How Often Should You Groom Your Dog?
Having your dog groomed is a great way to keep them healthy, happy, and looking their very best. However, figuring out when to take your dog to the groomer or when to give them a quick pamper at home will depend on what type of dog you have.
Whether you’re new to dog parenting or you’re simply curious about how often you should groom your dog, we’re here to give you the fur-bulous facts!
Keep reading our helpful guide to determine how often your furry friend needs to be groomed.
Why visit a professional groomer?
While many dog owners groom their dogs at home, taking your pooch to a professional has many benefits.
Not only will it save you time and energy, but as dog groomers are well-trained and have an abundance of supplies to suit a variety of pooches, you can rest assured knowing that your dog’s hygiene and physical appearance have been checked and treated by an expert. Plus, if your dog is anxious or aggressive when you try to groom them at home, a professional groomer will know how to handle your dog with care and confidence.
From teeth cleaning to nail trimming and hair cutting, your dog groomer may also catch underlying health conditions your dog has, so you can get them checked by a vet early.
Some dogs need more grooming than others
Generally, most dogs should be groomed about once a month. However, factors such as your dog’s breed, coat length and fur texture will all determine how often they’ll need to visit the groomers.
Dogs with long, thick fur may need to be groomed every 4-6 weeks, while dogs with short or fine hair may only need to go every 8-12 weeks.
It’s important to keep up with your dog’s grooming program as if left too long, their hair may become matted and cause irritation or infection and need to be shaven.
Remember to pamper your pup at home too
Whether you take your dog to be groomed regularly or just a few times throughout the year, it’s a good idea to do some additional grooming at home to help keep your dog clean and healthy. Regularly brushing your dog’s fur, giving them a bath, and trimming their nails will make sure your canine is clean rather than a mucky pup!
At Yappy we have a pawsome range of dog grooming supplies that’ll keep your furry friend looking good and smelling gorgeous. Your dog will scrub up wonderfully with our moisturising, lavender soap bar, plus we have lots of dog shampoos and personalised dog towels (so there’ll be no more towel mix-ups at home).
Want to keep your dog entertained and look after their teeth at the same time? Look no further than our toothy treat toy! Made from extra-tough, bite-resistant rubber, this fun treat ball will help to keep your dog’s teeth and gums wonderfully healthy.
Grooming by hair type
How often do short-haired dogs need to be groomed?
E.g example, Boxers, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, Greyhounds, Rottweilers
Dogs with short hair only need the occasional bath and minimal brushing. Generally, they’ll only need to be bathed every 4-6 weeks, or whenever you notice them getting a bit stinky! Too many baths can actually dry out your dog’s skin and make their hair brittle, so make sure to use a dog shampoo that won’t strip the essential oils from their coat, and only bathe them when necessary.
How often do double-coated dogs need to be groomed?
E.g, Corgis, Golden Retrievers, Huskies, Labrador Retrievers, Pomeranians
While double-coated dogs have varying hair lengths and types of coats, these pooches are prone to shedding their undercoat seasonally. To avoid their undercoat becoming mated and tangled, it’s important that they’re brushed regularly, about 1 – 3 times a week (make sure to brush through their undercoat too).
When it comes to grooming, dogs with short double coats should be groomed every 2 – 3 months or so, while pooches with longer and less dense coats may need to be bathed once a month, with a light full body trim every 3 months.
However, Huskies rarely need their coat trimmed and can get away with being bathed just a few times a year (or whenever they’ve been on a particularly muddy adventure with you).
How often do wire-coated dogs need to be groomed?
E.g, Airedales, Miniature Schnauzers, Border Terriers, Wire-Haired Jack Russells
When you stroke a dog with a wiry coat, you’ll notice it’s quite rough to the touch. While their coat doesn’t shed, they’ll still need to be brushed regularly to keep dead hair matting close to the skin – brushing 1 – 3 times a week should stop this from happening.
Dogs with this type of thick, bristly hair can often go 2 – 3 months between grooming appointments, and due to their brittle hair, it’s important not to bathe them too much at home, every 1 – 2 months should be fine.
How often do curly and wavy-haired dogs need to be groomed?
E.g, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Poodles, Poodle Mixes (Cockapoos, Labradoodles, etc)
Dogs with curly and wavy coats tend to be popular since they shed less than other breeds. However, as they’re more likely to become matted and have dirt caught in their curly coat, it’s important that they’re brushed about 3 times a week, bathed once a month and groomed at least once a month so that their coats are routinely maintained.
@rodneyandmabel_the_cavapoos with their personalised Yappy towels
That’s a wrap
We hope you’ve found this guide helpful and now have a better understanding of how often to groom your dog. For more guidance or questions about your pup’s grooming needs, we’d recommend speaking to a dog groomer for professional advice that’s specific to your dog.
In the meantime, don’t fur-get to check out our full range of dog grooming accessories. Your furry friend will be smelling fresh as daisies with our collection of dog soaps and shampoos.
We know that bathing your dog can be a splashing good time or a stressful experience. So, to make bath time easier and more enjoyable for you and your pup, we’ve listed our 5 top tips for bathing a dog, including puppy bath tips!
