Grooming is essential for your dog’s skin health and overall well-being. Lack of grooming will not only make your puppy look dirty and have an unpleasant smell, but it can also pose a serious threat to its health.
Impaired blood flow, bacterial and fungal infections, scabs or cuts, and hot spots are some of the many dangerous side effects of grooming your dog regularly. Below we have listed how often a dog is groomed based on the specific hair type of the dog and the breed in question.
How Often Should Dogs Be Groomed?
There is no easy answer to how often you should groom your dog. Grooming needs vary widely between different breeds of dogs. Some breeds, such as Poodles and Afghan Hounds, require frequent grooming, while short-haired dogs, such as Boxers and Beagles, require very little grooming.
Factors that determine how often a dog groomes include its breed, coat type, and hair length. The frequency of grooming also depends on your puppy’s lifestyle and whether you are allergic to pets.
A dog that spends a lot of time outdoors needs to be groomed more often, even if it is a low-maintenance breed. Similarly, if you or someone you live with has pet allergies, you may need to groom your dog more often to minimize dog dander in your home.
It is important to familiarize yourself with your dog’s grooming needs, as a lack of it can be detrimental to your dog’s health. Below you will find comprehensive information about the grooming needs of different types of dogs.
Shorthaired Dogs
Shorthaired dogs, such as American foxhounds, are less prone to problems such as knots and unpleasant odors, so they don’t need to be groomed as often as longhaired dogs. They don’t even need a haircut other than for medical purposes.
However, short-haired breeds do require frequent grooming to remove debris. If your dog doesn’t spend much time outdoors, you don’t have to groom your dog more than once every two months.
Some shorthair breeds include Effenpin, American Staffordshire Terriers, Australian Cattle Dogs, Boston Terriers, Dobermans, and Pugs.
Long-Haired Dogs
Fluffy long-haired dogs need to be groomed frequently because their fur is more prone to knots. Long hairs will also trap debris more easily and become greasy than short hairs.
Some long-haired breeds, such as the Australian Shepherd and Border Collie, need to be groomed twice a day and bathed every four to six weeks. These dogs shed their hair seasonally, so a professional grooming every three months is important to keep your dog’s coat healthy and clean for longer.
Cavalier King Charles Beagles, Chow Chows, Cocker Spaniels, Komondo Terriers, and Irish Wolfhounds are the most expensive long-haired dog breeds to maintain.
Double-Layered Dogs
Dogs with a double coat have two coats: a soft undercoat with ultra-fine hairs and a coarse top coat with stiff needle hairs. The former acts as an insulating sheath and protects the dog from extreme temperatures, while the latter protects against moisture, dirt, and harmful chemicals.
Only the thick undercoat will molt. Native breeds in colder climates tend to have double coats, such as German Shepherds, Malamutes, Golden Retrievers, and Pomeranians.
However, many breeds with undercoat are not safe during the winter months, such as beagles. Excessive growth of thick undercoat can prevent your dog’s skin from breathing properly. Therefore, double-coated dogs should be professionally groomed every 8 to 10 weeks to thoroughly remove old, damaged undercoat.
Silky Hair
Since silky fur can quickly form mats, dogs with silky fur need to be groomed every four to eight weeks. All varieties that have silky hair have a layer of soft and fine hairs that grow quickly and need to be trimmed every two to three months.
Brushing your teeth is a daily ritual for parents of silky dogs. Bathing, on the other hand, should be done by a professional beautician when needed. Overbathing these breeds will only make their silky coats brittle, leading to excessive shedding.
Afghan Hounds, Yorkshire Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Terriers, and Irish Setters are the most popular breeds of Fluffy Terriers.
Curly Dogs
Curly hair varieties are most likely to grow cushions that are difficult to comb. Curly dogs need proper grooming every four to six weeks to have a knot-free coat.
If your dog’s hair is more than half an inch, you should groom them twice a week. Dogs with hair longer than an inch need to be groomed daily. According to the advice of a professional cosmetian, the length of the hair should not exceed two inches.
Some of the most popular curly dogs are the Standard Poodle, Curly Bichon Frise, Bedlington Terrier, Portuguese Water Dog, and Miniature Poodle. Designer Poodles like Cocker Spaniels and Labradors also tend to have curly hair.
Wire Haired Dogs
Wirehaired dogs have minimal maintenance costs because their fur doesn’t form mats quickly. Although these breeds require regular grooming, they can easily go two to three months without grooming.
You also don’t need to bathe them as often as their bristles are naturally fragile. They should be bathed with a gentle, soap-free, shampoo that does not contain any harsh chemicals. Before bathing, clean the mat with a smoother brush.
They also have some unique grooming needs: their thick fur needs to be stripped by hand. You can use beauty knives and stones to pluck dead and damaged hairs from their fur.
Miniature Schnauzers, Border Terriers, Bristle Foxhounds, Irish Wolfhounds, and Bristle Jack Russell are the most popular breeds with bristles.
Grooming the Health Benefits of Dogs
Grooming is no longer for aesthetics, but for health. Regular cleaning and brushing can remove dead skin cells from your dog’s body. This will not only improve your dog’s appearance, but it will also prevent shedding.
It is important to make sure that your dog sheds as little as possible to prevent pet dander. Pet dander contains harmful proteins that can cause allergic reactions in humans.
By grooming your pet regularly, you can avoid the undesirable symptoms of your pet’s allergies, such as a runny nose, itchy skin, coughing, facial pain and pressure, nasal congestion, and sneezing. To control pet dander, make sure you also use a pet hair removal tool to clean up dog hair left around the house or elsewhere.
Regular grooming is good for both you and your dog. Grooming also includes trimming the nails, minimizing the risk of deformation of the pet’s bones.
Since long nails can make it difficult for dogs to walk, they may change their position to accommodate their nails, which can lead to arthritis and other diseases. In addition, combing your dog’s ears for dirt and grime can help prevent ear infections.
Professional Beauty or DIY?
Professional grooming is more than just bathing, cleaning, and brushing your dog. A professional groomer will check your dog’s fur for ticks, fleas, and other pests.
They also offer services such as nail trimming and teeth cleaning. With years of experience, a professional groomer can disinfect your dog’s fur more effectively.
However, since grooming your pet can be expensive, you can do it yourself at home. Trimming nails, cleaning ears, removing dead skin, identifying fleas, and giving your dog a haircut at home is entirely possible as long as you use the right tools and follow the instructions.
Beauty Secrets
Pet parents should know that it is very important to use the right tools when grooming their puppy. Some coats require a natural bristle brush, while others require a hard bristle brush. Here are some tips for grooming your dog:
- Use a gentle, chemical-free shampoo designed specifically for dogs.
- Do not use your own nail clippers to trim your dog’s nails. Since dogs’ nails are curved, you may end up injuring their skin.
- Check for fleas in areas of your dog’s body that have sparse hair, such as their abdomen. All you need to do is comb or brush off the fleas.
- If you notice any changes in your dog’s coat, contact a veterinarian immediately.
- Shorten the grooming interval during the hair removal season.
- Don’t forget to clean the outside of your dog’s ears.
- Brush your dog’s teeth every day.
Summary
The only way to ensure your dog’s health is to groom them regularly. After reading this article, you should be clear about your pet’s unique grooming needs. Depending on your dog’s breed, coat type, and coat type, you can create a grooming schedule and stick to it. If you’re doing your own grooming, it’s also important to use the right grooming tools.