Bathing and Haircuts
As we said, dogs are unique and their coats can vary even within breeds. Here are the most common types of coats. These will give you the basics of what your dog needs for bathing and haircuts.
It may seem obvious but short-haired dogs have fewer grooming needs that long-haired dogs. Short-haired dogs do not need to have their hair cut. The only exception may be if there is a medical need such as a surgical procedure.
Short-haired dogs only need occasional baths but should still be brushed regularly. Dogs with oilier skin types should get a bath in a tub about every 4 to 6 weeks, otherwise they can go about every 6 to 12 weeks between baths.
Regular brushing will remove debris, distribute oils and keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy.While your short-haired dogs are shedding, run a rubber brush or curry-type brush over their coat.
Example breeds: Boxer, Dachshund, Dalmatian, Great Dane, Greyhound, Miniature Pinscher, Weimaraner
Short-haired dogs with a double coat typically shed seasonally. Grooming them about 4 times per year will help pull out the dead undercoat and will allow your dog’s skin to breathe without losing the function of insulation. This will also leave your floors a bit less hairy.
Example breeds: Beagles, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd
How Much Grooming Does My Dog Need?
The answer, as you have probably already guessed, is far from simple! In a nutshell, you can’t give your dog a brush often enough! As long as your dog is happy to sit and be brushed, and you aren’t too forceful, a daily brush will be more than sufficient for most dogs. If you are limited for time, once a week is usually okay even for longer-haired breeds. Shorter-haired breeds may not even need a traditional brush, but special gloves to help remove loose hair are great instead. If you like professional grooming, a proper groom every 1-3 months is plenty for most dogs, provided you regularly give them a quick brush at home.
Popular Breeds With Short Hair & Double Coats
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Grooming is a task that every pet parent knows is important. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of confusion out there about what needs to be done, how often, and how much is too much. Grooming needs vary depending on the breed, fur length, and whether the pup is a pet or a show dog.
Then there’s the question of whether to do the grooming yourself or take your pooch to a professional groomer. The answers to these questions overlap and can make the confusion even worse. So we checked with veterinarians and other sources to try to sort through it all. Read on for some answers that may help.