Here’s How To Maintain Different Dog Coat Types In Winter
During the winter months, it’s important to keep on top of your dog’s grooming routine, even if they’re spending more time indoors. It may be tempting to stop grooming your dog and allow their coat to grow out for extra warmth, but this could result in mats, tangles, and skin problems if their coat is neglected.
At Groomers, we want to make sure that your dog’s coat stays in peak condition throughout the harshest months. That’s why we’ve pulled together our top tips for caring for their coats.
Table of contents:
How do I take care of a dog in winter?
Should I cut my dog’s hair in winter?
How do I care for different coat types in winter?
How do I take care of a dog in winter?
Winter is just as important as any other time of the year for dog grooming.
The moisture from the snow or ice and colder temperatures can wreak havoc with a dog’s coat, so you need to establish a good winter grooming routine to prevent this from happening.
Dog coats should not be overgrown, as longer hair is more prone to matting and tangling and retains more moisture. When combined, moisture and matting can result in further matting and tangling, which, if neglected, can cause skin irritation and skin conditions.
Grooming throughout the winter months is the only way to keep your dog’s coat in the best condition.
Top 5 tips for caring for all dog breeds in harsh weather
- Watch for signs that your dog may be too cold. If they’re shaking, shivering, or whining, they may need an extra blanket indoors or a dog jacket built for winter walks.
- Try not to leave your dog outside for long periods on colder days, especially if they’re a small or short-haired breed.
- If your dog comes home wet from their walk, dry them down to prevent them from getting too cold.
- Keep an eye on their paw pads, as these can become cracked and dry in harsh weather. Road salts and deicing agents can irritate your dog’s paws, so it’s best to wash their feet in warm water after every walk to remove any residue.
- Water and mud can create mats in your dog’s hair. To avoid this, make sure you clean and dry your dog after each muddy walk, then brush them to remove any knots or tangles.
Should I cut my dog’s hair in winter?
During the coldest months, it’s important to maintain your dog’s well-established grooming routine.
Although you may not opt for as short a cut for your dog as it would receive in hotter weather, it’s still important to get it groomed and trimmed to keep on top of its coat condition and prevent any matting. Having your dog’s coat trimmed makes it more manageable in the wet and muddy months.
If you take regular trips to a professional groomer, continue to do so. Your groomer will also be able to best advise you on how many appointments your dog will require.
How do I care for different coat types in winter?
Different dog coat types require different levels of grooming during the colder months. Here are our top tips for keeping your dog’s coat in the best condition to make winter grooming a breeze.
Smooth and short-haired breeds
Smooth and short-haired breeds need minimal professional grooming. However, it’s important to brush these coat types regularly, as they’re prone to shedding light hairs.
After walking, towel your dog down and brush them to remove dirt and keep them dry. Although they won’t need bathing often, you should still monitor the condition of short coats, occasionally bathing them when needed.
If there are any signs of dryness to the coat or your dog starts to smell, we recommend using a leave-in conditioner to leave it smelling amazing and feeling soft and nourished.
Wire-haired breeds
Although they should only need occasional bathing, wire-haired dogs require regular brushing, especially when it’s wet and muddy.
Get into the habit of brushing your dog every day after their walk to prevent mats and knots from forming and remove dirt.
If you want your dog’s wire coat to retain its texture, avoid using thick conditioners on its coat. However, if you feel like it needs some freshening up, try our Groomers Dog Coat Conditioning Spray with Evening Primrose Oil.
Double-coated breeds
Double-coated breeds love the great outdoors, so it’s really important to keep on top of their coats during winter.
These breeds require a more high-maintenance grooming routine as their thick, dense undercoats need regular brushing to remove moulting.
After each walk, make sure their coats are as dry as possible to prevent irritation. These breeds need frequent bathing to stay clean and fresh during the colder months.
For easier winter grooming maintenance, you may want to book an appointment with your groomer. They will trim your dog’s hair around their feet, rear legs, and undercarriage.
However, it’s not advisable to clip double-coated dogs, as this can lead to post clipping alopecia.
Wool and long-haired breeds
Wool and long-haired breeds need regular grooming during the winter. For best results, invest in a good detangle spray and brush daily to remove dirt from the coat and prevent matting.
Your professional groomer should trim your dog’s coat slightly shorter during the harshest weather months. This way, they’ll still stay warm, but their coat will be much easier to maintain.
If your dog needs a jacket to beat the cold, it’s important to fully brush through their coat after a walk to prevent knots from forming.
Shop for the best at-home grooming products at Groomers
Whatever your dog breed and whatever the weather, it’s always important to keep on top of their grooming needs.
Shop our extensive range of My Pet products at Groomers for all of the best products to keep your dog happy between their professional grooming appointments.
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