Breed-Specific Dog Grooming FAQs | Spitz Groom

Breed Specific Dog Grooming FAQs

Every coat has its own personality.

A Samoyed doesn’t need to be groomed like a Poodle, a Cavoodle doesn’t necessarily have the same coat as another Cavoodle, and a Dachshund has very different grooming requirements again.

At Spitz Groom, we groom a range of breeds and coat types, including double-coated Spitz breeds, Poodles and Poodle crosses, Retrievers, Corgis and other long- and short-coated dogs.

These breed-specific FAQs explain some of the grooming considerations for the breeds we commonly work with. Your dog’s individual coat, condition, lifestyle and grooming history will always influence the right grooming approach.

 

German & Japanese Spitz

How often should a German or Japanese Spitz be groomed? 

German and Japanese Spitz generally benefit from professional grooming every 4–6 weeks.

Their dense double coats need regular bathing, drying and coat maintenance to remove loose undercoat, keep the skin healthy and prevent tangling and matting. Regular brushing at home is also important, particularly during seasonal shedding.

Can a German or Japanese Spitz be clipped?

German and Japanese Spitz are double-coated breeds and should not routinely be clipped short or shaved.

Their double coat provides insulation and protection from the environment. Professional grooming should focus on maintaining the coat, removing loose undercoat and keeping the dog comfortable rather than removing the protective outer coat. 

Samoyeds

How often should a Samoyed be groomed? 

Samoyeds generally benefit from professional grooming approximately every 6–8 weeks, with additional grooming often helpful during seasonal coat changes.

Their dense double coat can hold a significant amount of loose undercoat, making thorough bathing, drying and coat-out particularly important.

Regular brushing between professional appointments is essential.

Can a Samoyed be shaved? 

Samoyeds should not routinely be shaved or clipped short.

Their double coat provides natural insulation and protection. Shaving does not make a healthy Samoyed’s coat inherently better suited to warm weather and can alter the way the coat grows back.

There are circumstances, such as severe matting or veterinary treatment, where removing the coat may be necessary for welfare reasons.

Keeshonds

How often should a Keeshond be groomed? 

Keeshonds generally benefit from professional grooming every 4–6 weeks.

Their thick double coat requires regular maintenance to remove loose undercoat and keep the coat clean, healthy and manageable.

Particular attention should be given to areas such as behind the ears, around the neck and under the legs, where tangling can occur.

Can a Keeshond be clipped short? 

Keeshonds are a double-coated breed and should not routinely be shaved or clipped short.

Their coat performs an important protective and insulating function. Grooming should focus on maintaining the natural coat rather than removing it.

 

Pomeranians

How often should a Pomeranian be groomed?

Pomeranians generally benefit from professional grooming every 4–6 weeks.

Their dense double coat requires regular maintenance to remove loose undercoat and prevent tangling, particularly around the ears, legs and areas affected by collars or harnesses.

Regular brushing at home is also important.

Can a Pomeranian be shaved? 

Pomeranians should not routinely be shaved.

Their coat is a double coat and provides natural insulation and protection. If the coat is severely matted, however, removing the affected coat may be necessary to protect the dog’s comfort and welfare.

Huskies

How often should a Husky be groomed? 

Huskies generally benefit from professional grooming every 6–8 weeks, with more frequent grooming often useful during heavy seasonal shedding.

A thorough bath and blow-dry can help loosen and remove substantial amounts of dead undercoat, while regular brushing at home helps manage shedding between appointments.

Can a Husky be clipped or shaved? 

Huskies should not routinely be clipped or shaved.

Their dense double coat provides insulation and protection from the environment. Grooming should focus on removing loose undercoat and maintaining the natural coat.

Poodles

How often should a Poodle be groomed?

Most Poodles benefit from professional grooming approximately every 4–6 weeks.

Poodle coats continue growing and can mat quickly if they aren’t maintained. The longer the coat is kept, the more important regular brushing at home becomes.

Why does my Poodle need regular grooming?

Poodle coats don’t shed in the same way as many double-coated breeds. Loose hair tends to remain within the coat, which means it needs to be regularly removed through brushing and professional grooming.

Without consistent maintenance, a Poodle’s coat can become tightly matted.

Cavoodles

How often should a Cavoodle be groomed?

Cavoodles generally benefit from professional grooming every 4–6 weeks.

Their coats can vary significantly from dog to dog, ranging from relatively straight or wavy coats through to dense, curly coats. Many Cavoodles are prone to matting, particularly around the ears, legs, armpits and under the harness.

Regular brushing at home is essential.

Why does my Cavoodle’s coat mat so easily? 

Cavoodle coats can combine characteristics from both Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel coats, producing a soft coat that can tangle and felt relatively easily.

