Before bringing a dog home, the owner must understand the dog’s grooming requirements. Being unaware of their needs means leading them to serious health issues. So, owners must learn about the breed, its grooming needs, and brushing techniques, so that they make strong bonds and enjoy their company.
Monthly grooming appointments aid in keeping the dogs healthy, and they help to keep a check on their skin health as well. However, the breeds that we have listed below can be enjoyed by giving them different styles, such as puppy version cut, kennel cuts, or continental clips. It makes them look cute and stylish.
As part of their grooming requirement, nail trimming, regular brushing, and bathing keep them healthy. And consistent grooming is the key to having a healthy and long-lived dog.
Here is a list of the top 9 dog breeds that are in demand because of their temperament. But their specialized care requires special attention.
Top Dog Breeds and Their Specialized Grooming
1. Poodle
Poodles are smart, active, and friendly dogs that are very energetic. Being a high-maintenance breed, the owner will be investing most of the time grooming them at home or taking them to a professional groomer.
They have curly, dense, hypoallergenic coats that require frequent grooming. To avoid matting and prevent tangles, they need to be brushed regularly.
Their specialized grooming requires following a proper brushing and bathing routine. The easier way to maintain the coat is to keep it short and clip it. They require professional grooming every 4-6 weeks. Grooming for Poodles is not just for looking tidy; it prevents infections as well.
2. Afghan Hound
Afghan Hound is an independent and sweet dog that is no less than a show stopper among all other breeds, because of its appearance. It has a long and silky coat that comes in different colors. While
Afghan Hounds were bred to hunt independently; today, they make strong bonds with their human members. This four-legged dog is a hypoallergenic breed, and it produces less dander.
Being a low-shedding dog breed means they require regular grooming to prevent matting, tangles, and discomfort. Their flowing coat can only remain healthy and free from debris when given proper attention.
Other than brushing, giving them oil treatments, careful wrapping, and clipping, as Purina mentions, adds up to their grooming routine.
3. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu, being a playful, affectionate, and outgoing dog, has hair that never stops growing, which means the breed requires consistent grooming. It has a long and smooth coat, which comes in a variety of colors, including black, grey, red, and white, etc.
Regular brushing and trimming keep them away from irritation and infections.
Mentioning their specialized grooming care, their luxurious double coat requires daily brushing to make them look tidy, avoid tangling, and reduce hair falling. This can be done easily with a brush or a comb. As their hair continuously grows, it covers the eye area, so keeping it short is the best option.
4. Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise is a curly-coated breed with a curious, playful, and adaptable nature. It has a long double coat that requires monthly grooming. This hypoallergenic breed, because of its round face and fluffiness, is also called “marshmallows” or “fluff balls”.
It is extremely important to take care of their coat because their tight curls can trap dirt and dust.
Although it does not shed much, to keep the coat healthy and to preserve the fluffiness, bathing them monthly is advised. It is better to use a good-quality dog shampoo recommended by a vet that does not contain harsh chemicals.
This helps the coat remain soft. Trimming is another important element of their grooming that must not be missed.
5. Komondor
Komondor is a brave, loyal, and dignified breed that has a dense coat. The white coat has dreadlocks and cords that look like a mop. Being a low-shedding dog but a high-maintenance breed, the Komondor demands regular clumping maintenance.
Also, in history, their coat has helped them in labor work, as they were bred for herding and guarding.
Their coat requires specialized care because of the cords. They need to be maintained and properly separated to clean them. It requires expert grooming because the owner itself cannot handle the cleaning of cords.
It can trap dirt and cause skin problems, also making grooming difficult. As Hill’s Pet writes, Komondors make bonds with owners who care for their grooming, exercising, and training responsibly.
6. Old English Sheepdog
Old English Sheepdog, with a body like a panda and a white and black coat, requires weekly brushing down the skin. It is a smart, gentle, and adaptable breed that is famous for its bear-like gait. These large dogs are fluffy, and their shaggy coat requires regular grooming and trimming to avoid discomfort and tangles.
Their dense coat covers the entire body like a blanket. Their eyes are also covered with fur. So, for OES, trimming around their eyes, face, and body is important to maintain the coat and keep it healthy. They have a protective nature and make good family companions, but kids must be supervised when around OES, and their coat must not be pulled.
Although their large size makes grooming an intensive task, with the help of a professional grooming routine, it becomes easier.
7. Portuguese Water Dog
Portuguese Water Dog, being an excellent swimmer, is an affectionate, athletic, and adventurous dog with a single coat that is either curly or wavy. The breed’s webbed feet enable it to swim easily, but the coat requires proper care.
They gained popularity when Barack Obama adopted them and became one of the great family pets.
They have special grooming needs that require special care. Such as: giving them a puppy cut, summer cut, or using continental clips. As they have water-resistant curls, regular trims help them manage the dense coat.
With routine brushing and combing, the coat remains maintained, and occasional baths keep them fresh.
8. Maltese
Maltese is a playful, charming, and gentle dog breed whose long coat is prone to matting. It requires frequent grooming to prevent hair poking around their round eyes. Their long and silky hair also tangles easily, so brushing them daily is necessary.
Although this breed is intelligent, they can be stubborn at times, making training or grooming difficult for the owner.
To handle the Maltese’s silky coat, the owner must daily brush and give it a bath on a regular basis. Also, brushing is important to make the blood flow easier. And it also keeps the coat smooth and moist. If you are too lazy to maintain the Maltese floor-length coat, you can give them a short puppy cut, suggested by PetMD. And use clippers to make them look cute and tidy.
9. Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apso, being small dogs, are confident, energetic, and comical dogs with long hair. These affectionate dogs were bred as watchdogs, but today they make great family companions that act aloof in front of strangers.
Their heavy, dense, and fast-growing coat requires special care. These dogs have excessive barking habits, but they can be reduced with proper training.
Because their hair grows continuously and looks much like human hair, they require daily brushing and professional clipping. Every 4-7 weeks, they must be groomed, and can be clipped or styled with a pony.
And for brushing, using a line brushing technique helps because it helps brush the coat evenly. However, they do not require frequent bathing, but brushing is necessary.
Conclusion
If you want a fluffy dog breed as your companion, and wish to see them as soft as they were when you brought them home for the first time, you must give them special care and attention that they deserve. To make these breeds look cute, tidy, and fluffy, professional grooming services are needed.
And it also makes grooming at home easier for the owner if you follow the groomer’s suggestions and tips.
Whether you bring home a Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, or OES, etc., all these breeds have almost similar grooming routines. They differ from each other in maybe brushing techniques, which vary on their coat type. But make sure you give them weekly brushing and monthly baths.
If you really look forward to a fluffy and healthy companion.
