Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush Review: The Grooming Tool Chewy Carts Are Full Of

Slicker brushes have been a grooming-aisle staple forever, and they all do roughly the same job: fine, slightly bent bristles that grab loose undercoat and surface debris. The problem owners have always complained about is what happens after — fur wraps around the pins, mats between them, and cleaning the brush becomes its own chore. Hertzko’s answer is a single button on the spine that retracts the bristles flush with the base, pushing the trapped fur off in one motion. It sounds like a small thing, but it removes the single biggest friction point in daily brushing, which is probably why this brush has racked up tens of thousands of ratings and stayed a top pick in dog and cat shedding tools for years.

The other reason it sells so well is price. At roughly $12 to $18, it’s cheap enough to keep one by the couch and one in the car without a second thought, and cheap enough that first-time pet owners often grab it as their introduction to regular coat care rather than researching grooming tools for hours.

On short-haired dogs and cats, the fine pins lift loose undercoat and surface dust efficiently, and most owners report a visibly fuller pile of fur coming off in just a few passes — useful reassurance during heavier shedding seasons. On long-haired coats it works well for general upkeep and light detangling, gliding through fur that’s already reasonably brushed out. It’s gentle enough that many owners use it on cats and even rabbits, not just dogs, which is part of its broad appeal as a one-brush-fits-most-pets option.

The self-cleaning button is the headline feature, and it delivers: press it after a brushing session and the fur releases in a clump you can just lift away, rather than picking strands out of the bristles one by one. The catch owners report is that the button typically needs to be held down while you brush (so the bristles stay extended), which after several minutes of brushing a wriggly or large dog can leave your hand tired — it’s a minor ergonomic tradeoff for the convenience of cleanup.

This brush is built for maintenance, not rescue. If your pet already has established mats or heavily tangled fur, the fine bristles tend to skate over or get stuck at the mat rather than working through it — you’ll want a dematting comb or a trip to a groomer for that, then use the slicker brush to maintain the coat afterward. A number of longtime users also report that with heavy daily use over months, the bristles or the plastic housing around the retraction mechanism can loosen or break, which tracks with its budget price point — this is a solid everyday tool, not a heavy-duty one meant to last indefinitely under frequent, forceful use.

If you’re brushing a dog or cat a few times a week for general shedding control and coat maintenance, this is an easy, low-cost pick that solves the annoying cleanup problem plain slicker brushes have always had. It suits any coat length and is gentle enough for regular use, including on cats and rabbits.

If your pet is already matted, has a very thick double coat that needs serious deshedding power, or you brush daily and want something built to withstand years of hard use, it’s worth pairing this with (or upgrading to) a more heavy-duty tool. As with any new grooming routine, if your pet has sensitive skin, a skin condition, or you’re unsure whether brushing might aggravate an existing issue, it’s worth a quick check with your vet before making it a daily habit.