How Often Should You Groom Your Dog, and Is a Professional Groomer Worth It?
Key takeaways:
No matter the breed, canine companions need to be groomed on a regular basis. This might mean grooming anywhere from once a day to at least once a week.
Regular grooming can prevent serious health issues, such as tick-borne diseases, that can be painful for your pup and costly to treat.
For your pet’s safety, you should use grooming supplies designed specifically for dogs, like bristled brushes and dog shampoos.
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Your pup needs regular grooming to look and feel their best, just like you. But what does grooming entail, and how often should you do it? That depends on your dog’s breed and fur type. For example, some dogs only need brushing once a week, while others need it daily.
Learn more about how often to groom your dog, how to brush and comb their fur at home, and when to hire a professional groomer.
How often should you groom your dog?
Your dog needs to be brushed and/or combed on a regular basis, ranging from once a day to at least once a week. Most dogs should get washed about once a month to keep their coats clean and free of harmful bacteria.
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Below, we look at different breeds, fur types, and how often dogs in these groups need to be groomed.
Short-haired dogs
Many short-haired breeds, like bull terriers and dachshunds, need a good brushing about once a week to remove dirt and debris from their coats. They don’t need to be bathed as often as medium- or long-coat dogs. However, their coats require healthy oils to maintain good health.
“Lack of oils for these breeds is one cause of skin irritation and itching,” said Kim Kier, a master pet aesthetician and owner of Little Barks Grooming & Boutique.
Kier recommends using a boar brush to apply a light oil like jojoba once a week. Short-haired breeds that would benefit from this include:
Daschunds
French bulldogs
Chihuahuas
Boston terriers
Wiry-haired dogs
Pups with wiry coats should be brushed at least once a week to spread the natural oils found in their coats. They need bathing every 6 to 8 weeks.
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These breeds include:
Airedales
Cairn terriers
Wire fox terriers
Schnauzers
Long-haired dogs with silky or wavy/curly fur
Breeds with long hair need daily grooming with a rubber-bristled brush or wire slicker brush. To prevent matting and remove debris, also run a steel comb through their fur on a regular basis. Kier recommends professional grooming for long coats every 3 to 4 weeks.
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These breeds include:
Poodles
Afghan hounds
Lhasa apsos
Dogs with medium-to-long hair should get a bath anywhere from once a week to every 4 to 6 weeks. Kier recommends a professional groom every 4 to 6 weeks for dogs such as:
Collies
Malteses
Havaneses
Dogs with thick undercoats
Double-coated dogs should be brushed between once a day to once a week to reduce shedding. Use a rubber-bristled brush followed by an undercoat rake to penetrate their short, fuzzy undercoats. Examples of double-coated breeds include:
Corgis
Chow chows
Pomeranians
Terriers
In addition to weekly brushing, many terrier breeds require regular hand stripping. This process pulls out dead hairs from their old coats when the fur gets overgrown. Often, this is best done by a professional groomer. The following terrier breeds may need regular hand stripping:
Scottish terriers
Jack Russell terriers
Irish terriers
Schnauzers
Wire fox terriers
Other considerations for your dog’s grooming schedule
In addition to the guidelines above, consider the following factors as you create your dog’s grooming schedule.
Human allergies
People with skin or seasonal allergies should groom their dog regularly, based on the breed’s hair type. Depending on the severity of your allergies, you may want to groom them more often. Also, using a hypoallergenic shampoo on your dog may help reduce allergens in your home.
Environment
Dogs who spend a lot of time outdoors probably need to be brushed and bathed more often than the regular schedule for their breed.
“An outdoor dog will come into contact with more dirt, allergens, and debris. So grooming more often is recommended,” said Kier. “But activity and coat type have a bigger impact than environment when it comes to grooming schedules for our pets.”
Activity level
Active dogs tend to need more grooming than pups who lie around the house. If your dog spends time playing in a dog park, digging up dirt, or doing zoomies in the backyard, they probably collect more debris on their fur. Give them a good brushing after an outing and bathe them as needed.
Why is a healthy coat important?