The longer and curlier the coat, the more maintenance it generally requires.

Groodles

How often should a Groodle be groomed?

Most Groodles benefit from professional grooming approximately every 4–6 weeks.

Groodle coats can vary enormously. A dense, curly coat may require significantly more maintenance than a looser, wavier coat.

If you want to keep a Groodle’s coat long, regular brushing at home is essential.

Are Groodles difficult to maintain between grooming appointments?

They can be.

The combination of a longer coat and Poodle-type texture can make Groodles particularly susceptible to matting. Brushing needs to reach through the entire coat to the skin rather than simply smoothing the surface.

Your groomer can demonstrate the appropriate brushing technique and tools for your dog’s individual coat.

 

Schnoodles

How often should a Schnoodle be groomed?

Schnoodles generally benefit from professional grooming every 4–6 weeks.

Their coats can range from wavy to curly and dense, so grooming requirements vary considerably between individual dogs.

Regular brushing at home helps prevent matting and keeps the coat manageable between professional appointments.

Oodles

How often should an Oodle be groomed?

Most Oodles benefit from professional grooming approximately every 4–6 weeks.

'Oodle' covers a wide range of Poodle crosses, and coat types can vary considerably. Some coats may be relatively easy to maintain, while others can be extremely dense and prone to rapid matting. 

Your dog’s individual coat should determine the grooming schedule rather than the Oodle label alone.

How often should I brush my Oodle at home?

Many Oodles need frequent, thorough brushing, particularly when the coat is kept long.

The important part is reaching through the coat to the skin. Brushing only the surface can leave significant matting underneath without it being immediately obvious.

Corgis

How often should a Corgi be groomed?

Corgis generally benefit from professional grooming approximately every 6–8 weeks, with more frequent attention during seasonal shedding.

Their dense double coat produces a significant amount of loose undercoat. A thorough bath, blow-dry and coat-out can help remove loose hair and keep the coat in good condition.

Can a Corgi be shaved?

Corgis are double-coated and should not routinely be shaved or clipped short.

Their natural coat provides insulation and protection. Regular brushing and appropriate professional grooming are preferable to removing the coat.

Retrievers

How often should a Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever be groomed?

Retrievers generally benefit from professional grooming approximately every 6–8 weeks, although the ideal schedule depends on the individual dog and coat.

Regular grooming helps remove loose coat, maintain skin and coat health and keep feathering and other longer areas free from tangles.

Can a Retriever be clipped short in summer?

Retrievers are generally double-coated and should not routinely be shaved or clipped short simply because the weather is warm.

Their natural coat provides insulation and protection. Regular bathing, drying and removal of loose undercoat can help keep the coat clean and manageable.

Swiss Shepherds

How often should a White Swiss Shepherd be groomed?

White Swiss Shepherds generally benefit from professional grooming approximately every 6–8 weeks, with additional grooming during heavy shedding periods.

Their dense double coat requires thorough bathing, drying and coat maintenance to remove loose undercoat.

Regular brushing at home is particularly important during seasonal shedding.

Can a White Swiss Shepherd be shaved?

White Swiss Shepherds are double-coated and should not routinely be shaved or clipped short.

Their natural coat helps provide insulation and protection from the environment. Grooming should focus on maintaining the coat and removing loose undercoat.

Dachshunds

How often should a Dachshund be groomed?

Grooming requirements depend on the type of Dachshund.

Smooth-coated Dachshunds generally require less professional grooming, while long-haired and wire-haired Dachshunds require more regular coat maintenance. Many benefit from professional grooming approximately every 6–8 weeks, depending on coat type and the desired finish.

Do long-haired Dachshunds need professional grooming?

Yes. Long-haired Dachshunds benefit from regular grooming to maintain feathering, remove loose coat and prevent tangles.

Particular attention should be given to areas around the ears, chest, legs and underside where the longer coat can become tangled.

Do wire-haired Dachshunds need their coat stripped?

Wire-haired Dachshunds have a specialised coat that may benefit from hand stripping or appropriate coat maintenance, depending on the individual dog and the desired coat.

Hand stripping is different from simply clipping the coat and should be performed by someone experienced with the breed’s coat type.

Your dog’s individual coat matters 

Breed is a useful starting point, but it isn’t the whole story.

Two dogs of the same breed can have very different coats, grooming histories and tolerance for grooming. Coat length, density, condition, lifestyle, age and behaviour can all influence how often a dog should be groomed and which techniques are appropriate.

At Spitz Groom, we assess the individual dog and their coat, rather than treating every dog according to a breed template.

If you’re unsure how often your dog should be groomed, we’re happy to help you establish a practical grooming schedule that works for both you and your dog.