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.
🐺 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.