Grooming and coat
What brush should I use for a curly, Poodle type coat?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A slicker brush for the initial pass, followed by a metal comb worked all the way down to the skin, is the standard combination for a curly Poodle type coat. Skipping the comb step is the single most common reason owners think their dog's coat is brushed when mats are actually forming underneath.
Two tools, two jobs
The slicker brush separates curls and lifts surface debris, but its short pins often glide over the top of a mat without disturbing it. A metal comb with both wide and narrow spaced teeth is what tests whether the coat is actually tangle free, because a comb that snags or stops partway down is finding a knot the brush missed.
Working in layers, not one pass
Lift small sections of coat with one hand and brush, then comb, from the skin outward rather than skimming the surface in one long stroke. On a full grown Standard Poodle this can take fifteen to twenty minutes done properly, considerably longer than a quick five minute surface brush, but it is what actually prevents felting.
A slicker brush alone is not enough between grooms
Between professional grooms, which most curly coated dogs need every four to six weeks, brushing with the comb step included every one to two days keeps the coat workable. Without it, many owners find the coat is unmanageable again within three to four weeks of a groom, well before the next appointment.
Key takeaways
- Use a slicker brush first, then a metal comb all the way to the skin to confirm there are no hidden mats.
- Brushing in small lifted sections, not one long surface stroke, is what actually prevents felting.
- Skipping the comb step is the most common reason a curly coat mats between grooming appointments.