Best brush for a Greyhound
A Greyhound's short, fine, single-layer coat sheds relatively little, but the breed's notably thin skin and low body fat mean the grooming tool itself matters more than it would for a thicker-skinned, double-coated breed. A firm slicker brush or a hard-pinned tool designed for a heavier coat can be uncomfortable or even mark a Greyhound's skin, so gentler options tend to suit them better.
Why their skin changes the brief
Greyhounds carry very little body fat and have noticeably thin skin compared with most breeds, which means anything with stiff wire bristles or hard pins is more likely to scratch or irritate than genuinely groom. This is worth knowing before reaching for whatever brush happens to be in the cupboard for a different dog.
Their coat itself is short and low-shedding rather than dense, so the job a brush needs to do is less about pulling out large amounts of loose undercoat, as it would be for a thicker-coated breed, and more about lifting light surface hair and distributing natural skin oils.
What actually works well
A soft rubber curry brush or grooming mitt is generally the better starting point, since the rounded, flexible material lifts loose hair and gently massages the skin without the risk of scratching that a stiff-bristled brush carries. Many owners also find a soft natural-bristle brush useful for a final smoothing pass, adding shine without any risk to sensitive skin.
Avoid anything marketed specifically for heavy de-shedding of thick double coats, such as tools with long metal pins meant to reach deep undercoat — a Greyhound simply does not have that kind of coat, and using a tool built for it is more likely to cause discomfort than to achieve anything useful.
A simple routine
A quick brush once or twice a week is usually plenty for a Greyhound's coat, more for general skin health and hair maintenance than for controlling heavy shedding. Because their skin is thin and can be prone to nicks or minor irritation, checking over their skin gently while brushing is a good habit, and any coat suited to a low-maintenance routine still benefits from a consistent one.
Bathing needs are similarly modest — a mild dog shampoo used only when genuinely needed, rather than on a fixed weekly schedule, helps avoid drying out skin that is already naturally thinner and more exposed than most breeds', which can otherwise leave a Greyhound's coat looking dull rather than glossy.
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 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
Ancol Ergo Universal Slicker
A universal slicker brush for dogs, for coats from smooth to curly
From£6.79
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 Greyhounds need much grooming?
- Not a great deal — their short coat sheds relatively little compared with many breeds, so a quick brush once or twice a week is usually sufficient for general coat and skin health.
- Can I use a slicker brush on a Greyhound?
- It is generally better avoided, since a Greyhound's thin, sensitive skin can be irritated by stiff wire bristles. A soft rubber curry brush or grooming mitt is a gentler and more suitable choice.
- Why do Greyhounds have such thin skin?
- It is a natural feature of the breed, linked to their low body fat and build as a sighthound bred for speed rather than insulation. It is one reason grooming tools and even bedding choices are often gentler for this breed than for others.
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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.