How to Groom Your Dog at Home: A Guide by Coat Type
Updated October 27, 2026
This guide is for dog owners who want to handle the routine grooming at home: brushing, baths, nails, ears, teeth and paws. It walks through a simple weekly routine that suits almost every dog, then explains how to adapt it to your dog's coat type (short, double, curly, wire, long or silky), and when a professional groomer or your vet is the better call.
The short answer: to groom your dog at home, brush with the right tool for the coat, working down to the skin, bathe only when the dog is dirty or smelly using a dog shampoo, dry thoroughly, trim the nails about once a month, check and wipe the ears weekly, and brush the teeth daily or at least a few times a week. How often you brush and whether the coat ever needs clipping depends on coat type: smooth coats need little, while curly, long and silky coats need brushing most days. Never shave a double coat.
How we wrote this: the advice comes from the veterinary and animal welfare sources linked in the text. Product mentions use brand specs and named, linked reviews. We have not tested these products ourselves, and this page has no affiliate links.
Know your dog's coat type first
How often you groom depends on size, breed, coat type and lifestyle. The AKC notes that breeds like the Afghan Hound, Poodle and Komondor need frequent coat work while the Beagle, Weimaraner and Boxer need much less, and that your dog's breeder is one of the best sources of breed-specific grooming advice. Mixed breed? Look at the coat itself, and if it falls between two types, groom for the higher-maintenance one.
The at-home grooming routine every dog needs
Whatever the coat, the basic routine is the same. PetMD suggests most dogs benefit from a weekly once-over that covers nails, ears and small tangles (PetMD). Each step below has its own full guide.
- Brush: use a brush matched to the coat and work down to the skin, checking for mats, burrs, cuts and ticks as you go. See our dog brushes by coat type guide.
- Bathe: only when your dog is dirty or smelly, with a shampoo made for dogs, and always brush out tangles first. Steps are in how to bathe a dog.
- Dry: towel off thoroughly, then use a dryer on a cool or low setting if the coat is thick; dry the ears too. The bath guide covers drying by coat type.
- Nails: trim about once a month, or when you hear clicking on the floor, taking only the tip beyond the quick. See how to trim dog nails.
- Ears: look and smell weekly and clean the visible part when needed; never push anything deep into the canal. See how to clean dog ears.
- Teeth: brush daily if you can, a few times a week at minimum, with dog toothpaste only. See how to brush dog teeth.
- Paws: check pads for cracks or debris and keep hair between the pads level with the pads. See how to trim dog paw hair.
The AKC backs each step, noting for example that plaque starts building on teeth after 48 hours.
Use only dog products. Human shampoo, including baby shampoo, is too harsh for dog skin (VCA Animal Hospitals), and many human toothpastes contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs (AKC). If you find a wound, sore, hot spot, ear discharge or a foreign object, stop and see your vet.
Dog grooming by coat type at a glance
| Coat type | Main brush and tools | Brushing frequency | Professional grooming needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short (smooth) | Rubber curry brush or grooming mitt, bristle brush | Once a week | Rarely; nails and baths are easy at home |
| Double | Undercoat rake, slicker brush, metal comb | Weekly, daily during seasonal shedding | Optional; helpful for heavy shedding seasons. Never shave |
| Curly | Slicker brush, metal comb, clippers | Daily for a long coat, a few times a week in a short trim | Usually, every 4 to 6 weeks, unless you learn to clip |
| Wire | Slicker brush, comb, stripping tool or clippers | Weekly or every two weeks | Often, for hand-stripping or a clipped pet trim |
| Long | Pin brush, slicker brush, wide-tooth comb | Daily to several times a week | Sometimes, for trims and mats |
| Silky | Pin brush with flexible pins, fine comb | Daily if kept long | Often, for a short puppy trim and face tidying |
Typical ranges from the AKC breed pages and ASPCA linked below; season and lifestyle shift them.
How to groom a short-coated dog
What it is: a smooth, close coat with little or no undercoat. Example breeds: Boxer, Chihuahua, Basset Hound, Dalmatian, Greyhound.
