When Do You Know That It’s Time to Groom Your Dog?

Grooming is a great way to take care of your dog’s appearance, health, and hygiene. When conducting a grooming session, you not only examine its coat but also get a chance to check its teeth, nails, eyes, and ears for signs of problems. When you need to groom yours really depends upon its breed, size, and type of coat.

Some pet parents may have perfected the grooming routine of their pet, while others are still struggling to figure out one. Since the timing varies between different dog breeds, we decided to answer the question for you. Dog grooming is not a one-size-fits-all service, some dogs require more grooming upkeep than others. Here is a brief rundown to help you determine when it’s time to brush, bathe or completely groom yours.

DOGS WITH DOUBLE COAT

Golden Retrievers, Huskies, Australian Shepards, Havanese, Labrador Retrievers, Pomeranians, and Shiba Inu — these breeds seasonally shed their undercoats and shed quite a lot. Their thick coat quickly becomes matted if not taken care of. Forget to brush it and the fur starts becoming tangled. The resultant matting is not only painful for the pup, but is also detrimental to its health.

If you want to avoid the costly veterinary and groomer expenses, draft a proper grooming schedule that involves consistent brushing to avoid matting. Getting a dog grooming table is a great idea for these breeds because, without one, all the fur will end up cluttering your floor. Brush at least twice a week and have the coat trimmed on a monthly basis.

If your pup has a short, dense coat make it a point to groom it once every two or three months. This involves bathing and having their fur trimmed. Huskies, in particular, rarely need a trim, and bathing a few times a year is enough for them.

DOGS WITH CURLY AND WAVY COATS

Dog breeds like poodles, curly-coated Retrievers, and American water spaniels have curly and wavy fur coats. They are easier to take care of because they shed less and their fur is less prone to matting. But, dirt and debris do get caught in it and remain there until you brush or wash it out. Hence having a regular brushing, bathing, and grooming schedule are essential for them as well.

You should brush the coat at least thrice a week, and bathe and groom once a month. It is important to routinely maintain your curly pup so it doesn’t have to be shaved bald. Seeing a professional groomer every month is a great idea.

DOGS WITH WIRE COATS

Many dogs of the Fox Terrier, Airedale, Pointing Griffon, and Dachshund breeds have rough and bristly wire coats. They don’t usually shed, but their coat tends to matt very close to the skin. So like the curly wavy variety, wire-coated dogs also need regular brushing to get the tangles out.

Be sure to comb out from the skin to the end of the hair. Brush the coat one to three times a week and bathe every couple of months. It is important to not shave their coat as it may grow back softer and in a different shade. Light trims around the face, paws, ears, and sanitary areas every four to six weeks make up most of the grooming sessions that you easily do at home.

We recommend getting a dog grooming table if that’s how you plan to go about it. This helpful dog gear saves your back from strain and your home from fur whenever you decide to conduct the grooming session.

FINAL WORDS

We hope that this post will help you work out a proper grooming schedule that works for both you and your dog. If you are unsure about your dog’s specific needs, don’t hesitate to ask a professional groomer. Be sure to use proper gear like a dog grooming table, brushes, and veterinary-approved hygiene products.