How Often Should You Go To The Groomers?

Taking your dog to the groomer should be a regular occurrence. Here at Happi Days, we are experts in dog grooming in Ipswich, and have lots of tips for you! Regular grooming prevents issues before they happen, rather than reacting to them as they happen. It’s not a simple one size fits all solution, as every dog is different with various hair lengths and textures to contend with. Below we’ll be looking mostly at treating different hair types, with example breeds for each. This should give you a rough idea for your own pooch.

Shorter Haired Dogs

When it comes to dogs with very short hair, there is less of a need to take them to the groomers for any cutting. They will, however, need semi-regular bathing and brushing due to seasonal shedding. With less of a coat to protect them, many dogs also suffer with grass allergies. This is why it’s best to also give regular baths to remove dander during spring/summer. During this time it’s best to wash them every 3-4 weeks, or when they show signs of discomfort and itching.

Examples of short haired dogs include: Staffies, Frenchies, Chihuahuas, Dalmatians, Greyhounds, Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Weimaraners, Boxers, Pugs, Great Danes, Whippets and short haired Dachshunds.

If they are a short haired dog with a double coat (an undercoat), they will need to be professionally groomed at least every 3 months with weekly brushes in between. This is to ensure they don’t matt their fur and trap in dirt, which irritates the skin. They’re also more prone to harbouring fleas, which hide deep in the fur.

Examples of short haired dogs with a double coat include: Shiba Inus, Kelpies, German Shepherds, Labradors, Beagles and Corgis.

Longer/Silky Haired Dogs

In terms of longer haired (also known as silky) breeds, more intervention is needed as their hair is single coated but grows continuously. This means that regular trims are a must to avoid matting. How often they should go depends on how long you want the hair to be. If you like it short, then you’ll only need to go every 2-3 months. If you like their hair long, then more regular trims every 4-6 weeks would be needed.

Examples of longer/silky hair breeds include: Afghan Hounds, Border Collies, most Spaniels, Setters, Golden Retrievers and most Terriers.

Thick & Curly Coated Dogs

Those with a thicker coat need to be seen more often, as they need more care and attention. It’s best to leave washing thicker coats to a professional, so you’d be looking at a visit every 6-8 weeks for this hair type, with at home brushes every other day in between visits.

Examples of thicker coated breeds include: huskies, malamutes, samoyeds, many collies, mountain dogs, leonbergers, Newfoundlands and Saint Bernards.

When it comes to curly haired breeds, they are extremely prone to matting. Any pup with hair longer than an inch should ideally be brushed every other day and daily if longer than this. They should be taken to a groomer every 4-6 weeks to ensure the length stays at an acceptable length and that the coat is fully detangled.

Examples of curly coated breeds include: Poodles, Bichon Frises, Bologneses, Pumis, Water Spaniels, Barbets and various types of Terrier.

If you would like to speak to an expert groomer regarding any of the above, do not hesitate to get in touch with our dog grooming salon in Ipswich. Give us a call or send us an email today, alternatively you can get in touch via Facebook.