That kind of dog probably has a wire coat, yeah? In which case he/she will need to be groomed by a professional groomer every month or two to be stripped...don't shave the pup down! It will remove the protective nature of the coat. Stripping is a hand grooming process in which the dead guard hairs are removed--it doesn't hurt the dog if done properly. In between, regular brushing is fine, with a typical brush from a pet store (but double check that with your groomer!). That type of dog doesn't usually need too much in between grooming sessions, though.