How Often Should You Groom Your Dog?
Grooming your dog regularly is about more than just helping your dog look their best. It’s also vital for their health. According to GoodVets, grooming is essential for your dog’s health to prevent ear infections, broken nails and possible skin diseases from matted fur. Regular grooming will help keep your dog’s coat clean and shiny, but how often you need to groom them can vary depending on your dog’s breed, their coat type and any individual needs. While every dog is unique, we’ll explore the generally recommended grooming routines for different types of dogs.
1. Understanding Your Dog’s Breed — Some dogs require a little more grooming TLC than others, such as poodles with curly coats and yorkies with long, silky coats. Individual dogs with individual needs vary even among the same breed, so speak with your veterinarian or a professional groomer if you’re not sure about how often to groom your dog. The more your dog sheds, the more likely it is that you have dog fur all over your home and your clothing. That’s why we recommend dryer sheets for pet hair to remove all that pet hair from your clothing. Here’s a pro tip: Run your dirty clothing through the dryer BEFORE you wash your clothing. Drying your clothes first will help remove pet hair. Then you can wash your clothing and run it through the dryer again with a dryer sheet to remove any of the last remaining pet hair.
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2. Defining Your Dog’s Coat Type — Some of the most common coat types you’ll see for dogs include:
- Smooth Coat — Dogs with smooth coats usually have short and dense fur that lies close to their body. They’re typically low maintenance and require minimal grooming, such as Dalmatians and Great Danes.
- Double Coat — The double coat has two layers with a dense undercoat and coarse overcoat, often seen in German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers.
- Wire Coat — A wire coat is considered coarse and wiry to the touch, requiring regular brushing to prevent matting and keep their texture. You’ll see Wire Fox Terriers and Schnauzers with a wire coat.
- Long Coat — A long coat is exactly what it sounds like. Picture Collies and Afghan Hounds with long, flowing fur coats that require regular maintenance and frequent brushing.
- Curly Coat — If your dog has a curly coat, they’ll have wavy or tightly curled fur that requires regular brushing to prevent tangling. Dogs with curly coats include Irish Water Spaniels and Poodles.
- Corded Coat — Dogs with a corded coat look like they have cords or dreadlocks for fur, such as Puli dogs and Komondors. They require a specialized grooming technique, so speak with your veterinarian or a professional groomer if you’re not sure what to do.
- Sparse Coat — Keep in mind that dogs with a sparse coat require special care, like sunscreen, for their exposed skin. Even if you don’t have to brush them because they have a thin or even hairless coat, you’ll still need to provide them with protective clothing for their exposed skin during the cold weather.
- Implement Regular Brushing Sessions — No matter what kind of dog you have, it’s important to groom your dog and have regular brushing sessions with them. It’s great for bonding, and it’s even better for their health and overall hygiene. Implement a regular brushing schedule with your dog and use a dog hair remover brush.
Now that you know how often you should groom your dog, you can help ensure your pup looks and feels their very best. You’ll foster a stronger bond with your dog with regular grooming sessions, too. To help make that a reality, use our latest and greatest deshedder tool to groom your dog. This handy tool effortlessly glides through your dog’s coat to remove loose hair without causing irritation or discomfort. Try it for yourself and see why so many of our furry friends (cats, bunnies and horses, too!) love it!
