Grooming by coat type: what your breed actually needs

Coat type predicts the service you need far better than breed name does. There are four broad families, and each fails in a different way when groomed wrong.

Double coats (Husky, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd) have a dense undercoat that sheds seasonally. They need de-shedding, not shaving — shaving a double coat can permanently damage regrowth and removes the insulation that protects against heat.

Curly coats (Poodle, Maltese, Shih Tzu) don't shed much, which means dead hair stays in the coat and mats. They need frequent brushing and scheduled haircuts.

Short coats (Pug, French Bulldog, Chihuahua) need less trimming, but wrinkled breeds need skin-fold cleaning that's easy to overlook. Wire coats (Schnauzer, many terriers) keep their texture with hand-stripping; clipping softens the coat over time.

When you book, tell the groomer your dog's coat type and any matting. It changes the time and the price more than the breed does.