Tools and how often: the ASPCA says a smooth, short coat needs brushing once a week: loosen dead hair and dirt with a rubber brush, then follow with a bristle brush. The AKC Boxer page says a once-over with a rubber curry brush or hound glove once or twice a week is enough, with a bath only occasionally (AKC Boxer). The AKC brush guide adds that rubber brushes suit short coats because the bristles will not reach through long or thick hair.
Clip or not: no clipping needed. Note that some short coats are actually short double coats with an undercoat (the Beagle and Labrador Retriever, for example), so they shed more and benefit from the double-coat tools in the next section (AKC Beagle).
How to groom a double-coated dog
What it is: a harsh outer topcoat (guard hairs) over a soft, dense undercoat that insulates against both cold and heat (AKC). Example breeds: Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd Dog, Siberian Husky, Border Collie, Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Tools and how often: an undercoat rake with pins long enough for the coat, a slicker brush and a metal comb. The AKC reminds owners to brush the undercoat as well as the topcoat. Weekly brushing is enough most of the year, but expect to brush most days when the dog blows its undercoat, usually in spring and fall. The AKC Siberian Husky page says the undercoat is shed twice a year and should be raked out steadily (AKC Siberian Husky). VCA says heavily undercoated dogs benefit from a bath during those seasonal sheds (VCA), and a thorough dry afterward matters because a damp undercoat dries slowly.
Clip or not: never shave a double coat. AKC's Chief Veterinary Officer explains that the coat acts as insulation, and shaving it removes that layer, makes the dog more prone to heat stroke and sunburn, and can damage follicles; the undercoat may grow back faster and crowd out the guard hairs, leaving a patchy coat (AKC). VCA adds that a rare condition called post-clipping alopecia, where hair is slow to regrow for up to two years, is seen especially in plush-coated breeds like Huskies and Pomeranians (VCA). Tidying the feet, the hair under the tail and very long feathering is fine.
For a step-by-step routine, read our guide to deshedding double-coated dogs.
How to groom a curly-coated dog
What it is: a dense, curly or wavy coat that sheds very little. The loose hairs stay trapped in the coat instead of falling out, so they mat if they are not brushed out. Example breeds: Poodle, Bichon Frise, Portuguese Water Dog and most doodle mixes.
Tools and how often: VCA recommends a slicker brush for curly, non-shedding coats like Poodles (VCA); follow with a metal comb to make sure you reached the skin. The AKC says a full-coated Poodle needs daily brushing and combing right to the skin, or the hair mats at the roots and has to be shaved off (AKC Poodle). For the Bichon, AKC suggests brushing at least two or three times a week, ideally daily, with a bath and clip about monthly (AKC Bichon Frise).
Clip or not: yes. Curly coats keep growing, so they need regular clipping, either by a groomer every four to six weeks or by you once you learn. Most pet owners keep a shorter trim because it is far easier to keep mat-free. If you clip at home, our guide to dog clippers for doodles explains blades and guide combs, and how to groom a Goldendoodle covers line brushing, the comb test, face, feet and sanitary trims.
How to groom a wire-coated dog
What it is: a hard, wiry outer coat, usually over a soft undercoat. The harsh texture repels dirt. Example breeds: Border Terrier, Wire Fox Terrier, Airedale Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
Tools and how often: a slicker brush and comb, used weekly or every two weeks, plus a stripping tool if you learn to strip. The AKC Border Terrier page says a quick brushing every week or two is usually enough, and that bathing reduces the coat's natural dirt resistance, so a towel and brush often do the job (AKC Border Terrier). The Border Terrier Club of America agrees that Borders rarely need baths.
Hand-stripping vs clipping a wire coat
Wire coats do not shed out fully on their own. Hand-stripping means pulling the dead outer hairs out by hand or with a stripping tool, which leaves room for a new harsh coat to grow. The Border Terrier Club of America says most Borders are hand stripped about twice a year, that the new coat grows in within 8 to 10 weeks, and that done correctly it is not painful because the dead hair pulls out easily. Some owners keep the coat in shape all year by "rolling" it, a light strip twice a month (BTCA).
Clipping is quicker, and it is what most pet groomers do. The trade-off is texture: the BTCA says clipping only shortens the dead hair instead of removing it, and a clipped Border can lose the texture and color of its protective coat. The AKC says a pet Wire Fox Terrier can be clippered into a trim similar to a show trim with much less effort, while a show dog must be hand-stripped (AKC Wire Fox Terrier), and that most pet Miniature Schnauzers are clipped by a groomer every five to eight weeks (AKC Miniature Schnauzer). Either is fine for a pet.
