Cockapoo
High matting risk- Coat
- Curly / wool coat
- Groom every
- Every 6 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom + regular brushing
Brush to the skin 3–4× a week — poodle-cross coats mat fast, especially behind the ears, armpits and legs.
Dog breed grooming guide
How often each breed needs grooming, their coat type and how likely they are to mat. Handy for planning a grooming schedule — and for sharing with owners who ask.
Cavapoo
High matting risk- Coat
- Curly / wavy coat
- Groom every
- Every 6 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom
Daily brushing keeps matting away; keep the coat around the eyes clean and trimmed.
Labradoodle
High matting risk- Coat
- Wavy / wool coat
- Groom every
- Every 6 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom
Coat type varies a lot — wavy and wool coats mat, so brush often and book regular grooms.
Goldendoodle
High matting risk- Coat
- Wavy / wool coat
- Groom every
- Every 6 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom
A high-maintenance coat: daily brushing plus a full groom every 6 weeks keeps it comfortable.
Poodle (Toy / Miniature)
High matting risk- Coat
- Curly / wool coat
- Groom every
- Every 4–6 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom
The curly coat mats easily — regular clipping and daily brushing are a must.
Bichon Frise
High matting risk- Coat
- Curly / wool coat
- Groom every
- Every 4–6 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom
Very prone to matting; brush daily and keep tear stains around the eyes clean.
Shih Tzu
High matting risk- Coat
- Long double coat
- Groom every
- Every 4–6 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom or puppy cut
The long coat mats quickly — many owners prefer an easy-care shorter pet trim.
Yorkshire Terrier
High matting risk- Coat
- Long silky coat
- Groom every
- Every 4–6 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom / pet trim
Fine silky hair tangles easily; a short pet cut is much lower maintenance than a full coat.
Maltese
High matting risk- Coat
- Long silky coat
- Groom every
- Every 4–6 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom
Prone to matting and tear staining — daily combing and regular face trims help.
Lhasa Apso
High matting risk- Coat
- Long double coat
- Groom every
- Every 6 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom / pet trim
The dense coat mats; a shorter pet trim is kinder if the dog isn't being shown.
Old English Sheepdog
High matting risk- Coat
- Long double coat
- Groom every
- Every 6–8 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom
Very high maintenance — matting forms behind the ears, under the legs and on the rear.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Medium matting risk- Coat
- Silky feathered coat
- Groom every
- Every 8 weeks
- Typical service
- Bath, tidy & feather trim
Comb the ears, chest and leg feathering, and keep the paw pads and sanitary areas tidy.
Cocker Spaniel
Medium matting risk- Coat
- Silky feathered coat
- Groom every
- Every 6–8 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom or hand strip
Keep ears clean and dry, and tidy the feathering; working cockers often suit a shorter clip.
Springer Spaniel
Medium matting risk- Coat
- Feathered coat
- Groom every
- Every 8 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom
Tidy the feathering and keep the ears clean to avoid infections.
Miniature Schnauzer
Medium matting risk- Coat
- Wiry coat
- Groom every
- Every 6–8 weeks
- Typical service
- Hand strip or clip (schnauzer trim)
The classic beard and leg furnishings need regular tidying and cleaning.
West Highland Terrier
Medium matting risk- Coat
- Wiry coat
- Groom every
- Every 8 weeks
- Typical service
- Hand strip or clip
Hand stripping keeps the harsh texture and bright white colour; clipping softens the coat over time.
Golden Retriever
Medium matting risk- Coat
- Long double coat
- Groom every
- Every 8 weeks
- Typical service
- Bath, de-shed & feather tidy
De-shed thoroughly and tidy the feathering — never shave a healthy double coat.
Border Collie
Medium matting risk- Coat
- Medium double coat
- Groom every
- Every 8 weeks
- Typical service
- Bath, de-shed & tidy
De-shed and tidy the feathering and hocks; expect heavier shedding in spring and autumn.
German Shepherd
Medium matting risk- Coat
- Thick double coat
- Groom every
- Every 8–12 weeks
- Typical service
- Bath & de-shed
Sheds heavily, especially seasonally — regular de-shedding helps, but never shave the coat.
Samoyed
Medium matting risk- Coat
- Thick double coat
- Groom every
- Every 8 weeks
- Typical service
- Bath, de-shed & line brush
Line-brush the dense coat to the skin; the coat is self-cleaning but needs real maintenance.
Shetland Sheepdog
Medium matting risk- Coat
- Long double coat
- Groom every
- Every 8 weeks
- Typical service
- Bath, de-shed & tidy
De-shed and tidy the coat; never shave — the double coat protects against heat and cold.
Bearded Collie
Medium matting risk- Coat
- Long double coat
- Groom every
- Every 6–8 weeks
- Typical service
- Full groom
Regular full grooms keep the long shaggy coat from matting.
Border Terrier
Low matting risk- Coat
- Wiry coat
- Groom every
- Every 8–12 weeks
- Typical service
- Hand strip
Hand strip a couple of times a year; needs very little clipping in between.
Labrador Retriever
Low matting risk- Coat
- Short double coat
- Groom every
- Every 8–12 weeks
- Typical service
- Bath & de-shed
Low grooming needs, but they shed heavily twice a year — a de-shed treatment makes a big difference.
Pug
Low matting risk- Coat
- Short double coat
- Groom every
- Every 8–12 weeks
- Typical service
- Bath, de-shed & wrinkle clean
Clean the facial folds regularly and de-shed — pugs shed far more than their size suggests.
French Bulldog
Low matting risk- Coat
- Short smooth coat
- Groom every
- Every 8–12 weeks
- Typical service
- Bath, wrinkle clean & nails
Keep the skin folds clean and dry; grooming needs are minimal beyond that.
Miniature Dachshund
Low matting risk- Coat
- Short smooth coat
- Groom every
- Every 8–12 weeks
- Typical service
- Bath & tidy
Smooth coats are very low-maintenance; long-haired and wire-haired types need more attention.
Chihuahua
Low matting risk- Coat
- Short (or long) coat
- Groom every
- Every 8–12 weeks
- Typical service
- Bath & nails
Minimal coat care — focus on keeping nails short and, for long coats, combing the feathering.
How often should a dog be groomed?
As a rule of thumb, curly and wool coats (like poodles, cockapoos and bichons) need a full groom every 4–6 weeks and daily brushing at home. Silky and long double coats usually suit every 6–8 weeks, while short, smooth coats are happy with a bath and tidy every 8–12 weeks plus de-shedding when they blow their coat.
Matting is the big one. A matted coat is uncomfortable — even painful — for the dog and takes far longer to work through, which is why most groomers charge more for it. Regular grooming on a set cycle is kinder and cheaper for owners in the long run.
For groomers: Furbase remembers each dog's grooming interval and flags the ones due for their next visit, so you can rebook the regulars before they drift. Try it free for 14 days.
This guide is general advice. Every dog is an individual — coat type, lifestyle and health all affect how often they need grooming.
Keep every dog on the right schedule
Furbase tracks grooming intervals and nudges you when a regular is due — so your diary stays full.
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