Maintaining a healthy coat is an important part of ensuring your animal’s overall health and well-being. Without regular grooming, your pet could develop health conditions such as:
Skin irritation
Skin infections
Eye infections
Anal soiling and obstruction
Constipation and impaction
Urine rashes
Parasites
How do you know if your dog needs grooming?
It's important to check your pup’s coat regularly and look for things that require grooming. Signs that your pet’s coat needs attention include:
Fleas or ticks
Poop buildup
Dirt clumps
Skin irritation
Bad smell
Is a professional dog groomer worth the cost?
For many dogs, at least an occasional visit to a professional groomer can be worth the cost. You may be able to get away with doing most of your dog grooming at home. But taking your dog to a professional a few times a year gives someone else a chance to spot issues that you might miss.
Professional groomers offer a wide range of services, from bathing and brushing to nail clipping and anal gland expression. They also have the right tools for each coat type and use gentle, nonirritating dog shampoos. And they have plenty of experience safely grooming squirmy or bathing-averse pups.
How much does a standard dog grooming cost?
Grooming costs depend on the size and breed of your dog and the services you want. Pricing for a bath and brush out can range from $40 to $75. Additional services — such as nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland expression — can run an extra $10 (or more) for each service.
You may also be able to hire a mobile dog groomer to come to you. Fees typically start at $75 for an average-sized dog.
Tips to groom your dog at home
There are several things you can do to maintain your dog’s coat at home. Below are some basic grooming tips:
Get the right tools based on your dog’s fur type and size.
Rub your fingers through your pup’s fur daily to detect things like ticks, fleas, mites, and lice.
Listen for your dog’s toenails. When you can hear them clicking on the floor, it’s time for a trim.
Wipe your pooch’s ears with a damp cloth or cotton ball on a regular basis. If you notice redness, waxy discharge, odor, or pawing at their ears, they may have an ear infection.
Wipe away outer-eye discharge with a damp cloth when it appears.
Check your pup’s paw pads for dryness, cracks, or injury on a regular basis.
Don’t try to express your dog’s anal glands yourself. See your vet or a professional groomer if you notice your dog scooting their butt across the floor.
Don’t use a fragrance or perfume on your dog. It could irritate their skin.
Dog grooming supplies
To maintain your dog’s furry coat at home, it’s a good idea to keep some basic supplies on hand, including:
Rubber-bristled brush
Steel comb
Deshedding tool
Nail clippers or Dremel grinder
Styptic pencil for accidental bleeding during nail clipping
Doggie toothbrush and toothpaste
Dog shampoo
Microfiber towel for drying
Frequently asked questions
All dog breeds need to be groomed. But short-haired dogs do not need bathing or brushing as often as dogs with medium or long coats.
Short-haired dogs may benefit from weekly application of oils (like jojoba) to maintain a healthy coat. But a healthy dog should produce enough oils naturally for its coat. So always consult with a veterinarian prior to applying oils at home.
No, too much grooming is not bad for dogs if it’s needed. But bathing too frequently can be unhealthy for a dog’s skin, and shampoos can dry the coat and skin.
Never use Febreeze or other air fresheners on a dog. Febreeze can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, and digestive upset if they ingest it by licking their coat after being sprayed.
The bottom line
All dogs need regular grooming to keep their coats healthy. Long-haired breeds like Shih Tzus and poodles require daily brushing, while short-haired breeds like dachshunds can get away with brushing once a week. Just make sure you get the right tools for your dog’s grooming needs.
If your dog’s fur gets matted or starts to smell, or you notice poop buildup under their tails, you may want to take them to a professional groomer. Groomers have the right tools and gentle shampoos to get your pup squeaky clean.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (2016). Hair comes trouble: Why pets need regular grooming.
Animal Trust. (n.d.). How often should you groom your dog?
Elliot, R. (2022). How often should you groom your dog? Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Grupa, T. (2023). How much does dog grooming cost? HomeGuide.
McDonald, S. E., et al. (2022). Grooming-related concerns among companion animals: Preliminary data on an overlooked topic and considerations for animals' access to health-related services. Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
Standard Schnauzers Victoria. (n.d.). Advanced grooming – hand stripping.
The Humane Society of the United States. (n.d.). How to groom your dog at home.
