would just need to get the smallest one. Dogs tend to not like them so much, but they do work.

[Gempress]

I had the exact same problem as you, and went through a ton of brushes without success. Go to the local feed/tack store and get a rubber horse curry brush. It only cost me about $3, and is the absolute best brush I've ever had for Zeus' short coat.

It gets off *tons* of hair. It won't exactly pick up the hair---it will loosen it and make it sort of fall off your dog in clumps. I always brush Zeus outside with it, and it gets off a ton of hair.

[Dekka]

If your dog is shedding a lot, you can try different food too. I had a dalmation. Now they can really shed. But mine shed less when I took her off the proplan

[Graco22]

The round rubber horse currys someone posted above is probably the best for your dog. Like she said, it will remove tons of coat, and also won't be too harsh on her skin. You can use it all over, in a sweeping motion, or in a circular motion. I prefer the sweeping motion. The furminator is good if she has a thick coat. I don't usually use a furminator on dogs in the salon like Chi, min pins, etc. I think its too harsh for their thin skin, and isn't very effective because you can't really put any pressure on it, and it needs pressure to be effective. I use the currys instead.

Heather

[irotas]

Originally Posted by Charliesmommy

I think so. They come in different sizes so you would just need to get the smallest one. Dogs tend to not like them so much, but they do work.

Manni will follow me to the ends of the Earth if I have the Furminator in hand. He *loves* it!