Our dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and their coats are as unique as they are. Each coat requires a different grooming routine, but before you get out the brush and shampoo, it’s important that you understand your dog, their breed and their coat.
Here are some top tips on how to care for and maintain your dog’s coat depending on the coat type.
Smooth coat
A smooth-coated dog doesn’t need much grooming, which makes it ideal for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of time or money on grooming.
However, they do shed, and if you brush their fur a few times a week, you can remove excess hair.
Dogs with smooth coats include:
- Greyhound
- Doberman
- Weimaraner
Curly coat
Dogs with curly coats often have tight curls or loose waves. These breeds do not have fur, but hair, and these are usually not hairy.
It is common for their curls to become matted and tangled, so daily grooming is the key to a healthy coat.
Breeds with curly coats include:
- Bichon Frise
- Airedale Terrier
- Poodle
Wired coat
The coat of a wire-haired dog is often stiff and sticks out from the body. These coats are quite fussy and require both a stripping comb and a slicker brush to be well groomed.
You should consider taking your dog to a professional groomer who knows how to care for the coat.
Wire-haired dogs include:
- Fox Terrier
- Border Terrier
- Jack Russell
Double coat
A double-coated dog needs more grooming than some other breeds. Their coat consists of short and long hair, with different areas requiring different amounts of attention.
It is important to remember that a dog with a double coat should never be shaved as this can permanently damage its coat. Brushing and bathing a dog’s thick coat can help to keep his coat clean and healthy.
Dogs with double coats include:
- German Shepherd Dog
- Golden Retriever
- Shiba Inu
Long coat
Breeds with long coats need to be groomed regularly to keep their coats clean and tangle-free. As the seasons change, a well-groomed coat and healthy skin will help to regulate your dog’s temperature according to the environment.
Dogs with long coats can have their hair combed for easier grooming, especially if they prefer outdoor adventures to showing off their locks in a show ring.
Long-haired dogs include:
- Afghan Greyhound
- Lhasa Apso
- Yorkshire Terrier
Short coat
Short-haired dogs are slightly different from their smooth-haired friends, as their smooth coat has more texture and you can run your fingers through it.
These dogs have two layers of short hair, which makes it quite dense, but it’s still quite easy to maintain as it doesn’t get tangled! Brushing a short-haired dog once a week will keep their coat smooth and shiny.
Short-haired dogs include:
- Pug
- Labrador
- Beagle
If you are ever unsure of how to groom your dog, what type of brush is best or whether you have the right shampoo, you can ask your vet or consult a professional groomer. Once you have learned the best techniques for grooming your dog, you will be able to provide him with the grooming routine he needs to always look his best.
