Dog coat types

“How often should I groom my dog?” is almost always a coat-type question. The same advice does not apply to a short-coated dog, a double-coated retriever, and a curly doodle.

Short coats (many labradors, beagles, staffordshire types) shed, but they rarely mat. A rubber brush, a wipe, and nail and ear checks are usually the home routine. Double coats (many retrievers, German shepherds, spitz-type dogs, some terriers) have a soft undercoat that releases in clouds in spring and autumn. That undercoat is also insulation, which is why shaving it off is a poor way to “cool them down” in summer. See summer blowouts.

Curly and fleece coats (poodles and many poodle crosses) grow continuously and will felt if they are not combed through to the skin. Drop coats (shih tzus, some spaniels) tangle where they rub. Wiry terrier coats are different again and may be hand-stripped by a specialist — whether we can help with a particular coat is a question to ask when you call, not something we will guess at here.

If you are not sure what you have, look at the hair closest to the skin as well as the surface, and think about how quickly it seems to grow. Our breed pages describe common patterns, always with the caveat that individual dogs vary. Then bring your dog to our Banbury salon if you would like us to assess the coat in person.