Best brush for a Pug
The best brush for a Pug is a rubber curry brush or a short-bristle grooming glove, used a few times a week — Pugs have a short, dense double coat that sheds heavily year-round, and the tools built for long or curly coats do very little for a coat this short and this shedding.
Why a Pug's coat needs a different brush
A Pug's coat is short but genuinely dense, with a soft undercoat beneath the visible topcoat, and it sheds steadily throughout the year rather than in one or two seasonal bursts. A slicker brush or wire pin brush, built to work through longer hair and detangle, mostly skates over the surface of a coat this short and does little to lift the loose undercoat hair actually causing the shedding.
What works instead is something with short, dense bristles or rubber nubs that can get down to the undercoat without scratching the skin — a rubber curry brush or grooming glove is the standard recommendation for exactly this coat type, and the same style works well on other short-coated dogs too.
What to actually look for
A rubber curry brush with soft, close-set nubs is effective at lifting loose hair and is gentle enough to use often without irritating the skin. A grooming glove, worn on the hand, works on the same principle and some owners find it easier to control, particularly on a dog that isn't keen on a handheld brush.
A shedding tool with fine teeth designed for short coats can go further at removing the undercoat during a heavier shedding period, but check any tool marketed as a deshedding tool is genuinely suited to short coats rather than one built for a longer-haired breed — the wrong tool on a Pug's coat can be uncomfortable rather than useful.
How often, and what else helps
A few times a week with a curry brush or grooming glove keeps most of the loose hair under control before it ends up on the sofa, and it also gives you a regular chance to check the skin and the facial folds Pugs are prone to needing kept clean. Bathing occasionally with a shampoo suited to sensitive skin helps too, since Pugs can be prone to skin issues that a good grooming routine helps you catch early.
No brush stops a Pug shedding altogether — it's a genuinely heavy-shedding breed regardless of tool or routine — but regular brushing meaningfully reduces how much of that hair ends up around the home rather than in the brush.
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
- Why do Pugs shed so much?
- Pugs have a dense double coat that sheds steadily year-round rather than in short seasonal bursts, which is why they have a reputation for being heavy shedders despite their short hair. Regular brushing reduces how much ends up around the home, but doesn't stop it entirely.
- Can I use a slicker brush on a Pug?
- You can, but it tends to be less effective on a coat this short than a rubber curry brush or grooming glove, which are better suited to lifting loose hair from a dense, short undercoat.
- How often should I brush my Pug?
- A few times a week is a good baseline for most Pugs, more often during a heavier shedding period. Regular, shorter sessions tend to work better than occasional long ones for keeping loose hair under control.
- Do Pugs need their skin folds cleaned as well as brushing?
- Yes, the facial folds Pugs are known for need regular checking and cleaning separately from coat brushing, since they can trap moisture and debris. If the skin in the folds looks red, sore or smells unusual, that's worth a vet check rather than home care alone.
Related
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.