Les Poochs vs Chris Christensen

[dogroomerjvl]

Hi everyone. I am in need of some new slicker brushes. The one's I usually get don't seem to last all that long but I use them on a daily basis. I would like to cut down my grooming time with some good slickers. I do alot of pyranese, huskies and collies at my shop. Just wondering if any of you groomers out there have Les Poochs or Chris Christensen slickers and your opinions of these. Some of the obvious differences in these brushes are price and I think Chris's brushes offer a guarantee where Les Poochs do not. Would love to hear your reviews. Thanks, Kathy

[Briarpatch]

I use the les pooche, they are great on mats. I'd be interested in hearing the differences from someone who's used both!

[petstylist]

I purchased on of Chris' slickers at the ATP in march and I LOVE it! Its feels wonderfull in my hand, well balanced and is just the right stiffness (in the bristles) to brush through most coats (I still have a universal slicker on hand for those wooly or matted buggers!) and I love the stylish look of the wood.

Im planning on buying a few more and offering them for sale in my boutique for my clients to use at home.

Tammy

[diemonster]

This is a funny question.. only because I asked the exact same one a few months ago (of an instructor at school). I've never tried either brush (yet), but here's the response I was given.

Chris's grooming supplies are geared for the show dog market, where Les Pooch are marketed for upscale pets.

Show dogs need to keep as much coat as possible (including the undercoat on double coated breeds), but pet owners generally prefer their dogs to have as LITTLE coat as possible (less shedding in the house).

So.. the recommendation (for pet grooming) was for the Les Pooch brushes because they tend to remove more coat than the Chris brushes.


However, I'm finding like most other things in life, that tools are very much an individual preference, and whichever one feels better to the hand and does the job that you're seeking should be the one to go with.

What would be cool is for these companies to send brushes with a "free trial period".. where if you simply don't like them that you can send them back... especially when it's $40 or more at stake ;)

[workingchihuahua]

les pooch does offer a lifetime guarantee on their brushes. both a friend and my daughter have exchanged a brush with them with no problem. i can't speak for CC brushed because i haven't used them. les pooch is my brushes of choice.

[foxhound lady]

I personally use CC brushes/combs/stripping knives. Haven't tried the slickers yet (next purchase). I have used the Les Pooches brushes and honestly they are not for me. As for CC's guratee. One bristle fell off my pin brush and they exchanged it at the next show.

P.S. Love the Volumizer stuff for the Aussie

[rapuzzled]

I haven't used the CC brushes, so I can't speak for them, but I have several Les Pooch brushes and love love love them! They aren't cheap, but well worth the money. The mat zapper I think is the most expensive, but the best of the bunch!

[Gracy Rose]

i have both (1cc and all of the Les Pooch), as you can tell I like the Les Pooch better.

But here is another question, have any of you used the CC combs with handles? I know the Les Pooch brushes are supposed to be comb and brush in 1 (straight side is comb) but I still have to use my greyhound.

[workingchihuahua]

the newer LP's are both brush sided. i always used the greyhound, not the comb side of the LP's anyway

[GroomSaloon]

Gracy - the Finishing Brush - which is silver and black has more pins and they are straight - not angled. I have been using this for topknots, std. poodles, this brush has replaced my combs on many breeds. I dont know if they show it on their site.

[Gracy Rose]

I have the Silver Finishing and the Gold. Some don't have a straight side but the original colors do.

Has anyone tried the CC combs?

[4Newfs]

I have both the Les Pooch and the Chris brushs. I MUCH prefer the Chris brushes and LOVE the combs. I also have the stripping knives and so far (although I haven't used them much) I really like them as well.

[Tanya B]

I have both and used both. Here is my opinion for what is worth. I love my CC slicker. It is great for a general use and brushing and I also love their buttercombs. I don't think I will ever use anything else.
Now for Les Pooch. A few years ago I bought a medium bristle single width brush. I tried it for a week. The handle felt too long to get under small dogs. I constantly kept getting frustrated by using the straight pin side verses the dematting side. I have to admit I may have been PMSing that week and I threw it in drawer and never touched it again. My bathers tried to use it and they felt the same way. After a couple of years, I threw it away as clutter in my shop. I recently attended a seminar by Sue Zecco and Jay Scruggs, they both swear by the LP brushes. They also mentioned some changes in design. Maybe in a few years, I'll give them a try again. Good luck,
Tanya B

[sudsypup]

I purchased on of Chris' slickers at the ATP in march and I LOVE it! Its feels wonderfull in my hand, well balanced and is just the right stiffness (in the bristles) to brush through most coats (I still have a universal slicker on hand for those wooly or matted buggers!) and I love the stylish look of the wood.

