Long coats

These need a lot of attention, grooming on a daily basis. Dogs with this type of coat are German Shepherds, Old English Sheepdogs, Newfoundlands and Golden Retrievers.

Non-shedding coats mean that dogs with these types of coats do not molt. They do however; need to be clipped on a regular basis, as much as every two months. These types of dogs also need to have excess hair removed around their ears. Some examples of non-shedding dogs are Poodles, Bichons Frises and Bedlington Terriers.

Silky coats need a lot of care. Remove dead hair or the dog will become very matted and uncomfortable. Some trimming is also required especially for a spaniel. Other examples of silky haired dogs are Afghans, Yorkshire Terriers, Spaniels, Setters and Pekes.

Dogs with wiry coats, like the Wirehaired Dachshund, the Schnauzers and most of the terrier breeds, need to be hand stripped, usually twice a year, or clipped regularly. Professional help will be needed for both these methods. Many breeders, of these dogs, will happily give advice on hand stripping your dog. It can be very time consuming, as much as five hours, so your dog will really have to be trained from an early age. These dogs should have their coats combed regularly to prevent matting.

The smooth coated dogs have the easiest coats to groom. A grooming mitt is all you really need, maybe a comb for the Labradors. Boxers, Dobermans, Greyhounds and Whippets are all smooth coated dogs.