How to groom a long-coated dog
What it is: long, flowing hair, often with feathering on the legs, ears and tail, and in many breeds a dense undercoat as well. Example breeds: Rough Collie, Afghan Hound, Bearded Collie, Old English Sheepdog, long-haired Dachshund.
Tools and how often: a pin brush for finishing, a slicker brush for tangles and a long-toothed or wide-tooth comb to check you reached the skin. VCA recommends long-toothed combs for long coats like Collies (VCA), and the ASPCA suggests a daily routine for long coats that tangle, plus combing through and trimming the hair around the feet. Mats tend to start behind the ears, under the legs and at the elbows (AKC Collie). The AKC Afghan Hound page describes several hours of brushing a week for an adult coat, plus regular baths with shampoo and conditioner (AKC Afghan Hound).
Clip or not: tidy the feet, sanitary area and any hair over the eyes; a shorter trim is fine for single-coated long breeds, but if your long-haired dog also has a thick undercoat, treat it as a double coat and do not shave it. If you do cut the coat short, VCA advises leaving at least 1 inch of hair to protect against sun damage (VCA).
How to groom a silky-coated dog
What it is: fine, straight, glossy hair with little or no undercoat that keeps growing, much like human hair. Example breeds: Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu, Maltese, Silky Terrier.
Tools and how often: a pin brush with flexible pins and a fine metal comb. A long silky coat needs daily brushing. The AKC says a long-coated Shih Tzu should be brushed daily with a flexible-pin brush, working in layers to reach the skin, and bathed about every three or four weeks (AKC Shih Tzu). A long Yorkie also needs daily brushing and a bath about every week or so (AKC Yorkshire Terrier), and the Maltese needs daily gentle brushing and combing to the skin (AKC Maltese).
Clip or not: optional. Many owners choose a short "puppy trim" from a groomer to cut daily work. Either way, keep the hair on top of the head trimmed short or tied up in a topknot so it does not irritate the eyes. For the full routine, read how to groom a Shih Tzu.
When to use a professional groomer or your vet
Book a groomer when
- The coat is matted close to the skin. The ASPCA says early mild mats can be brushed out, but a mat that will not brush out easily needs a groomer or vet to clip it, and you should never cut mats out with scissors because a sudden move can cause a serious cut (ASPCA).
- Your dog needs a full haircut, a hand-strip or a seasonal clip you have not been taught. The AKC advises against clipping or shaving your dog without proper training (AKC).
- Nail trims or baths are too stressful for you or your dog.
See your vet when
- You find bald patches, redness, scabs, sores, hot spots or constant scratching or licking (ASPCA).
- The ears are red, swollen, smelly or have discharge.
- A mat has irritated the skin, a nail will not stop bleeding, or something is lodged in an eye, ear or paw pad.
- Your dog cannot tolerate grooming at all; VCA notes that some dogs need periodic clipping under sedation at the vet (VCA).
FAQ
How often should I groom my dog at home?
Do a quick once-over of nails, ears and tangles about once a week. Brush short coats weekly, and curly, long and silky coats daily or close to it. Trim nails roughly monthly.
How often should I bathe my dog?
Only when your dog is dirty or smelly for most dogs. VCA says non-shedding breeds with no health issues typically need a bath about every six to eight weeks, while some breeds like the Yorkie and Shih Tzu need baths more often.
Can I shave my dog in summer?
Not if it has a double coat: shaving removes insulation and raises the risk of heat stroke and sunburn. A single-coated dog can have a shorter trim, but leave at least 1 inch of hair.
What is the easiest coat type to groom at home?
A short, smooth coat. A weekly pass with a rubber curry brush or grooming mitt plus regular nail, ear and tooth care is usually all it needs.
Is hand-stripping painful for dogs?
When done correctly on a coat that is ready, the Border Terrier Club of America says it is not painful, because the dead hairs come out easily. Have someone experienced show you before you try.
Do the same tips work for cats?
Some do, but cats have their own needs around mats, baths and handling. Cat owners should read our guide on how to groom a cat.
Want to go deeper on any step? Browse all our grooming guides.