Everyone’s got a favorite comb and which type and brand is probably based on what breeds and coat types frequent that salon. But there are a few that I consider absolute necessities that I could not do without. Or, if you took all my combs away but these I could still groom every dog that walked into the shop.
Can’t live without a Greyhound style comb. Originally made in Belgium, when that company stopped making them it was hard to find a replacement. Several manufacturers jumped in to try and replace them, but none were quite, exactly, precisely the same. Whether it was pin length, thickness, distance between the pins or materials no one ever got it quite right. There are some darn close replacements on the market today, though. The original Greyhound come came in a medium/coarse and a fine/medium configuration. Ashley Craig has the rights to the original name and I’ve been told they are using the same metals, techniques, and machines to make them. Master Grooming Tools makes both versions, and makes both either in plain metal or coated with Xylac® to reduce static. They are fairly close to the original configuration. Andis’ version of the fine/medium comes pretty darn close aside from having a rounded spine instead of flat.
I’m also in love with a bigger comb that some call a Poodle comb and others know as an Old English Sheepdog comb. It works well on those breeds along with longer haired Northern breeds and many others. There’s nothing better for gently removing excess undercoat on the right coat textures and it’s great for locating mats, too. Originally made by Resco with a flat back, they now offer it as their Ergonomic Comb line with a large rounded grip. The Coarse is the one I’m referring to. Master Grooming Tools Ultimate Coarse Comb has a wooden handle that can be gripped by the back or by the handle depending on preference. Both are very much like the original and work great. Aaronco has a metal version that’s close, too.
Those two basic combs will probably get you through anything that walks into the salon. We all love our specialty combs though and I urge you to try out any that look interesting. Watch what people use in the competition ring or at dog shows to see what you might like. If I can have just one more in my “must have” collection, it would be a smaller double ended comb that I can’t even recall who made it first. Called a pocket comb or face and finish comb, it’s perfect for around eyes/ears/feet especially on finer coats. About 4 ½” long, Master Grooming Tools makes one with their Xylac® coating.
By Carol Visser, Journalist, Master Pet Groomer, Certified Dog Trainer, Pet Product Expert
