What tools, techniques and frequency actually suit double, curly, silky, short and corded coats, and what to leave to a professional groomer.
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Grooming needs vary enormously by coat type, and using the wrong routine, or the wrong tool, is one of the most common ways owners inadvertently cause matting, skin problems, or an expensive trip to a professional groomer to fix a coat that's gone beyond home repair. This guide breaks grooming down by coat category so you can build a routine that actually suits your dog, rather than following generic advice that assumes every dog is the same.
Double-coated breeds have a soft, insulating undercoat beneath a coarser topcoat, and the main job at home is undercoat management, particularly during the two big seasonal blowouts in spring and autumn.
Curly and wavy coats do not shed in the way straight coats do, which is why they're popular for allergy-sensitive households, but the trade-off is that loose hair gets trapped in the curl rather than falling out, making matting a constant risk if brushing lapses.
Our [Cockapoo breed profile](/breed/cockapoo) covers grooming demands in more depth if you're considering one of these increasingly popular crossbreeds.
Long, silky coats look glamorous but tangle readily, especially around the ears, legs and tail feathering.
Short, smooth coats are the lowest maintenance category but still shed, sometimes surprisingly heavily.
Corded coats are a specialist case, formed of deliberately matted sections maintained as dreadlock-like cords rather than brushed.
Overgrown nails affect gait and can eventually cause joint pain, so check monthly and clip little and often rather than taking off large amounts infrequently, which risks cutting the quick. If you can hear nails clicking on hard flooring, they're due a trim. Ears should be checked weekly for redness, odour or excessive wax, particularly in floppy-eared breeds where airflow is reduced; a vet-approved ear cleaner used occasionally is usually enough for most dogs, and anything beyond routine cleaning should go to your vet rather than being tackled at home.
Most dogs need bathing far less often than owners assume, typically every six to twelve weeks depending on coat type and lifestyle, since over-bathing strips protective natural oils and can worsen skin conditions. Muddy walks don't necessarily need a full bath; often a rinse of paws and belly and a good brush-out once dry is sufficient.
Costs vary by region and dog size, but as a rough guide, a bath and brush for a small dog often runs from around £25–£35, a full groom for a medium dog from roughly £35–£55, and larger or heavily coated breeds needing a full clip, such as Poodles or Old English Sheepdogs, can run £50–£80 or more, particularly in London and the South East. Regular six-to-eight-weekly appointments for high-maintenance coats add up, so factor this into ongoing costs when choosing a breed; our [breed directory](/all-dog-breeds) flags grooming demands for each breed, and it's worth weighing this alongside food and vet costs covered in our guide to [choosing pet insurance](/blog/best-pet-insurance-uk).
Match your brushing frequency to your coat type honestly, rather than the frequency you'd prefer to commit to; a curly coat brushed twice a week rather than daily will mat, however good your intentions. If you're choosing a new dog and grooming time is a genuine constraint, our [breed quiz](/quiz) factors in coat maintenance alongside exercise and temperament, which can save both money and frustration down the line.
Coat maintenance needs shift through the year, and building seasonal adjustments into your routine prevents avoidable problems. In spring and autumn, double-coated breeds shed their undercoat heavily over a period of several weeks, and daily raking during this window, rather than your usual weekly schedule, makes a noticeable difference to both matting and the amount of hair around your home. In winter, road salt and grit make paw checks and rinses after every walk far more important than in summer, and damp coats left to dry naturally in a cold house can lead to a musty smell or skin irritation, so a thorough towel-dry, and a blow-dry on a cool setting for thicker coats, is worth the extra few minutes. Summer brings its own considerations: matted fur traps heat and moisture against the skin, so keeping on top of brushing during warmer months isn't just cosmetic, it genuinely affects your dog's comfort and skin health.
However low-maintenance your puppy's adult coat will eventually be, the early weeks and months are the ideal time to build positive associations with being handled, brushed, having paws touched and ears checked. Short, calm, reward-based sessions, even just a minute or two at first, teach a puppy that grooming is a normal, non-threatening part of life rather than something to resist. This pays off enormously later, particularly for breeds needing regular professional clips, since a dog who tolerates handling calmly makes every future grooming appointment faster, cheaper and considerably less stressful for everyone involved.
Most dogs only need a full bath every six to twelve weeks depending on coat type and lifestyle, since frequent washing strips natural oils and can lead to dry, irritated skin. Muddy walks are usually better handled with a targeted rinse of paws and belly followed by brushing once dry, rather than a full bath every time.
Generally yes, because the double coat actually helps regulate temperature in both heat and cold and provides UV protection, so shaving it removes a natural cooling and protective mechanism rather than helping. Focus on undercoat removal with a proper rake instead, and only shave for a specific medical reason recommended by your vet.
Small mats can often be worked out gently with fingers and a metal comb from the outer edges inward, using a detangling spray to reduce pulling, but never attempt to cut a mat out close to the skin yourself since skin can fold up tightly underneath and is easy to nick. Larger or tight mats close to the skin are safest left to a professional groomer with clippers designed for the job.
As a rough 2026 guide, a bath and brush for a small dog typically costs around £25 to £35, a full groom for a medium dog around £35 to £55, and larger or heavily coated breeds needing a full clip can cost £50 to £80 or more, with prices generally higher in London and the South East. Regular high-maintenance coats needing appointments every six to eight weeks should be budgeted into ongoing dog costs.
Check monthly as a minimum, and clip whenever you can hear nails clicking on hard flooring, taking off small amounts regularly rather than large amounts infrequently to avoid cutting into the quick. Dogs who walk a lot on pavement may naturally wear nails down more and need less frequent clipping than dogs mostly walked on soft ground.
No, human shampoo has a different pH to canine skin and can cause dryness, irritation or worsen existing skin conditions, so always use a shampoo formulated specifically for dogs. If your dog has a known skin condition, ask your vet to recommend a suitable medicated or hypoallergenic shampoo rather than choosing one generically.