Why Should I Care For My Dog's Coat?

Every dog benefits from regular grooming regardless of their breed and coat type. Regular visits to a groomer promotes skin and coat health which ensures that your dog’s coat remains matt free and in good condition. The use of high quality products can also revitalize dry, dull coats, and maintain healthy skin. Also, groomers can spot changes in your dog’s health quicker. The groomer will be touching your dog all over which means that they may spot new changes far earlier than your vet. While more often than not these changes are nothing to worry about, early detection can stop it from turning into something serious.

Dogs vary widely in their grooming and bathing needs depending on their coat type and how often they get dirty. Here are some general guidelines how often you should take your dog to a professional groomer and what to do in between at home to maintain and keep their coats healthy and smelling fresh!

If your dog’s coat is…

Smooth
(i.e. Dachshunds, Bulldogs, Boxer, Dalmatian, Vizslas)
A wash every 8-12 weeks is best. Once a month if your pup tends to be more stinky, dirty, have a skin condition, and/or shedding often. You may not think short haired dogs need grooming, but they do! You’ll be surprised to see how much short haired dog’s shed. These dogs don’t need a haircut, however a good bath will keep them fresh and smelling good. A good curry brush can be used at home to minimize the shedding and also simulate a relaxing body massage. Be especially gentle when drying your short-haired dog to protect their sensitive skin.

Double Coat
(i.e. Border collie, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labradors, Huskies, Shiba Inus)
A groom every 8-12 weeks. 4 - 6 weeks is even better to control and lessen the shedding. These types of dogs needs brushing daily or at least a few days per week is key. Frequent brushing significantly reduces the shedding and distributes oils throughout your dog’s thick coat. We highly DO NOT recommend shaving these breeds because 1. The hair may not grow back 2. Hair may grow back, but the hair will grow back in patches and/or in a different texture than before, 3. Hair actually protects their bodies from sun, snow, and debris. The soft undercoat lies close to the skin and keeps your dog warm and dry. In the summer, your dog should shed their undercoat, leaving just the guard hairs on top. The job of the guard hairs in warm weather is to protect your dog from sunburn and insulate them against the heat. Removing the undercoat by simply brushing will help air circulate through the guard hairs cooling the skin.

Wire
(i.e. Schnauzer, Border Terrier, Westies, Brussels Griffon)
A groom every 8-12 weeks. These types of dogs should professionally be hand-stripped instead of clipped. Hand-stripping can be costly, time-consuming, and not all groomers are trained to do, but it is the ideal way to protect your dog’s wiry hair from becoming brittle. There is nothing wrong with getting their coat clipped, however hand strip helps retain the proper wiry coat texture and color. You can maintain a healthy coat at home using a slicker brush and comb after bath time.

Curly and Wooly
(i.e. Poodles, Bichon Frise, or any mixed that ends with -poo, -chon, -oodle)
A groom every 4-6 weeks. These types of dogs should be on a regular schedule for grooming due to their hair being matted very easily. Doodle coats can vary widely and often fall somewhere on the spectrum between curly and long. If you want the long coat and fluffy look, schedule the grooming more frequent to help retain the look. More often than not, after 8 weeks or more without grooming, your dog will need to be shaved down. Dematting those tangles and matts out will be painful and uncomfortable, so the best and humane way is to shave down and start over with your dog’s coat growth. At home baths are great for in between, but be sure to brush out any mats, tangles and to dry with a hand held dryer. Do not leave these dogs to air dry because tangles can form.

Silky
(i.e. Yorkshire Terrier, Setters, Spaniels, Maltese, Shih Tzu)
A groom every 6-8 weeks. These dogs should be on a regular schedule for grooming due to their hair being matted very easily. Even a nice bath and tidy will do fine if the hair is not too long. These dogs can still be bathed at home when necessary. Don’t forget to brush out their coat well after a bath to prevent mats or tangles

These are just examples of breeds in each category and what you can do. Even a bath and tidy every once a month for any dog is a good option to keep them fresh and clean. Check with your local groomer if you are unsure and they can discuss more about how to keep your dog in tip top shape.