The best brush for a Basset Hound
A Basset Hound's short coat looks low-maintenance, but this is a breed that sheds far more than the coat length suggests, and the wrong brush either does very little or irritates a Basset's notably loose, sensitive skin. A rubber curry brush or grooming glove, rather than a slicker brush built for longer coats, tends to suit this breed's coat type far better.
Why a slicker brush is the wrong tool here
Slicker brushes, with their fine wire pins, are designed to work through longer or curlier coats and to break up mats, neither of which describes a Basset Hound's coat. Used on this breed's short, dense fur, a slicker brush can feel scratchy against skin that is already looser and more sensitive than most breeds', without doing much useful work removing loose hair.
A rubber curry brush or a grooming glove with soft rubber nubs works with a short, dense coat rather than against it, loosening dead hair and dirt while also giving the skin a gentle massage, which most Bassets tolerate well given their generally easy-going temperament.
How often, and what else helps
A couple of times a week is usually enough to keep shedding under control on a Basset, more often during a seasonal coat blow when shedding increases noticeably. Regular brushing also gives you a chance to check the skin underneath, since loose, folded skin can hide early skin irritation that would be harder to spot on a breed with tighter skin.
Basset Hounds also need their long ears checked and cleaned separately from coat brushing, since the ear shape restricts airflow and makes this breed more prone to ear problems than most, though that is a separate part of grooming to brushing itself.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Ancol Ergo Wooden Handle Slicker Brush
A stainless steel slicker brush on a wooden handle, for short, long, wiry and curly coats
From£6.99
Wahl Competition Series Clipper Blades
High-precision, chrome-plated clipper blades with a rust-resistant finish, available in 17 sizes for every coat type and clipping style.
From£37.99
Ancol Ergo Double Sided Comb
Ancol Ergo Double Sided Comb: a SGL grooming comb for combing the coat
£8.79
Ancol Ergo Soft Bristle Brush
A soft bristle brush for dogs, for gentle grooming around the ears and face
£7.79
Ancol Ergo Grooming Glove
A rubber grooming glove for dogs, for removing loose hair on wet or dry coats
£9.79
Wahl Pet Grooming Scissors with Finger Rest
Stainless steel finishing scissors with ergonomic offset handles — perfect for tidying around eyes, ears, mouth, and paws.
£5.49
Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles
A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.
£18.99
Slicker Brush for Dogs — Detangling & De-shedding
An ergonomic slicker brush with anti-scratch pins that works through tangles and removes dead hair from top and undercoat.
From£9.99
Groom Professional Curved Soft Slicker Brush
A professional-grade curved slicker brush with soft pins, designed to groom delicate and soft-coated pets without discomfort.
From£8.99
Round-Tipped Deshedding Rake Comb
A double-sided undercoat rake with rounded stainless-steel blades that gently cut through mats and remove loose hair. The non-slip ergonomic handle makes deshedding dogs and cats quick and comfortable.
From£8.99
Self-Cleaning Deshedding Slicker Brush
A deshedding grooming tool for dogs and cats that lifts loose undercoat and eases out tangles, with a self-cleaning button that releases the trapped fur in one press.
£25.99
Common questions
- Do Basset Hounds shed a lot?
- Yes, more than the short coat length suggests. Bassets have a dense undercoat that sheds steadily year-round, with heavier shedding during seasonal coat changes, so regular brushing genuinely helps keep loose hair under control.
- What type of brush is best for a Basset Hound?
- A rubber curry brush or grooming glove tends to work better than a slicker or pin brush, since it suits a short, dense coat without irritating the breed's notably loose, sensitive skin.
- How often should I brush my Basset Hound?
- A couple of times a week is usually enough for most of the year, increasing to more frequent brushing during a seasonal coat blow when shedding picks up noticeably.
- Why does my Basset Hound's skin look loose?
- Loose, folded skin is a natural feature of the breed rather than a health problem on its own, though it is worth checking regularly for irritation in the folds, since it can trap moisture and dirt more easily than tighter skin.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.