Chris Christensen Oval Pin Brush for Golden Retrievers

If you only own one brush for your Golden Retriever, this is the one. Not the slicker, not the undercoat rake, not the FURminator (which we actively warn against for this breed). The Chris Christensen pin brush is your daily driver, the tool you will use three to four times a week for the entire life of your dog.

Golden Retrievers have a dense double coat, a water-resistant outer coat and a soft, thick undercoat. That combination needs regular brushing to prevent mats, distribute natural oils, remove loose hair, and keep the coat healthy. A pin brush does all four without damaging either layer of the coat.

Why This Brush Over the $8 One at PetSmart

We have used cheap pin brushes. They work for about a month. Then the pins start bending, the tips lose their coating and scratch the skin, and the pad loses tension. At that point you are not brushing, you are dragging sharp metal across your dog’s skin while they learn to hate grooming.

The Chris Christensen difference is in three things:

• Pin tips. Truly rounded, not “rounded-ish” like cheap brushes. They glide through the coat without scratching or irritating the skin. Your dog will actually enjoy being brushed instead of flinching.
• Pin flexibility. The pins have just enough give to follow the contour of your dog’s body without bending permanently. They work through the topcoat and reach the undercoat without snagging.
• Pad cushion. The rubber pad flexes as you brush, which means you are working with the shape of the dog rather than fighting it. Flat, rigid pads miss the curves around the ribs, shoulders, and hips.

How to Use It

Brush in the direction of hair growth, working section by section. Start at the head and work back. Pay extra attention to behind the ears, the chest, the “pants” on the back legs, and the tail feathering. These are where Golden coats mat first. Brush all the way down to the skin, not just the surface. A surface-only brushing looks clean but leaves mats forming underneath.

Three to four sessions per week keeps most Golden coats in good shape. During seasonal coat blows (spring and fall), you may want to brush daily. A 10-15 minute session is usually enough for a full-body brush.

Which Size

Get the 27mm (large oval) for a Golden Retriever. The smaller sizes exist for toy breeds and faces. They are too small to efficiently cover a Golden’s body. The large oval covers surface area quickly and makes the job faster for both of you.

The Investment Argument

At roughly $25, this costs three times what a drugstore pin brush costs. But it lasts for years, the pins do not fall out, the tips do not wear off, the pad does not flatten. You will buy three or four cheap brushes in the time one Chris Christensen lasts, spend more money total, and give your dog a worse experience every time. Buy it once.