There is no single answer: how often a dog needs grooming depends mostly on its coat, its lifestyle and how much brushing happens at home. These rough intervals are a good starting point.
By coat type
- Curly and long coats (poodles, doodles, bichons, shih tzus): a full groom every 4 to 8 weeks, with brushing at home several times a week.
- Double coats (huskies, shepherds, golden retrievers): a bath and de-shedding brush-out every 6 to 12 weeks, more often when they shed. Their coat should not normally be shaved.
- Short, smooth coats (labradors, beagles, boxers): a bath, nail trim and ear check every 8 to 12 weeks is usually enough.
- Wire coats (many terriers): a tidy or hand strip every 6 to 10 weeks.
Signs your dog is due a visit
- Knots behind the ears, under the legs or on the tail
- Nails clicking on the floor
- Hair covering the eyes or growing between the paw pads
- A coat that smells or feels greasy soon after a bath
Puppies benefit from short, regular visits from an early age, once their vaccinations allow, so grooming feels normal. If you notice redness, sores, lumps or a bad smell from the ears, see your vet: those are health questions, not grooming ones.