21/11/2025
✂️🐾 Let’s talk about grooming! 🐾✂️
Grooming isn’t just about keeping your dog looking smart, it’s essential for their comfort, health and confidence. Regular brushing removes loose coat, prevents matting, and helps spread natural oils that keep skin and fur in good condition. It’s also a great opportunity to spot early signs of irritation, grass seeds or parasites before problems occur.
Introduce a grooming routine early with your puppy. If your dog will need professional grooming as an adult, it’s really important to start early, ideally within their socialisation period (before around 16 weeks). This helps make the sights, sounds and handling of the salon feel familiar and positive, not overwhelming later on.
Here’s how coat care can differ:
🪮 Short single coats (e.g. Whippets, Greyhounds, Boxers, Staffies, Dobermans)
One layer of short, fine hair. Lower maintenance but still needs a quick brush at least once or twice a week using a rubber mitt, curry comb or short-bristled brush to remove dead hair and keep the coat shiny. These dogs can feel the cold, so a jacket or fleece in winter helps keep them comfortable.
🪶 Short double coats (e.g. Labradors, Beagles, Pointers, Rottweilers, Corgis)
A soft, dense undercoat with a short, protective topcoat. They shed all year and heavily in spring and autumn. Brush several times a week, and daily during moulting, with a rubber curry or slicker brush to remove loose undercoat and reduce shedding. Never shave a double coat as it affects insulation and regrowth.
🌀 Medium or long double coats (e.g. Golden Retrievers, Collies, Huskies, German Shepherds, Newfoundlands)
A longer outer layer with a thick undercoat that protects against the weather. These coats need thorough brushing several times a week, and daily when shedding, using an undercoat rake and slicker to prevent compacted fur and skin irritation. Shaving damages coat function and should be avoided.
✂️ Curly, wavy or wool coats (e.g. Cockapoos, Poodles, Shih Tzus, Bichons, Spaniels)
These coats grow continuously and don’t shed much, but they can mat quickly, especially around armpits, ears, tails and collars. Daily brushing is the best way to prevent tangles from forming.
Regular brushing at home also helps prevent the need for your groomer to shave the coat short. If the fur becomes matted, brushing it out can be extremely painful and risks damaging the skin. In those cases, professional groomers will clip the coat for welfare reasons, to remove mats safely and comfortably. Once the coat grows back, a regular brushing routine and consistent grooming schedule (every 6 to 8 weeks) will keep it healthy and manageable.
🌿 Wire coats (e.g. Border Terriers, Schnauzers, Wire Fox Terriers, Irish Terriers)
A coarse outer coat with a softer undercoat. These coats don’t usually mat but can become dense and dull if not maintained. Regular brushing and hand-stripping (or clipping for pet trims) removes dead coat and keeps the skin healthy. Over time, clipping can soften the texture which may lead to light tangling in some areas.
💫 Silky coats (e.g. Yorkshire Terriers, Afghan Hounds, Irish Setters)
Fine, flowing hair with little undercoat. These coats tangle easily and need gentle brushing several times a week with a soft pin, slicker or bristle brush, plus regular professional trims to maintain condition.
Just like you’d research your vet, trainer or boarder, take time to choose your groomer carefully. Look for someone qualified, kind and patient, ideally using force-free and cooperative care methods so dogs feel safe and relaxed. Don’t be afraid to ask for their advice on the best daily coat care for your individual dog.
✨ Early training helps avoid turning grooming into a stressful experience.
