This is probably the most frequent question we get here at
ZPUP - how often should my dog be groomed?
The problem? There is no simple,
clear-cut answer.
Many factors play into how often you should bring your dog in
for grooming:
- What type of coat do they have?
- How well am I able to maintain it at home?
- Do I know how to brush my
dog's coat the CORRECT way?
- Do I wash my dog at home?
- Does my dog spend more time inside or out?
- How is my dog the most comfortable?
Dogs like labs, beagles, dobermans, and greyhounds have "easy" coats and you very well
may be able to take care of them yourself - either at home or in our self wash. They still require regular grooming and brushing, but are able to go longer periods of time between groomings.
We usually recommend 8-12 weeks, or until you just can't stand the doggie smell any longer.
Some breeds such as German shepherds, golden retrievers, huskies, and akitas don't need hair cuts, but have MUCH
thicker coats and require more grooming. If they are not properly brushed and groomed on a regular basis can hold
their undercoat causing their top coat not to lay correctly making them hot and uncomfortable and can also cause matting.
You'd be amazed to see how much hair we can pull out of similar breeds and how you can see it completely change the way their
coat looks. Just take a look at our Professional Grooming page to see! We recommend grooming every 6-12 weeks for these breeds.
Bichon
frises, poodles, cocker spaniels, shih tzus, and labradoodles fall into the "high maintenience" catagory.
These are breeds who have hair that needs to be cut on a regular basis and also can matt very easily. Proper brushing
at home is helpful and bathing is actually counteractive if not brushed properly beforehand. Based on the length of
the coat and how much you are able to care for it, we recommend grooming every 2-6 weeks.
Keep in mind that every dog and every case is different. What works for your shih tzu may not work for someone
elses and your German shepherd who plays in the lake may need a bath more often than your neighbors indoor greyhound..
Even within the same breed a dog's grooming needs can vary greatly.
Please
remember that everything on this page is an estimate and we assess each dog on a case by case basis.
