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At-Home Coat Care Between Professional Grooms
Simple at-home brushing habits help keep your dog's coat manageable between professional grooms. Our guide covers technique by coat type and spotting early matting.
A professional groom resets and maintains your dog's coat, but what happens between appointments makes a big difference to how the coat looks and feels, and how easy the next groom is. A few minutes of brushing at home each week is often enough to keep things manageable.
Why between-groom care matters
- Removes loose coat before it builds up or sheds around your home.
- Helps prevent tangles and matting, which can form quickly in some coats.
- Gets your dog used to handling, which helps at professional appointments too.
If your dog is not keen on being brushed, our guide on building positive brushing habits has step-by-step ideas.
Brushing by coat type
These are general guides; your dog's coat length, lifestyle and condition all make a difference.
| Coat type | Useful tools | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Short / smooth | Rubber curry brush or grooming mitt | Weekly |
| Double coat | Slicker brush plus a suitable undercoat tool | Around 2–3 times a week; more during heavy shedding if needed |
| Curly / wavy | Slicker brush and comb | Frequently, often every other day depending on coat length |
| Long / silky | Pin or slicker brush and comb, working in sections | Daily to every other day depending on the coat |
| Wire / rough | Regular brushing and combing | Regularly; specialist hand stripping only where appropriate |
Work in small sections, brush down to the skin rather than just over the top, and follow with a comb. If the comb catches, there is a tangle still underneath. For double coats, our guides on de-shedding double-coated breeds and managing shedding season go into more detail.
Spotting matting in friction areas
Mats usually start where the coat rubs or moves the most. Check these areas regularly:
- Behind the ears
- Under the collar or harness
- Armpits
- Legs
- Around the tail
Small tangles can often be gently teased apart with your fingers and a comb. Tight mats close to the skin should be handled professionally rather than pulled or cut at home, as this can be painful and the skin is easy to nick. Our article on the hidden health risks of matted fur explains why.
Bathing between grooms
If you bath your dog at home, brush tangles out first, because water tends to tighten them. Use a dog-specific shampoo and dry the coat thoroughly afterwards. Our guide on bathing your dog at home covers how often is sensible.
Home care and professional grooms
Home brushing supports professional grooming rather than replacing it. How often your dog needs a professional groom depends on the coat; see how often your dog should be groomed. For short coats, our Bath & Brush suits most dogs; for silky, feathered and double coats, the Bath & Style; and for continuously growing coats, the Full Groom.
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