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The Grooming Stylebook.

Grooming starts with the coat, not the breed. Find your dog's coat type below for how to care for it, how often, which tools help and whether it should ever be clipped - then the popular cuts and a plain-English tool list.

A quick note. This is a starting guide, not veterinary or professional advice. Matted hair close to the skin, skin problems and nervous dogs are jobs for a professional groomer or your vet. And the golden rule: a healthy double coat is never shaved.

Double coat Smooth / short coat Wire / broken coat Curly / wool coat Silky / long coat Corded & hairless

Double coat

A dense, insulating undercoat under a layer of longer guard hairs. It keeps a dog warm in winter and, surprisingly, cool in summer.

How to groom itBrush 2-3 times a week with an undercoat rake and slicker; daily during the twice-a-year 'coat blow' in spring and autumn. Bathe occasionally and dry thoroughly to the skin.

How oftenDeshed weekly; heavy sessions each shedding season

Clip or notDo not shave. A double coat protects against sun and heat and can grow back patchy or with a changed texture. Deshed, do not clip.

ToolsUndercoat rake · Slicker brush · Deshedding tool · High-velocity dryer

Breeds like this: Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Corgi, Bernese Mountain Dog

Smooth / short coat

A short, close single coat with little or no undercoat. The lowest-maintenance coat type, though many still shed steadily.

How to groom itA weekly once-over with a rubber curry brush or hound glove lifts loose hair and spreads skin oils. Bathe only as needed.

How oftenWeekly brush, bathe when dirty

Clip or notNo clipping needed. Focus on nails, ears and teeth instead.

ToolsRubber curry brush · Hound glove · Bristle brush

Breeds like this: Labrador Retriever, Beagle, Boxer, Dachshund, French Bulldog

Wire / broken coat

A harsh, bristly outer coat over a softer undercoat, classic for many terriers. The wiry texture is what keeps the coat weatherproof.

How to groom itTraditionally hand-stripped: dead hairs are gently pulled out by hand or with a stripping knife, which preserves the harsh texture and rich colour. Comb through weekly between sessions.

How oftenHand-strip every 4-8 weeks; comb weekly

Clip or notClipping is easier but softens the coat and dulls the colour over time. Fine for a pet; not for the show ring.

ToolsStripping knife · Metal comb · Slicker brush

Breeds like this: Miniature Schnauzer, Airedale Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Cairn Terrier

Curly / wool coat

Tight curls that grow continuously and shed very little, which is why they mat readily and need regular clipping.

How to groom itComb and brush right down to the skin every day or two to prevent mats, then a full clip on a schedule. This is the coat behind most of the cuts below.

How oftenClip every 4-8 weeks; brush to the skin daily

Clip or notClipping is essential - the coat never stops growing. Choose a cut that matches how often you can brush.

ToolsClippers · Slicker brush · Metal comb · Thinning shears

Breeds like this: Poodle, Bichon Frise, Portuguese Water Dog

Silky / long coat

Fine, flowing hair that can grow floor-length. Beautiful, but it tangles and mats without daily attention.

How to groom itComb through fully every day. Many owners keep a practical short 'puppy cut' rather than a long show coat, which is far easier to live with.

How oftenComb daily; trim every 4-6 weeks if kept short

Clip or notOptional. A long coat is high-effort; a short trim is a common, sensible choice.

ToolsMetal comb · Pin brush · Detangling spray · Scissors

Breeds like this: Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu, Maltese, Havanese

Corded & hairless

Two ends of the spectrum: coats that form natural rope-like cords, and dogs with little or no hair at all.

How to groom itCorded coats (Puli, Komondor) are separated into cords by hand, never brushed, and take a long time to dry. Hairless dogs need skin care instead of coat care: gentle washing, moisturiser and sunscreen on exposed skin.

How oftenCorded: separate cords regularly. Hairless: weekly skin care

Clip or notNeither is clipped in the usual sense. Both are specialist coats worth researching before you commit.

ToolsFingers (cords) · Gentle cleanser · Dog-safe sunscreen · Moisturiser

Breeds like this: Xoloitzcuintli

Popular cuts, explained

Puppy cut

Short and even all over the body, face and legs. The easiest cut to maintain and the go-to for curly and silky coats kept practical.

Teddy bear cut

A rounded, fluffy face with an even body length. The signature look for doodles and Bichons - cute, and gentler on brushing than a long coat.

Lamb cut

Short on the body with fuller, plush legs, so the dog looks a little like a lamb. A middle ground between practical and stylish.

Kennel / summer cut

Very short all over for easy upkeep and hot weather. Practical, though remember short is not the same as cool for double coats - those are never shaved.

Continental clip

The classic Poodle show clip with shaved hindquarters and pompoms on the legs and tail. Striking, but very high maintenance.

Top knot & feathering

Long ear and leg 'feathering' with the face hair tied up out of the eyes. Common for silky, long-eared breeds like the Yorkie and Maltese.

Grooming is one part of care, not all of it - nails, ears and teeth matter just as much. See how much upkeep a breed really needs on its own breed profile, put two breeds side by side with the comparison tool, or read up on looking after older dogs in senior pet care.

Grooming tools

Dog grooming clippers Quiet, cordless clippers make home trims calmer. Check price Slicker brush Works through curly and wavy coats before mats set in. Check price Grooming table A stable surface at working height. Check price Nail grinder Smooths nails a little at a time. Check price

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