How Often Should You Groom Your Dog? A Breed-by-Breed Guide

By Alison Clark, Doggie-Styles | Award-Winning Dog Grooming Salon in Poole, Dorset

One of the questions I get asked most often — by new clients, by people who've just got a puppy, and honestly by people who've had dogs their whole lives — is: "How often does my dog actually need grooming?"

The honest answer? It depends on your dog. Breed, coat type, lifestyle, and how much brushing you do at home all play a role. But don't worry — that's exactly what this guide is for. I've broken it down breed by breed so you can stop guessing and start knowing.

Because here's the thing: regular grooming isn't just about your dog looking gorgeous (though that's definitely a bonus 😄). It's about their health. Matted coats can cause real discomfort and hide skin problems. Overgrown nails affect how a dog walks. And a coat that's never properly cleaned can become a haven for parasites. Grooming is as much a health routine as it is a pamper session.

Right — let's get into it.

Dogs Who Need Professional Grooming Every 4–6 Weeks

These breeds have coats that grow continuously, like human hair. They don't shed naturally, which sounds great (and your sofa will thank you), but it means their coat needs regular attention or it will mat and become uncomfortable.

Cockapoos, Cavapoos, Labradoodles and other Doodles

Oh, the Doodle coat. Beautiful, curly, and — if I'm honest — one of the most high-maintenance coats out there. Doodle coats mat fast, especially behind the ears, under the armpits, and around the collar. If you're not brushing daily at home and booking in every 4–6 weeks, you're heading towards a very uncomfortable dog. I see so many Doodles come in completely matted, and it genuinely breaks my heart — because it's easily avoided with the right routine.

Bichon Frise

Soft, fluffy, and utterly adorable — but they need regular clipping and scissoring to keep their coat tangle-free. Every 4–6 weeks is ideal.

Shih Tzu

Another gorgeous but high-maintenance breed. Their long, flowing coat will mat without regular grooming, and those long fringes need trimming to stop them irritating the eyes. Every 4–6 weeks keeps them comfortable and looking their best.

Poodles (Toy, Miniature and Standard)

Poodles have one of the most recognisable coats in the dog world — but those curls need clipping regularly. Every 4–6 weeks, without fail.

Maltese

Silky, long coats that look stunning when maintained properly. They need professional grooming every 4–6 weeks and daily brushing at home in between.

Dogs Who Need Professional Grooming Every 6–8 Weeks

These breeds still need regular grooming appointments, but their coat grows a little more slowly or is slightly more forgiving.

Cocker Spaniels

One of my personal favourites to groom! Cocker Spaniels have beautiful silky coats with gorgeous feathering on their legs and ears — but those ears in particular are mat magnets. Every 6–8 weeks for a professional groom, with regular brushing at home, keeps them looking and feeling wonderful.

Yorkshire Terriers

Yorkies have fine, silky hair that grows continuously. Without regular trims they'll be trailing their coat along the ground! Every 6–8 weeks is spot on.

Lhasa Apso

Long, dense coats that need consistent maintenance. Book in every 6–8 weeks and brush regularly at home.

West Highland Terriers (Westies)

Westies have a double coat — a soft undercoat and a wiry top coat. Hand stripping is actually the correct technique for maintaining a Westie's coat properly (more on that below!), but many owners opt for clipping instead. Either way, every 6–8 weeks works well.

Miniature Schnauzers

Those distinctive beards and eyebrows need regular tidying! Schnauzers suit a clip every 6–8 weeks to keep their smart, characteristic look.

Dogs Who Need Professional Grooming Every 8–12 Weeks

These breeds tend to have more manageable coats that don't grow as fast, or are double-coated shedding breeds that benefit from professional de-shedding treatments rather than clipping.

Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers

Labs and Goldens shed — a lot! They don't need clipping, but a professional bath, blow-dry and brush-out every 8–12 weeks makes a huge difference to the amount of hair on your furniture. A de-shed treatment in between really helps too.

