From doodles every 4–6 weeks to short coats every few months: how often each coat type needs a professional groom, and what to do at home in between.
It's about coat, not size
A tiny Shih Tzu can need grooming far more often than a big Labrador. What matters is the coat: whether it keeps growing, whether it sheds, and how easily it knots.
Here's a rough guide to how often each coat type needs a professional groom. Your dog's lifestyle matters too: a dog who swims in the Nidd every weekend needs more care than a sofa dog.
- Curly and doodle coats (cockapoos, cavapoos, poodles): every 4–6 weeks.
- Long, flowing coats (Shih Tzus, Yorkies, Lhasa Apsos): every 4–6 weeks.
- Silky, feathered coats (spaniels, setters, Cavaliers): every 6–8 weeks.
- Double coats (Labradors, retrievers, collies, huskies): every 6–8 weeks, ideally with a deshed.
- Wiry coats (border terriers, schnauzers, Westies): hand stripped every 8–12 weeks.
- Short, smooth coats (Staffies, Frenchies, whippets): a bath & tidy every 8–12 weeks.
Why double coats shouldn't be shaved
Double-coated breeds have a soft undercoat beneath tougher guard hairs. Together they insulate against heat and cold and protect the skin from the sun. Shaving can damage how the coat grows back.
Instead, a deshedding treatment lifts out the loose undercoat. It keeps them cooler in summer and keeps tumbleweeds of fur off your floors.
Hand stripping vs clipping
Wiry coats are designed to be shed by pulling out the old, dead hair. Hand stripping copies that: the coat stays crisp, weatherproof and the right colour. Clipping cuts the hair instead, so over time the coat can turn soft, fluffy and faded.
Stripping takes longer, which is why it costs a little more, but most dogs find it surprisingly relaxing.
What to do at home between grooms
A few minutes a week makes every groom faster, kinder and cheaper.
- Brush down to the skin, especially behind the ears, under the collar and harness, and in the armpits.
- Use a metal comb after brushing: if it snags, there's a knot hiding.
- Check paws for burrs and grass seeds after walks, especially in late summer.
- Get them used to having their feet, ears and face handled with lots of treats.
This guide is general information as of October 2026. Every dog is different, so check with your own vet about vaccinations and health.
