Understanding dog coat types and their grooming needs

Understanding your dog's coat can help you work out why they need particular grooming, what you need to do at home and what services to look for when choosing a dog groomer.

Breed can give you an indication, but individual dogs, particularly crossbreeds, don't always inherit exactly the coat you expect.

Curly and wool coats

Poodles are the obvious example of a curly or wool coat, and many popular Poodle crosses can have coats with similar grooming demands.

These coats can trap loose hair rather than simply shedding it onto your furniture. As the coat grows, tangles can develop and eventually tighten into mats, which is why both home maintenance and professional grooming tend to matter for these dogs.

Grooming a curly-coated dog

Depending on the individual coat and the style you prefer, grooming may include:

• Brushing and combing
• Bathing
• Thorough drying
• Clipping and scissoring
• Nail care
• Maintaining areas around the eyes, feet and hygiene areas

Longer styles generally require more maintenance between appointments than shorter ones.

How often should curly-coated dogs be groomed?

There isn't one schedule that suits every dog.

Coat texture, length, lifestyle and how effectively the coat is maintained at home all affect the appropriate interval. Your groomer can recommend a schedule based on the coat in front of them.

Double coats

Double-coated dogs have an outer coat and a softer, dense undercoat. Examples can include breeds such as German Shepherds, Huskies and many Collies.

The undercoat can shed heavily, particularly during seasonal coat changes.

What is de-shedding?

Professional de-shedding helps remove loose undercoat through bathing, thorough drying and appropriate grooming techniques. Owners are sometimes surprised by just how much coat can come out during these appointments.

Should a double-coated dog be clipped?

Clipping isn't automatically the appropriate answer to a shedding double coat, and it can affect the way some coats grow back.

Individual dogs can also have coat-condition, comfort or welfare circumstances that need to be taken into account. If you're considering clipping a double-coated dog, discuss your individual dog with an experienced groomer rather than deciding solely because of shedding.

Wire coats

Many terriers and other wire-coated breeds have a coarse outer coat. Some wire coats can be maintained by hand stripping, where dead coat is removed by hand rather than clipped.

What is hand stripping?

Hand stripping removes suitable dead outer coat while helping maintain the characteristic texture and appearance associated with many wire-coated breeds. It is a specialist service and not every dog groomer offers it.

Clipping and hand stripping can produce different results, so speak to the groomer about your dog, their coat and what you want to achieve.

Smooth and short coats

A dog doesn't need a haircut to benefit from professional grooming. Short-coated dogs can still shed considerably and may benefit from:

• Bathing
• Removal of loose coat
• Nail trimming
• Appropriate coat and skin care

How often any of that is needed depends entirely on the individual dog.

What about mixed-breed coats?

Crossbreeds can be particularly interesting because puppies from the same combination of breeds don't necessarily end up with identical adult coats.

Don't assume that a Cockapoo, Labradoodle or other crossbreed automatically has one particular coat type. A groomer can assess the coat your individual dog actually has and advise you accordingly.

Matting can change what's possible

The style you would like and what can comfortably be achieved aren't always the same thing. When a coat becomes heavily matted, brushing or de-matting it may cause discomfort and may not be appropriate.

A groomer will need to assess the dog's coat and decide what can reasonably be done. Regular grooming and suitable home coat care help prevent the coat reaching that stage.

How do I know what coat my dog has?

If you're unsure, ask your groomer. They can look at the coat itself rather than relying entirely on a breed label and explain what maintenance it needs, which is particularly useful for crossbreeds.

Find a groomer for your dog's coat

Book A Dog Groomer profiles can show a business's coat experience and the services it offers, including hand stripping and de-shedding, along with the sizes and types of dog it works with.

If you need something specific, check the profile and then discuss your individual dog before booking. Our guide to choosing a dog groomer covers what else to look for.