The Different Types Of Dog Coat And How To Care For Them

14th August 2024 by Sarah

Grooming is an important part of caring for a dog: it’s not just about keeping them looking good, but also to prevent matting that could lead to skin infections, and to improve the overall condition of their skin and coat. It’s also a chance to bond with your pet, get them used to being handled, and check them over for any injuries or parasites.

However, not all dog coats are created in the same mould, and this can present certain challenges when it comes to knowing how best to care for them. Here’s a look at the grooming requirements of the main coat types.

Long-haired dogs

Breeds with long hair such as the Yorkshire Terrier, the Afghan Hound, the Old English SheepDog, and the Shih Tzu have beautiful generous locks that require daily brushing. To keep their hair soft and silky, use a slicker brush or a pin brush that will be able to untangle both the top and underlayers of the coat and distribute the natural oils in the skin.

Long haired dogs will need regular trims or professional grooming sessions every four to eight weeks to prevent them looking shaggy and overgrown, and to keep their eyes, ears, and paws free from nuisance hair.

Curly haired dogs

Our curly coated friends need regular grooming, such as Cockapoos and the various types of Doodle (Poodles crossed with other breeds such as the labrador, the golden retriever, or the King Charles Spaniel). They should be brushed at least three to four times a week to prevent their gorgeous curls from becoming knotted and matted.

Use a slicker brush or a comb to ease out any tangles and ensure that painful knots won’t build up: once they develop, they are very difficult to deal with and may have to be cut out, spoiling the beautiful appearance of your pet. Bath your dog about every four to six weeks to keep the hair and skin in tip top condition.

After their bath, dry your pooch with a hairdryer on a low setting, as leaving their skin damp could encourage infections to develop. A blow dry will also bring out the bouncy natural shape of the curls. In addition to regular brushes and bathing, it’s recommended that curly haired dogs are professionally groomed and trimmed every six to eight weeks.

Cockapoos and Doodles with wavy or tightly curled hair can have their coats shaped into cute styles such as the Teddy Bear or the Puppy, which not only looks adorable but also keeps them healthy and comfortable.

Short haired dogs

Short haired breeds such as the Retriever or the Boxer need to be brushed less often than tangle-prone types, but they still need to be brushed at least once or twice a week to distribute natural oils and help them to shed loose hairs. Short haired dogs do not need very frequent baths unless they are particularly dirty; every couple of months should be enough.

A professional groom every now and then will help to keep them looking great and ensure that their claws and ear hair are neatly trimmed.