Dog Coat Types and How to Groom Each One

On a Beagle or Boxer, a soft rubber grooming mitt lifts loose hair without scraping the skin. Work in the direction the hairs lie and lighten your touch around the belly, where the coat is thinner. A short pass during regular brushing is usually enough to collect loose hair.

A Siberian Husky or Samoyed has a soft undercoat beneath longer guard hairs. Part the hair and use a long-toothed comb to lift loose undercoat a little at a time, with extra sessions during heavy sheds. Ask a groomer for a brush-out if you can’t reach the undercoat comfortably.

A Border Terrier or Miniature Schnauzer has a coarse outer coat that feels rough under your fingers. Use a brush and metal comb to clear tangles and debris. If keeping that hard texture matters to you, ask a groomer who works with terriers about hand stripping. Clipping can leave the coat looking and feeling softer.

Use a gentle slicker brush in small sections on a Poodle or Bichon Frise. Follow with a metal comb to check for tangles near the roots, especially under the collar, behind the ears, and under the front legs. A longer coat needs daily brushing, and a short professional trim can make home care easier.

A Yorkshire Terrier or Maltese in full coat needs daily attention. Use a pin brush and a long-toothed comb, working out loose tangles at the tips before moving higher. Check behind the ears and under the front legs, where long hair rubs. A shorter trim is an option if the full coat takes too much time to maintain.

The long fringes on a Golden Retriever or English Springer Spaniel need different attention from the shorter hair along the body. Use a pin brush on the body and take a metal comb through the feathers behind the ears, on the chest and legs, and along the tail. Check the fringes for burrs after walks.

On a corded Puli or Komondor, the strands form ropes as the coat grows. Ask a groomer who works with cords to show you how to separate them by hand down to the base. Once the cords are established, leave the brush aside and give the coat time to dry all the way through after a bath.

On a hairless Chinese Crested or Xoloitzcuintli, much of the skin sits out in the open. Have a soft towel ready for bath day and pat the skin dry after rinsing. On a Crested, use a small comb for the hair that remains on the head, feet, and tail.