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In addition to good nutrition, regular grooming is the basis for a healthy, high-quality and shiny coat. Not only long-haired breeds need regular care, but also short-haired breeds, often mistakenly called "maintenance-free". However, the care and grooming requirements vary according to the type of coat. It is therefore necessary to find out what suits the type.
Curly coat
The great advantage of this coat is that there is virtually no shedding, as the hair is constantly growing back. However, this means that the coat requires extra care, because if it is neglected, dreadlocks and felt will form. This causes pain and health complications for the dog. Typical curly representatives are poodles and bichons, for example. Their coats need to be brushed regularly (daily) and then combed in such a way that they remain fluffy. A properly groomed coat looks like the comb does not snag anywhere when brushing. It should also be taken into account that frequent bathing and clipping (every 4 - 8 weeks) is necessary due to the constantly growing hair. For ideal results, try a shampoo from the aroma range in combination with a rose conditioner or moisturising mask.
Coarse coat
Griffon, coarse coated dachshund, schnauzer or Irish Wolfhound have a coarse coat. In addition to brushing with a metal brush, it requires regular trimming as these dogs do not have the classic shedding process. This technique removes the dead hair and the roots to make room for new hair to grow. If coarse coated dogs do not have their dead hair removed continuously by trimming, it causes severe itching and scratching, during which the dog can injure its skin and get an infection. Bathe as needed, but skip the bath 2-3 weeks before trimming or the dog will not be able to be trimmed.
TIP: It is important to bathe your dog after trimming! Removing old hair opens up the pores where grease and dirt from the coat gets in, which can cause inflammation. Therefore, it is important to clean and close the pores after trimming. Specifically for this purpose, we recommend a combination of shampoo for puppies and sensitive dogs and a medicated mud mask to nourish the coat after trimming.
Silky coat
The Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese or Shih Tzu boast long, straight hair similar to human hair. These breeds require more frequent bathing and clipping to ensure a beautiful appearance. These breeds also often suffer from increased greasiness of the coat, which can be well controlled by using a deep-cleansing shampoo. Regular brushing and combing is important to prevent matting and dreadlocks. If grooming is neglected, it is often necessary to have the dog shaved short at the salon, as combing out an extremely matted coat is very stressful and painful for the dog.
Smooth coat
"Maintenance-free" dogs such as the Pug, Boxer or Weimaraner have smooth coats that are the easiest to groom. However, this doesn't mean that there is no need to attend to the coat at all. To remove dirt and dead skin, it is enough to brush the dog once a week with a comb, combing glove or bristle brush and wipe with a damp cloth. Bathe as needed, ideally in a gentle natural cosmetic that does not degrease or dry out.
Coat with undercoat
The bobtail, German shepherd, Akita, spitz or collie, for example, boast a long coat with an undercoat. It does not require special care such as shearing, but rather regular care and effort, especially during the shedding season. This type of coat is more prone to higher sebum production, which is associated with odour, so these dogs need to be brushed regularly. Brushing not only removes dead hair, but helps to distribute the sebum evenly and rid the coat of dirt.
When choosing a grooming product, bet on the quality and the ingredients that go into it. If you feed your dog cheap and low quality kibble, it will not thrive on it in the long run. If you feed like this all your life, the dog is likely to have health problems that will take a long time to resolve with the vet. It's the same with cosmetics - so avoid cheap and poor quality products (and especially human cosmetics) that will do more harm than good.
