How Often Should My Dog Be Groomed?

One of the questions I get asked the most in the salon is: “How often should my dog be groomed?”

The honest answer is that it depends on your dog’s coat type, lifestyle and how much brushing you’re able to keep up with at home.

Regular grooming isn’t just about keeping your dog looking cute (although that’s definitely a bonus!). It plays a huge role in keeping their coat healthy, preventing matting, and making sure they stay comfortable.

Here at The Hair of the Hound in Chipperfield Garden Centre, we groom all sorts of breeds every week, and each coat type needs a slightly different routine.

Here’s a simple guide to help you understand what your dog might need.

Short-Haired Breeds

Examples: Labradors, Pugs, French Bulldogs and Beagles.

People often think short-haired dogs don’t need grooming, but they still benefit massively from regular baths and deshedding.

For most short-coated dogs, I recommend a wash, brush and deshed every 6–8 weeks. This helps remove loose hair, keeps their coat shiny and healthy, and massively reduces the amount of fur you find around the house.

It’s also a great opportunity for us to check things like nails, ears and skin condition, which can easily get missed at home.

Double-Coated Breeds

Examples: Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, Huskies and German Shepherds.

Double-coated dogs have a dense undercoat that sheds throughout the year and especially during seasonal coat changes.

If that undercoat isn’t properly removed, it can become compacted and uncomfortable for the dog.

For these breeds, I usually recommend a professional deshedding groom every 6–10 weeks, depending on the coat and how much they shed.

Regular grooming helps remove dead coat, keeps the skin healthy and makes a big difference to the amount of hair around your home.

Curly & “Doodle” Coats

Examples: Cockapoos, Cavapoos, Labradoodles and Poodles.

These coats need the most regular maintenance because the hair grows continuously and can mat very easily.

Most dogs with this coat type should be groomed every 6–8 weeks, especially if you like them kept in a fluffy “teddy bear” style.

Brushing at home is really important, but professional grooming helps keep the coat manageable and prevents matting becoming uncomfortable.

We groom a lot of doodles here at The Hair of the Hound, and keeping them on a regular schedule makes a huge difference.

Hand-Stripped Breeds

Examples: Border Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers and some spaniels.

Some breeds have coats that are traditionally hand stripped rather than clipped. This keeps the correct texture and colour in the coat.

Hand stripping is usually done every 10–12 weeks, depending on the coat cycle.

This process removes the dead coat by hand and encourages new healthy coat to grow through.

Signs Your Dog Might Be Due a Groom

If you’re not sure when your dog last had a groom, here are a few signs they might be due one:

• Their coat feels tangled or matted
• They’ve started to smell a bit “doggy”
• Their nails are clicking on the floor
• Hair is covering their eyes
• Shedding seems worse than usual

Keeping your dog on a regular grooming schedule helps prevent these issues before they become uncomfortable.

Finding the Right Grooming Routine

Every dog is different, and the best grooming routine will depend on their coat type, lifestyle and the style you prefer for them.

If you’re ever unsure, I’m always happy to chat through what would work best for your dog.

At The Hair of the Hound, we’re based at Chipperfield Garden Centre and welcome dogs from Chipperfield, Kings Langley, Bovingdon, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead and the surrounding areas.

Book Your Dog’s Groom

If your dog is due a groom, you can book an appointment online through our website.

Regular grooming keeps your dog comfortable, healthy and looking their best — and we’d love to welcome you to the salon.

✂️ Book online:
www.thehairofthehound.co.uk