The right grooming schedule depends less on how your dog looks today and more on the kind of coat they have. Here's how often each coat type needs a professional groom, and what you can do at home in between to make every visit easier.
Smooth coats
Breeds like Labradors, Staffies, Pugs and Boxers are the low-maintenance end of the scale. A bath and tidy every six to eight weeks keeps skin and coat healthy, and a weekly brush at home with a rubber curry brush or grooming mitt lifts out loose hair. They still shed plenty, so regular brushing is what keeps it off your couch.
Double coats
Pomeranians, Huskies, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies and Spitz breeds carry a soft, dense undercoat beneath a longer topcoat. Book a professional deshed and blow-out every six to eight weeks, and more often in spring and autumn when they "blow" their coat. At home, brush two to three times a week with an undercoat rake. One important thing: never shave a double coat. It doesn't keep your dog cooler and can permanently change how the coat grows back. Here's why.
Curly and wavy coats
Poodles, Cavoodles, Groodles and Bichons have coats that barely shed, which sounds easy but is actually the opposite. Loose hair stays trapped in the curl and quickly mats. These coats need a professional groom every four to six weeks and daily brushing right down to the skin. Our guide to doodle coats walks through exactly how.
Long silky coats
Maltese, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terriers and Lhasa Apsos have beautiful coats that ask for daily attention. A full groom every four to six weeks, plus daily brushing and combing to stop knots forming around the ears, legs and bottom. Many owners choose a shorter "puppy clip" to keep upkeep simple and their dog comfortable.
Wiry coats
Schnauzers, Wire Fox Terriers and Border Terriers are traditionally hand-stripped to keep their harsh texture and rich colour, or clipped for a softer, lower-fuss finish. Either way, every six to eight weeks with a weekly brush keeps them looking sharp.
A simple rule of thumb
If your dog's coat grows long or curls, think every four to six weeks. If it's short or smooth, six to eight weeks is usually plenty. And whatever the coat, a little brushing at home makes every groom more comfortable for your dog and helps us give them the best possible finish.
More advice: Grooming an Oodle · Double-coated dogs