Border Collies

Beautiful, active dogs with a thick double coat. A professional groom every 8–12 weeks, including a thorough de-shed, keeps their coat healthy and manageable.

German Shepherds

Another big shedder! German Shepherds benefit from professional de-shedding treatments every 8–12 weeks, particularly during moulting season when they seem to shed approximately one dog's worth of fur per day (I say this with love 😂).

Beagles, Pugs and Smooth-Coated Breeds

Short-coated breeds like Beagles and Pugs don't need traditional clipping, but they do benefit from a professional bath, brush and nail trim every 8–12 weeks. Their nails in particular can grow quickly.

Breeds That Need Hand Stripping

This is something I feel really strongly about, because hand stripping is a dying art — and for certain breeds, it makes a huge difference to their coat health.

Hand stripping is the process of removing dead coat by pulling it out by hand (don't worry — when done correctly it's completely comfortable for the dog!). It allows the new, correct coat to grow through properly, maintaining the breed's natural texture and colour.

Breeds that should ideally be hand stripped include:

• Wire Fox Terriers
• Border Terriers
• West Highland Terriers (Westies)
• Airedale Terriers
• Irish Terriers
• Spinone Italiano
• Wirehaired Pointers

Many groomers don't offer hand stripping because it's a time-consuming, skilled technique. At Doggie-Styles, it's something I'm very proud to offer. If you have a terrier or working breed and you've been having them clipped, it might be worth having a conversation about whether hand stripping could be right for them.

What About Puppy Grooming?

If you've just brought home a new puppy — congratulations! 🐾 The most important thing I can tell you is: start early.

Getting your puppy used to being groomed from a young age makes everything easier. Their first appointment should be around 12–16 weeks (after their vaccinations), and it should be a gentle, positive experience — not a full groom, just getting them comfortable with the sounds, smells, and sensations of the salon.

At Doggie-Styles we offer a Puppy Package specifically for this reason. We want every dog to actually enjoy their grooming appointments, and that starts with getting them off on the right paw. 🐾

The Importance of Brushing at Home

Whatever breed you have, home brushing is the secret weapon that keeps their coat in great condition between appointments — and significantly reduces the risk of matting.

Here's a quick guide:

• Curly/wavy coated breeds (Doodles, Poodles, Spaniels): brush daily or every other day
• Long silky coats (Shih Tzu, Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier): brush daily
• Double-coated breeds (Goldens, Border Collies, German Shepherds): brush 2–3 times a week, more during shedding season
• Short-coated breeds (Beagles, Pugs, Labradors): a weekly brush is usually enough

If you're not sure which brush to use for your dog's coat type, just ask us — we're always happy to recommend the right tools. We also stock a range of grooming supplies in our online shop at www.doggie-styles.co.uk if you want to kit yourself out at home.

A Note on Matting

If your dog's coat has become matted, please don't panic — and please don't try to cut the mats out yourself (we see some creative attempts, and we understand the temptation, but it rarely ends well!).

Bring them to us and we'll assess the coat honestly. Sometimes mats can be worked through with the right tools and patience. When mats are tight against the skin, the kindest thing is to clip them out — which we can do safely and gently. We'll always talk you through what we're going to do before we start.

We do have a Matted Coat Policy on our website which explains our approach — it's worth a read if you're concerned.

Book Your Dog's Appointment in Poole, Dorset

Whether you're overdue for a groom or just want to get your new puppy started on the right paw, we'd love to welcome you (and your four-legged friend) to Doggie-Styles.

We're based at Unit 7, 35 Willis Way, Poole, Dorset, BH15 3SZ, and we serve clients from across Poole, Broadstone, and the surrounding areas of Dorset.

📞 Call us: 07791 386314 🌐 Book online: www.doggie-styles.co.uk/pages/contact

We can't wait to meet your dog! 🐾

Doggie-Styles is an award-winning dog and cat grooming salon in Poole, Dorset. We hold multiple Best Dog Grooming Salon — Dorset awards and are fully qualified to City & Guilds Level 3 standard.