How Often Should I Get My Dog Groomed?

I actually get this question a lot. Most salons recommend you bring you pups in at least every 4 to 6 weeks. For some dogs this is for sanitary reasons. (They are dogs after all. And most of them love to play outside and get dirty.) For me, the answer to this question is about the comfort of the dog, and a reasonable degree of cleanliness for the dog and for the owner. (Wet dog just doesn’t smell nice.)

At the salon where I trained, there were several clients who brought their pups in weekly. But this had more to do with keeping them perfectly polished and exceptionally clean. (As opposed to the comfort of the dog.)

Part of the reason salons recommend you bring your animals in every 4-6 weeks is so that they can get used to being groomed. We’ve all seen dogs who hate all or part of the grooming process. Coming in often helps them become accustomed to the process so that it isn’t torture for them. (There is a lot you can do at home to help your dogs become accustomed to the grooming process- but I’ll talk about that in another post.)

I “groom” my dogs every three to four weeks- at a minimum. Occasionally oftener- specifically if they have gotten really dirty or really wet. I don’t like to groom them too often because their skin can dry out.

My rule (not counting those “oftener needs,” is that if the pup’s poop is starting to get stuck to their bum, it’s time for them to be groomed. And for my pups that is usually around 3 to 4 weeks.

But often times, especially in the winter when it’s cold, I will “groom them” by giving them a “Bath and Tidy.” For this service, the pup gets their nails done, their sanitary areas trimmed, the face cleaned up (especially around the eyes to help them see), and a bath with a blow dry and brush out to prevent matting. (Note: this does not include the hair cut or shave down that most people think of when they say their dog is being “groomed.”)

For some lucky breeds, a Bath and Tidy is all they will ever need. They might even just need a bath and their nails clipped. But for others, a Bath and Tidy between full grooms will help keep the matts at bay, keep them clean, and keep them warm during the colder months.

These are the four sweet pups I gave groomed today. They all got the Bath and Tidy service.

The top two- Chip and Oreo, will need full grooms in, hopefully, no more than four weeks. (We were going to do the full grooms today, but there just wasn’t time because of a last minute scheduling issue for their owners. So, we compromised with giving both pups a Bath and Tidy so that both could be clean and comfortable.)

The bottom two, Blossom and Murdock, will only ever need a Bath and Tidy. So, how often I see them will depend on how often their owners want them cleaned. Or how often their nails need to be clipped.

So, for me, I would recommend a grooming appointment at least every 6 weeks. Sooner if your dog’s sanitary areas need to be cleaned up, or if they are a breed prone to matting, or if they get especially dirty.

But it doesn’t have to be a full groom.

And it doesn’t have to be torturous for your pup.

Remember, grooming them regularly (even if you choose to do some of that at home) will help them to have an easier time with the process. And that is the best reason to have your dog groomed regularly.