Doodles, Doubles, and Everything Between: Grooming by Coat Type

One of the first questions I get from new clients is "how often should my dog be groomed?" The honest answer is that it depends almost entirely on the coat. A goldendoodle and a golden retriever can live in the same house, go on the same walks, and need grooming schedules that look nothing alike.

I am Sydney Schaefer, owner of Paws at Your Door, a mobile dog grooming service serving mid county St. Louis. Every dog that comes into my van gets a plan built around their coat, not a one size fits all haircut. Here is how I think about the main coat types, what each one needs, and the mistakes I see most often.

Curly and wavy coats

Poodles, goldendoodles, labradoodles, bernedoodles, bichons, and Portuguese water dogs. This is the most popular coat type in my service area right now, and the one that gets into trouble fastest.

Curly coats do not shed much, which is the appeal. The trade off is that the hair never stops growing and it mats close to the skin while the surface still looks fluffy. By the time an owner can see a mat, it is usually already tight. The spots that mat first are behind the ears, under the collar, in the armpits, and anywhere a harness rubs.

What these coats need: a full groom every four to six weeks, brushing to the skin at home with a slicker brush and a metal comb a few times a week, and an honest conversation about length. A shorter trim that stays comfortable beats a long fluffy cut that mats between visits.

Double coats

Golden retrievers, German shepherds, huskies, Australian shepherds, corgis, Bernese mountain dogs, and most of the northern and herding breeds.

A double coat has a soft insulating undercoat beneath a coarser outer layer. It sheds, sometimes dramatically, in spring and fall. The undercoat is the dog's temperature regulation system, which is why I do not shave double coated dogs down in summer. Shaving can damage how the coat grows back and actually leaves the dog hotter, not cooler.

What these coats need: de-shedding. A proper de-shed visit uses a bath, a high velocity dryer, and the right rakes and combs to pull out the loose undercoat so air can reach the skin. In a St. Louis summer, a de-shed every six to eight weeks does far more for comfort than a haircut would. Between visits, a rake or undercoat tool once a week keeps the fur off your furniture.

Silky and long coats

Yorkies, Maltese, shih tzus, Lhasa apsos, cocker spaniels, Afghan hounds, and setters.

These coats are fine, long, and tangle wherever there is friction. The ears, the legs, the belly, and the base of the tail are the usual trouble spots. Many of these breeds also have hair that grows over the eyes and around the mouth, which needs regular trimming for the dog's comfort and vision.

What these coats need: a groom every four to six weeks with face, sanitary, and paw trims, plus frequent gentle combing at home. A light detangling spray helps. For owners who do not want to maintain a long show coat, a shorter "puppy cut" keeps the breed look with a fraction of the upkeep.

Wire coats

Terriers, schnauzers, wirehaired pointers, and some doodle mixes that inherited the rougher texture.

Wire coats are meant to be hand stripped in the show world, but for pet dogs a clipper groom keeps them neat and comfortable. The coat softens over time with clipping, which most owners do not mind.

What these coats need: a groom every six to eight weeks, with attention to the beard, eyebrows, and leg furnishings that tend to collect food and mud.

Short and smooth coats

Labs, beagles, boxers, pit bulls, French bulldogs, dachshunds, and most hounds.

Short coats are the lowest maintenance, but "low maintenance" is not "no maintenance." These dogs still shed, still get dirty, and still need nails trimmed and ears checked. Short coated breeds are also the ones where skin issues are easiest to catch early, because there is nothing hiding them.

What these coats need: a bath and brush every six to eight weeks, a rubber curry brush at home to lift loose hair, and regular nail trims. Many short coated dogs come to me just for a bath, nails, and a de-shed treatment.

The two rules that apply to every coat

1. Brush before bathing, never after a mat has formed. Water tightens tangles. If a coat is already matted, the kind thing is to clip it out, not to try to brush through it.

2. Consistency beats heroics. A dog who sees a groomer every five weeks almost never needs a stressful de-matting session. A dog who comes in twice a year almost always does.

Grooming by coat type in Ladue, Clayton, Frontenac, and mid county St. Louis

Not sure what coat type your dog has, or how often they should be groomed? Tell me the breed or mix in the request form and I will give you an honest recommendation. Paws at Your Door brings the full groom to your driveway, and I keep my schedule small so every dog gets a plan that fits.

Sydney Schaefer Owner and Groomer, Paws at Your Door