05/29/2026
Meet Bella and Charlie, the Spanish water dogs. We’ve done these guys their entire lives, and their predecessor Reka before them. These guys are unique in that they have what’s known as a rustic coat and their grooming requirements are very different than other curly coated breeds and yes, they are halfway done in these photos and they will be completely naked when we are done and it is intentional.
Here at Top Paw we specialize in breed standard grooming, then tailor the trim to match the lifestyle of the dog. We understand that each breed has its own unique coat types and grooming requirements and knowing how to handle this uniqueness is vital to the dogs health and happiness, as well as their owners.
The rustic coat is a hallmark of this breed and any brushing, sc******ng, aesthetic trimming or
sculpting of the coat destroys the look of the breed. The hair is a single coat, always curly and a wooly texture. So crazy as it sounds, despite being similar looking to a poodle or a bichon because of the curls, a Spanish Water Dog's coat should never be brushed, combed or blown out to be straight. Instead they are clipped short from nose to tail 3-4 times a year to keep their skin healthy and coat correct for the breed.
Are there any other breeds you’d like to learn about when it comes to the nuances of their special grooming needs?