Im planning on buying a few more and offering them for sale in my boutique for my clients to use at home.

Tammy


Are they real wood or just the look of wood? How do you keep them clean between clients?

[bow_wow_wheels]

I have had both brands and I much prefer the CC brushes, combs and products over the Les Pooches products. CC brushes have lasted me for long and long and many, many dogs!! I had 3 brushes, 2 slickers and a pin brush, that I finally retired because I was tired of looking at them after 3 years. And you could hardly tell that they had been used for three years! The wood holds up well and looks very nice, too :D The handles fit my hand and the brush works and doesn't rip out hair or cause my elbows and wrists to hurt from using it. The wooden handles on the combs are wonderful! I love the control I get with the handle on the smallest comb-it is great for detail combing small areas and small pets.

The CC brushes are not for major dematting. I use a Mars Flexi-King brush for that and they also come with a 5 year guarantee from the lady I bought mine from. If you want her contact info let me know off list in an email and I'll get that info to you. The brush is very similar to the LP brushes with the exception of the fact that they don't tear up and fall apart as you watch :) And it only has one side. I've been using mine since February and I've got to say that I've brushed out some areas that I would have clipped off in the past. The pets seem to tolerate the brush for a short amount of time and it really does work!

[cher]

I use the Les Pooches brushes all the time. I did have a CC slicker that fell apart within a month of using it.. The handle became very loose so I tried hot glueing it and that didn't work so I got frustrated and threw it in the garbage.
I tried using other slickers but the Les Pooches are the best.They last alot longer than regular slickers. Get the professional ones they have the bent tines on both sides.
The CC butter combs are very nice I even bought the wooded handle for mine but I hate it.

[CockerPoodleDoo]

I love the Les Poochs brushes. I have 6: one single and one side of the red mat zapper, the green and the purple. I don't like the ones that have the one straight side (the yellow, blue and red) because they just don't seem to do anything for me. They have soft finishing brushes (silver and gold) that are good for show grooming but I have no need for them so I just use the 3 types that I mentioned. The doubles are great for Poodle/Portuguese legs and Goldens, etc, and the singles are great for smaller dogs and smaller areas (heads etc) on bigger dogs. I take good care of mine so they are holding up fine. The shop was I working in, she had hers break a lot but she didn't store them properly, had them falling on the floor, dogs would chew on them, so go figure, of course they won't last.

[Poodlefluff]

I
The CC brushes are not for major dematting. I use a Mars Flexi-King brush for that and they also come with a 5 year guarantee from the lady I bought mine from. If you want her contact info let me know off list in an email and I'll get that info to you. The brush is very similar to the LP brushes with the exception of the fact that they don't tear up and fall apart as you watch :) And it only has one side. I've been using mine since February and I've got to say that I've brushed out some areas that I would have clipped off in the past. The pets seem to tolerate the brush for a short amount of time and it really does work!
Bow_wow_wheels where I can I find one of these Mars brushes? BTW I love my Buttercombs from CC. Right now the brush I use for dematting is a master equipment ergonomic handled curved slicker. I like the handles. The CC slicker has too small of a handle and make my hand cramp up. I also like doggy-man brush but I have to wrap vet wrap around the handle to get a better grip, but the pins are rounded and the brush last a long time. I also love the $3.00 universal curved slicker that is red and yellow. Handle breaks off and you get out the new one lol. I have tried lespooch brush and didn't see what all the fuss was about. A client had a set for her Doodles and I tried getting a mat out with her brush but ended up using my own cheapo brush.

[Jengroomer]

I have both & use both daily.
I love the new curved slicker cc has, that is a fluff brush for me. Anything not matted. My others, LP brushes, are for light mats, then heavier mats (mat zapper)
I have the silver & gold but don't seem to use those. I use mostly the lime green and the mat zapper. I also pull out the firmest one too if I groom a really heavy coated dog.